The Effects of Estrogen Deficiency in Menopause


Low Estrogen Levels, Menopause and Weight Gain

Estrogen deficiency typically occurs as a women enters her middle years of life when her ovaries begin to decrease their production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone which are needed to sustain pregnancy.

Because estrogen is responsible for the cyclic buildup of the lining of the uterus that gives rise to monthly periods (the built up lining is sloughed off every month unless pregnancy occurs), the deficiency that occurs with aging eventually results in a complete cessation of menstrual periods, or menopause.

While the cessation of menstrual periods is often perceived as the one good thing about menopause, the low levels of estrogen that accompany menopause have many other effects that aren’t so desirable.

These include weight gain and difficulty losing weight.



How Estrogen Deficiency Causes Weight Gain

Estrogen is the hormone responsible for development of the female physique and it is an essential hormone of pregnancy. But estrogen has many other effects on a woman's body, including an effect on weight.

While estrogen levels that are too high or are not "balanced" by the hormone progesterone cause weight gain, particularly in the hips and thighs, normal levels of this hormone inhibit fat synthesis and help prevent weight gain. Here's why:


  • ESTROGEN MAKES TISSUES SENSITIVE TO INSULIN. Insulin is a hormone that is secreted in response to increased levels of blood sugar. While insulin is needed for sugar to enter the body’s cells where it is used for energy, insulin also stimulates the production of fat and inhibits the breakdown of fat.

    When tissues lose their sensitivity to insulin, which is what occurs when estrogen levels drop, the pancreas has to secrete increasing amounts of this hormone to get sugar from the bloodstream into the body’s cells. Not surprisingly, this increased amount of insulin also causes weight gain – and makes it very difficult to lose weight.

  • ESTROGEN DECREASES FAT SYNTHESIS. At normal levels, estrogen decreases the activity of lipoprotein lipase,an enzyme involved in fat synthesis. When estrogen levels fall you lose this beneficial effect and fat synthesis increases.

  • ESTROGEN MAINTAINS MUSCLE MASS. Muscle is a metabolically active tissue, so the loss of muscle mass that occurs when estrogen levels drop slows metabolism. This means you burn fewer calories at rest.

  • ESTROGEN BOOSTS ENERGY. Because estrogen is an energy booster, the estrogen deficiency that occurs during menopause causes fatigue. When you are fatigued you tend to exercise less.

    Once again, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that a loss of energy can result in weight gain.


Other Effects of Estrogen Deficiency

In addition to weight gain declining or fluctuating levels of estrogen are responsible for the classic symptoms of menopause including hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness.

Declining estrogen levels also cause:

  • memory loss
  • bone loss
  • loss of libido or sex drive
  • insomnia
  • aging and wrinkling of the skin
  • urinary tract infections, and
  • urinary incontinence.

    And the resistance to insulin created by low levels of estrogen can also result in diabetes, a disease in which the blood sugarremains high.


    Testing for Estrogen

    Obviously, if you have an estrogen deficiency, replacing this hormone can help you lose weight, and enhance your health in many other ways.

    However, since estrogen levels that are too high can also cause weight gain and have other undesirable health effects, it is important to take only enough estrogen to restore your levels to normal.

    A simple saliva test can measure the levels of estrogen in your cells and tell you if you are estrogen deficient. Salivary testing should also be used to monitor your estrogen levels if you are on estrogen replacement therapy.


    Is It Safe To Restore Estrogen After Menopause?

    While replacing the hormones lost during menopause has many beneficial health effects, recent studies have caused some concerns about hormone replacment therapy.

    Are they legitimate?

    And should YOU be taking estrogen? Click on the links below to find out!

    Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Safe?
    Effects of Progesterone Deficiency After Menopause
    More Benefits of Progesterone
    Testosterone in Women
    Join Our Weight Loss Program
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