What is Estrogen?

You may know that estrogen is a female sex hormone, but what is it really? Estrogen is the umbrella term for a group of hormones, especially estrone, estradiol, and estriol, with estradiol being the most important female sex hormone.

These hormones control the reproductive processes in a woman's body, and a deficiency can have unpleasant consequences.

Gordon Hart, PA-C, and Lisa Hargis, NP, at the Balance Hormone Center in Norman, Oklahoma, know how to combat the effects of estrogen imbalances.

So whether you’ve encountered hormonal imbalance caused by diet, age, or environmental factors, we have the knowledge and skill required to help you feel and look your very best.

Are my estrogen levels too low?

A lack of estrogen is often a sign of menopause. Once menstruation slows down or stops altogether, your hormone balance changes. Typical symptoms of an estrogen deficiency during menopause are:

Hot flashes
Depression
Fatigue
Night sweats
Loss of libido
Vaginal dryness
Bladder weakness
Trouble sleeping
Memory problems

But it’s not just pre- and post-menopausal women who are affected. Estrogen levels can also drop in young women.

In addition, depending on how early the deficiency occurs, it can affect sexual development. This often manifests itself in menstrual cycle disorders such as missed periods or even infertility.

More symptoms of low estrogen levels

If you aren’t nearing menopause, you may have low estrogen levels if you experience any of these other common symptoms.

Weight gain

Estrogen influences two brain centers in the hypothalamus, which is your brain’s control center that regulates energy expenditure and hunger. You may gain weight because your body demands you eat more and move less, resulting in weight gain.

Hair loss

Estrogen is responsible for stimulating your hair roots. Have you ever noticed that pregnant women have lustrous, thick hair? That’s because estrogen increases in pregnant women. It’s an essential hormone in the development of the baby.

You may have also noticed that older women have thinner hair for the same reason. As you age, estrogen production naturally declines.

Blemished skin

You may already be aware that pimples crop up before or during your period. Once your period is over, your skin clears up again. Estrogen regulates sebum (oil) production, clogging pores and encouraging acne through bacterial growth, resulting in pimples and acne.

Men are not entirely immune to a lack of estrogen. An imbalance occurs when testosterone levels drop sharply with age, as men produce estrogen in the testes from an enzyme in testosterone. As a result, your weight increases and sexual desire decreases.

Estrogen replacement therapy

Fortunately, you don’t have to live with low estrogen levels. At the Balance Hormone Center, we offer estrogen replacement therapy.

We restore health and well-being using natural bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) to treat estrogen imbalances. Bioidentical hormones are extracted from plants, providing a holistic approach to low estrogen levels.

Bioidentical hormones have the same structure as your body's own hormones. Thus, they have the same effect on the cells as natural hormones.

BHRT is a painless treatment option without the potential for dangerous or uncomfortable side effects. Your body adapts easily to BHRT, and most patients start feeling better after just a few days of treatment.

Schedule treatment today

BHRT is exceptionally effective in treating symptoms of menopause and a variety of hormonal imbalances. We work with you to formulate the optimal personalized hormone therapy program. To schedule a consultation, contact us today to request an appointment.