Symptoms
Estrogen deficiency in women can have different symptoms. If the hormone deficiency already exists in childhood, for example due to a malformation of the ovaries as part of a genetic defect, it can lead to a delayed, incomplete or even completely absent development of puberty. Damage to the ovaries before puberty, for example due to radiation and chemotherapy in the pelvic area, or changes in the pituitary gland (pituitary gland) due to inflammatory processes, trauma or tumors can also lead to a delayed onset of puberty.
Symptoms in girls who enter puberty with a delay may include delayed development of breast growth, pubic hair and the first menstrual period. In addition, the growth spurt can also be absent. The most common cause of delayed puberty is familial, in which the children simply develop a little later, but quite normally.
In adult women, an estrogen deficiency or an imbalance in the sex hormones can lead to cycle disorders and even infertility. This can lead to inter-bleeding or an increasingly rare occurrence of menstrual bleeding. If the cycle is longer than 35 days (normal: 23 to 35 days), this is called a prolonged cycle.
During the menopause, the estrogen deficiency is responsible for the typical symptoms during the menopause. Taking the contraceptive pill can be associated with symptoms such as vaginal dryness, infections of the genital tract and pain during sexual intercourse. Contraception with low-dose preparations suppresses the patient’s own estrogen production, which can lead to local hormone deficiency in the pelvic floor area.
Oestrogens normally stimulate the build-up and regeneration of the vaginal skin. If there is a local estrogen deficiency, the vaginal skin becomes thinner, drier and more sensitive. Thus, the above-mentioned complaints often occur after fungal infections, as the regeneration of the tissue is disturbed.
Men also have estrogens. Like in women, they are produced from testosterone.The higher the testosterone level, the more estrogen is produced. Accordingly, when testosterone levels are lower (for example, in old age), the estrogen level also falls.
An oestrogen deficiency in men probably affects the amount of fat in the body. There are probably increased fat deposits under the skin and in the abdomen. Libido and potency also appear to be dependent on both hormones (testosterone and estrogen). Taking testosterone can also raise the oestrogen level back to normal values.
