Therapy
The therapy of an estrogen deficiency mainly refers to the administration of estrogen. The type of therapy depends on the target group – for example, the young girl in whom puberty starts late or the more mature woman who wants to alleviate her postmenopausal symptoms. There are several ways to improve or treat the symptoms of estrogen deficiency.
One possibility is hormone replacement therapy. This is mainly used for postmenopausal complaints. Here, the missing estrogens and possibly also gestagens are administered and the hormone deficiency is thus compensated.
The aim of the treatment is not to restore the original hormone concentration, but to alleviate or prevent the symptoms with a reduced dose. Before starting hormone replacement therapy, a comprehensive examination by the gynaecologist and an explanation of the advantages, disadvantages and risks of long-term treatment is essential. Regular check-ups are recommended during the therapy.
An individual weighing up of the benefits and risks is important. Studies have shown that the risk of breast cancer can increase in women who have been on hormone replacement therapy for more than five years (especially with combined preparations containing estrogens and progestins). The positive effects of hormone replacement therapy are expected to be a reduction in menopausal symptoms, prevention of genital inflammation, depression and osteoporosis during the menopause.
Hormones can be administered in a variety of forms: tablets, patches, creams and gels as well as pessaries and vaginal rings are available for local treatment. Alternative treatment approaches for a hormone deficiency are offered by naturopathic treatment. These are mainly considered for milder complaints.
They refer to the intake of herbal estrogens. These are obtained from food supplements such as soya, linseed, red clover, hops, sage, liquorice or St. John’s wort. Traditional Chinese medicine mainly uses acupuncture and the intake of Chinese medicinal herbs. However, the effectiveness and tolerability of a long-term application of these natural healing methods is not yet scientifically proven.
Consequences of non-treatment
The consequences of an estrogen deficiency can be far-reaching. A lack of the hormone can affect the development of the reproductive organs, the menstrual cycle, fertility and pregnancy, since with an oestrogen deficiency the many functions of the oestrogen can no longer be properly fulfilled.