Estrogen insufficiency

Estrogen deficiency in the woman's body can cause quite serious disorders. Estrogen belongs to the subclass of steroid hormones produced by the follicular apparatus of the ovaries in women. The level of estrogen, from the appearance of the first menstruation and ending with the climacteric period, does not undergo significant changes, and after reaching the age of forty, women are subject to a decrease in this hormone in the body and the development of estrogen deficiency. Such a condition can lead to vasomotor and thermoregulatory instability, accompanied by hot flashes, arrhythmia, sleep disorders, increased sweating, irritability, headaches, and atrophy of the genito-urinary organs. Because of the lack of estrogen in women in the post-menopausal period, a disease such as osteoporosis, causing increased brittle bones, may develop.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5]

Causes of the estrogen deficiency

In fact, estrogen deficiency can occur at any age. With a shortage of estrogen, there is a threat of infertility, the uterus and mammary glands decrease in size. The risk factors for the development of hormonal imbalance include the following:

• genetic predisposition (congenital deficiency or an overabundance of an enzyme);
• stressful and depressive conditions;
• long-term use of antidepressants and tranquilizers;
• excessive consumption of alcohol;
• nicotine dependence (has a negative effect on the functioning of the ovaries);
• physical exhaustion, accompanied by excessively low weight, resulting in worsening of the ovaries, menstruation may disappear.

The lack of estrogen may be the reason for the lack of development of mammary glands, thin skin, high voice, decreased libido. The duration of the menstrual cycle can be as low as twenty-eight days, and more than 1-3 months, menstrual flow, as a rule, uninvigorated and short. With such a disorder as estrogen deficiency, hormonal correction is necessary, since such a state can cause quite serious negative consequences.

[6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12]

Symptoms of the estrogen deficiency

Estrogen deficiency can cause a violation of the water balance in the body, which leads to intense salt deposition. Skin covers lose their elasticity, become dry, wrinkles appear, cellulite is formed  . Since estrogen contributes to the production of cholesterol, which is necessary for the normal distribution of fats, a decrease in its amount can cause calcification of blood vessels - salt deposits of calcium in any soft tissues or organs.

Decrease in the body level of estrogen causes a strong discomfort. For the timely prevention of adverse effects on the third day after ovulation, a woman should pass an analysis of menstrual flow and saliva. When confirming the diagnosis, the patient can be prescribed hormonal drugs, among which ovestin (two to four tablets per day), dimestrol (injected intramuscularly, usually one injection per week at a dose of twelve milligrams (2 ml solution), atrophy of the mucous membranes of the urinary tract and vaginas prescribe estriol, colpotrophin (one suppository per day).

[13], [14]

Treatment of the estrogen deficiency

When there are signs of a decrease in the level of estrogen in the body, you need to seek advice from an endocrinologist or gynecologist.

With estrogen deficiency, foods that stimulate the natural production of estrogens in the body should be eaten. These include dairy products with a high fat content, legumes, meat, eggs, cheese. It is also necessary to take a complex of vitamins, among them vitamin E (tocopherol), vitamin K, as well as folic acid, fish oil. Normalization of the hormonal balance is also promoted by products containing phytoestrogens, including soy, pumpkin, tomatoes, beans.

In women of childbearing age, estrogen insufficiency most often manifests itself in the form of a sharp change in mood, a decrease in sexual desire, malfunctions of the menstrual cycle, painful periods of sleep, a sense of fatigue, and a deterioration in the appearance of the skin. To normalize the condition, hormonal oral contraceptives are usually prescribed, containing estrogen and progesterone hormones in various ratios.

Estrogens quickly penetrate into the blood through the digestive tract, skin, mucous membranes. Metabolised in the liver fairly quickly, so to provide continued exposure, preference is given to drugs for intramuscular and transdermal injections.  

There are also transdermal gels and patches (estramone, fem, estrogel), which are able to regulate the functioning of estrogens. This method of therapy in the treatment of estrogen deficiency maintains a stable concentration of the drug in the peripheral blood stream. Patients taking estrogen-containing drugs should immediately seek medical attention if any side effects occur. In the treatment of estrogenic insufficiency, in order to avoid the development of side effects, medications should be administered in minimally effective doses (not more than 30-50 μg per day).

Dosage and method of administration of medicinal products

1. Folliculin (injected intramuscularly at 5 000-10 000 units daily or after one or two days (a total course of 10-15 injections)

2. Estradiol dipropionate (injected intramuscularly in the form of 0.1% oily solution of 1 ml once or twice a week)

3. Proginova (1 pills a day for twenty-one days, take the drug preferably at the same time)

4. Premonition (take 1 pills once a day.In severe disorders, during the first week, take two or three pills a day, then 1 pills once a day.After a period of twenty days make a break in seven days)

5. Sinestrol (prescribe inside for 0.5-1 mg, it is also possible intramuscular and subcutaneous application)

6. Dimestrol (estrastilben D, dimethystestrogen). The oily solution is 0.6% amp. 2 ml (12 mg in ampoule)

7. Ovestin (can be taken orally in the form of tablets or topically in the form of a suppository or cream - once a day.The effectiveness of the drug does not depend on the method of use)

In each case, depending on the course of the disease and the characteristics of the body, the duration of treatment and dosage of medications are prescribed individually by the treating physician.