Foundations of Hormone Health in Peri/Menopause: Estrogen Pearls
Did you know?
There are receptors and roles for Estrogen all throughout the body, including the:
Brain - memory, mood, emotions
Cardiovascular system - vasodilation, clotting
Liver - cholesterol levels
Bones - bone mineral density
Skin - collagen, elastin and sebum production
Breast - growth, development
Not just the reproductive organs!
Estrogen, and other sex hormones, are made from cholesterol
There are three main types of Estrogen - Estradiol is produced by the Ovaries and is the predominant type in PREmenopause
Estradiol levels normally start to gradually decline around age 35 and become erratic in the mid- to late 40s before eventually settling out at a new low baseline
Due to its importance throughout the body, declining and erratic Estradiol levels cause a wide variety of symptoms in Peri/Menopause, including:
Irregular, unpredictable, periods
Hot flashes/night sweats
Sleep disruption
Muscle loss
Loss of muscle power
Bone loss
Brain fog
Mood changes
Vaginal dryness
Vaginal discomfort
Loss of libido
Skin changes due to decline in collagen and elastin
Insulin resistance
Changing cholesterol levels
Changes in metabolism
Changes in gut microbiome
And many, many more!
Symptoms that are more likely to occur earlier, in Perimenopause include:
Irregular periods
Brain fog
Mood changes
Vaginal dryness
Sleep disruption
Loss of libido
Weight changes
Symptoms that are more likely to occur later - around or after Menopause include:
Hot flashes
Night sweats
Vaginal discomfort
Urinary tract infections
Osteoporosis (bone loss)
Sarcopenia (muscle loss)
Heart disease
Many of the early and late symptoms can be mitigated by proactive approaches with nutrition, exercise, supplements, gut health +/- hormone therapy