Estrogen

Estrogen: What It Does and Why It Drops in Menopause

Estrogen is a hormone that helps control your periods. It also keeps your bones, skin, heart and vagina healthy. It is made mostly by the ovaries. During menopause, the ovaries make much less estrogen. This drop causes many menopause symptoms. In India and the UK, it is also spelled oestrogen.

Please note: This page shares general health information in simple words. It is not medical advice. Every body is different, so talk to a doctor or gynaecologist before you try any treatment.

Key Facts About Estrogen

Estrogen is a hormone. Hormones are chemical messengers in the body.
Most estrogen is made in the ovaries.
It helps control periods and supports pregnancy.
It also helps your bones, skin, heart, brain and vagina.
Estrogen goes up and down in perimenopause and drops after menopause.
Low estrogen can cause hot flashes, vaginal dryness and weaker bones.

What Is Estrogen?

Estrogen is a hormone. A hormone is a chemical messenger. It travels in your blood and tells different parts of your body what to do.

Women have much more estrogen than men. Men make a small amount too.

Estrogen is mostly made in the ovaries. Smaller amounts are made by the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys, and by body fat. During pregnancy, the placenta also makes it.

What Are the Types of Estrogen?

There are three main types:

Estradiol. This is the main and strongest type during the years you have periods.
Estrone. This is the main type after menopause.
Estriol. This is the main type during pregnancy.

What Does Estrogen Do in the Body?

Estrogen controls your periods, but it also does much more. Here is how it helps:

Periods. It helps control your monthly cycle and builds up the lining of the womb.
Fertility. It helps the body get ready to release an egg.
Bones. It helps keep bones strong.
Heart. It helps keep blood vessels relaxed and cholesterol in balance.
Brain. It supports memory and focus.
Skin. It helps skin make collagen and stay moist. Collagen keeps skin firm.
Vagina. It keeps the walls of the vagina thick, stretchy and moist.

What Happens to Estrogen During Menopause?

In perimenopause, estrogen levels go up and down a lot. After menopause, they stay low. This is because the ovaries stop releasing eggs and make much less estrogen.

These changes cause many menopause symptoms. Low or changing estrogen affects the brain's control of body heat, so you may get hot flashes and night sweats.

What Are the Signs of Low Estrogen?

Low estrogen around menopause can cause:

Hot flashes and night sweats
Vaginal dryness and pain during sex
Needing to pass urine more often
Dry or thinner skin
Trouble sleeping
Mood changes
Trouble focusing

Over many years, low estrogen can also make bones weaker. It can also raise the risk of heart disease.

Low estrogen can also happen at other times. Examples are after childbirth, while breastfeeding, or with very heavy exercise or very low body weight. If your periods stop and you are not near menopause age, see a doctor.

Can Estrogen Be Replaced?

Yes. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) gives your body some of the estrogen it is losing. It is the most effective treatment for hot flashes and night sweats. It also helps protect bones.

If you still have a womb, HRT also includes a second hormone called progestogen. This keeps the lining of the womb safe. HRT is not right for everyone, so a doctor will check your health first. Read more about hormone replacement therapy.

For vaginal dryness, doctors may suggest a low-dose estrogen cream, tablet or ring used in the vagina.

Do Plant Foods Contain Estrogen?

Some plants have natural compounds that act a little like estrogen. They are called phytoestrogens. They are found in foods like soy and flaxseed. They are much weaker than the body's own estrogen.

When Should You See a Doctor?

See a doctor or gynaecologist if:

Your periods stop before age 45.
Menopause symptoms affect your daily life.
You want to know if HRT is right for you.
You have any bleeding after menopause.

Not Sure If It Is Menopause?

The Sirona Menopause Test Kit is a home urine test. It checks for a hormone called FSH, which goes up when estrogen drops in menopause. It cannot diagnose menopause on its own, so share your result with your doctor.

Related Terms

Shop menopause care: Sirona Menopause Collection

Sources

Cleveland Clinic. Estrogen. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22353-estrogen
NHS. About hormone replacement therapy (HRT). https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/about-hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/
NHS. Vaginal dryness. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaginal-dryness/
Office on Women's Health (US). Menopause and your health. https://www.womenshealth.gov/menopause/menopause-and-your-health
NICE. Menopause: identification and management (NG23). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23

Disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a qualified doctor. It was written by the Sirona Content Team using the trusted medical sources listed above. Always talk to your doctor or gynaecologist about your symptoms and before starting any medicine, supplement or product. If you have heavy bleeding, chest pain, trouble breathing or severe pain, get medical help right away.