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Medically Reviewed by Dr. George Touliatos
Oestrogen is an important hormone that participates in different processes and plays crucial roles in your body. It is produced in both males and females, but females produce it more. Your body maintains oestrogen levels throughout your life but sometimes, due to ageing or any other issue, the production of oestrogen declines in the body. It leads to Oestrogen deficiency which influences overall health negatively.
You can restore this deficiency with the help of oestrogen therapy. It is one of the most effective methods mainly used to alleviate menopause symptoms. Keep reading to understand the effects and benefits of oestrogen therapy in detail.
Oestrogen is an important hormone that plays a vital role in sexual and reproductive development, particularly in females. It has three main types, which are estrone, estriol, and estradiol. Oestrogen works synergistically with another important female hormone called progesterone. It contributes to several essential processes and maintains bone health, cognitive health, and the cardiovascular system.
Ovaries primarily produce it, but fat tissues and adrenal glands also synthesise it. Levels of oestrogen keep varying throughout the life of a female, and they also vary from one person to the other. Fluctuation in oestrogen levels affects the body in different ways. Women produce more oestrogen when they are pregnant and very little oestrogen when they hit menopause.
Oestrogen brings several physical changes to the body and develops secondary sexual characteristics. It regulates the menstrual cycle and controls the release of eggs from the ovaries. A woman produces more oestrogen during pregnancy than throughout her life. During pregnancy, oestrogen stimulates the construction of blood vessels in the placenta and uterus to provide more nutrients to the fetus. On the contrary, a menopausal woman releases very little oestrogen, which affects the body in different ways.
Oestrogen contributes to bone development. It manages bone metabolism and controls the activity of bone cells, which helps in its production. Other than that, it also controls blood cholesterol levels. Oestrogen balances cholesterol levels by increasing good cholesterol and reducing bad cholesterol. It is involved in the formation of vital proteins like structural proteins, coagulation proteins, and binding proteins.
Oestrogen is a hormone that affects nearly all body organs, including the heart, skin, and brain. It may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in menopausal women and improve cognitive functions. It boosts the skin healing process and supports tissues to maintain skin elasticity. Oestrogen deficiency due to age or other issues brings several changes to the body. You can reverse the effect of these changes by increasing oestrogen levels again. One of the effective ways to restore oestrogen levels is through oestrogen therapy.
As the name indicates, oestrogen therapy involves the intake of oestrogen to balance its levels in the body. Oestrogen is available in different forms to assist the patient in choosing the form that matches his needs the best. You can find oestrogen in forms like oestrogen pills, skin patches, creams, gels, and vaginal suppositories.
Oestrogen taken in any form performs nearly the same way. However, one form of oestrogen may have more risks than the other. Oral oestrogen is the oldest form of oestrogen used in treatments, and it has also been studied the most. Therefore, discuss the oestrogen therapy types in detail with your doctor and choose the one that your doctor says is the safest option for you.
People having insufficient oestrogen are considered the right candidates for oestrogen. Oestrogen therapy is mostly used to alleviate the symptoms of menopause. Common symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, bone loss, frequent urination, and a decline in cognitive function. Oestrogen therapy can reverse the effect of these symptoms by increasing oestrogen levels in the blood.
Oestrogen therapy has several benefits, but its long-term use may increase the risks of health issues development. It may not be a suitable treatment option for people with health problems like breast cancer, etc. Speak with your doctor to learn whether oestrogen therapy is right for you or not.
Oestrogen therapy can bring several positive changes to the body. Its common health benefits are described below.
Low levels of oestrogen can make your vaginal muscles thin and dry. It may also change the pH of the vagina and change its lining. These changes can lead to the development of atrophic vaginitis (inflammation of vaginal tissues due to dryness and irritation), vulvar atrophy (a problem that leads to urine leakage, dryness, and soreness) or vaginal dryness.
You may experience painful sex or low libido due to these conditions. Oestrogen therapy may help you treat these issues and maintain vaginal health by balancing oestrogen levels. Oestrogen is also involved in maintaining the reproduction system and releasing eggs from ovaries. So, it may also manage your irregular periods.
Many women, when they reach menopause, think about getting oestrogen therapy. It is because this therapy can ease menopause symptoms and help them live a more comfortable life.
Your oestrogen levels keep fluctuating throughout your life. Your body maintains oestrogen levels when you are in your childbearing years. Its concentration falls the most when you reach menopause. Lower oestrogen levels cause menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, chills, vaginal dryness, low sex drive, and excessive sweating. These symptoms can lower your level of productivity and affect your mood.
If these symptoms disturb your life, you should consider getting oestrogen therapy to live a more productive life. Reach out to an oestrogen therapy specialist or a doctor to get better suggestions for easing menopause symptoms.
Oestrogen maintains bone health and inhibits bone remodelling. Loss of bone density is a common issue among menopausal women. If bone health is not maintained during menopause, it can lead to a serious issue called osteoporosis. Today, there are more than 200 million people fighting osteoporosis. It is more prevalent among females.
People suffering from this health condition have very fragile and brittle bones. They are more prone to fractures, and even minor accidents can lead to bone breakage. Oestrogen deficiency significantly contributes to bone loss and weakness. Therefore, restoring oestrogen through oestrogen therapy may protect your bones and make them stronger.
Oestrogen is well-known for its ability to keep skin plump, moisturized, and healthy. It boosts the production of collagen and elastin. Both are the structural components of the skin. As you age, your body produces less collagen and elastin. Collagen therapy may assist your skin in maintaining its elasticity and true form by promoting the formation of structural proteins. It may act as an anti-ageing treatment and reduce the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
Oestrogen may protect your skin from free radicals. They damage skin cells and cause the breakdown of collagen. As a result, your skin becomes saggy, spotty, and wrinkly. Oestrogen also increases sebum production and retains skin moisture. Skin dryness and itchiness are common among people deficient in oestrogen. All in all, oestrogen therapy may assist you in getting youthful, hydrated, and fresh skin.
Oestrogen is mainly produced by ovaries. Failure or removal of ovaries results in less production of oestrogen, which leads to oestrogen deficiency. If your both ovaries have failed or you have removed them, then your doctor may recommend oestrogen therapy.
Removal/failure of ovaries causes premature menopause, which has negative health effects on the body. Oestrogen therapy lets you recover oestrogen levels and reduce signs of premature menopause.
You can manage oestrogen levels in your body by consuming food sources of oestrogen. Phytoestrogen is a substance derived from plants. It resembles oestrogen and is believed to affect oestrogen levels in your body. You can increase the intake of phytoestrogen by consuming foods that are naturally rich in this substance. Common examples of phytoestrogen-rich foods include fruits, grains, nuts, seeds, and cruciferous vegetables. People also believe that these food items can alleviate menopause symptoms like hot flashes, sweating, etc.
Some herbs also contain phytoestrogen and may help you to manage oestrogen levels naturally. Black cohosh and red clover are examples of phytoestrogen-rich herbs.
Oestrogen therapy has many health benefits. It provides protection from bone loss, maintains vaginal health, promotes skin health, and most importantly, eases menopause symptoms. It has different types based on the forms of oestrogen (pills, cream, gel, etc.) used in the treatment. If you feel you may be suffering from low oestrogen levels, don’t hesitate to consult with our oestrogen therapy specialists. Click the contact button above to discuss your options today!
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks (webmd.com)
Estrogen’s Effects on the Female Body | Johns Hopkins Medicine
Estrogen Hormone Therapy: 4 Types to Choose From (webmd.com)
The menopause: benefits and risks of estrogen-progestogen replacement therapy – PubMed (nih.gov)
Effect of estrogens on skin aging and the potential role of SERMs (nih.gov)
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Mike Kocsis has an MBA with a focus on healthcare administration and is an entrepreneur and medical case manager for Balance My Hormones Ltd which offers medical services in the UK and Europe. Mike has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector, much of that working with people who have hormone imbalances. Mike has appeared on podcasts and radio and is an expert speaker on the subject of hormone imbalance. He specialises in Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and has helped thousands of people suffering from hormone imbalances recover and regain control of their lives. You can follow him on LinkedIn and on the Balance My Hormones YouTube Channel.
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