Estrogen hormones are female sex hormones that are primarily produced in the ovaries. Estrogen is found in both women and men (where they are thought to play a role in sperm maturation and male libido), but are produced in much higher levels in women of childbearing age.
These steroid hormones are primarily responsible for the growth and development of female sexual characteristics, regulation of the menstrual cycle, and management of the reproductive system. Scientists now understand that estrogen is vital to brain function and health, particularly as they relate to aging.
Key Takeaways
- Estrogen affects mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing
- Understanding estrogen is the first step toward managing it
- Evidence-based approaches can significantly improve outcomes
- Building daily habits is more effective than one-time interventions
The Importance of Estrogen
Estrogen production impacts women’s health in a variety of ways, from protection against memory loss and dementia , to management of sleep cycles, to reproductive health. American women experience menopause at an average age of 51.
Estrogen bolsters learning and memory through the hippocampus, the memory center of the brain on which estrogen and progesterone both act. The hormone also protects emotional well-being—when estrogen plummets in menopause, anxiety and depression often result. It offers neuroprotective qualities, helping the brain heal after a stroke or traumatic brain injury and guarding against degeneration that can lead to cognitive decline and dementia.
Many systems in the body are in part governed by estrogen. The hormone regulates the menstrual cycle, libido, and vaginal functioning, such as lubrication and elasticity. It helps maintain strong bones and prevents cardiovascular disease. It also contributes to the health of the urinary tract, breasts, muscles, and skin.
Estrogen plays a role in emotional well-being, and the loss of estrogen around menopause is often associated with mood swings, anxiety, and depression. Recent research found a link between a set of genes related to reproductive hormones and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, a mood disorder that involves intense sadness, irritability, and anxiety before a woman’s period. A woman’s genes may therefore shape how her body responds to estrogen, and in turn, her mood.
Different lines of evidence all point to estrogen’s role in memory. When estrogen diminishes during menopause, women often struggle with brain fog and memory lapses. When menopause was temporarily induced to treat tumors, women suffered short-term memory deficits. And the transition to menopause may render women more susceptible to developing Alzheimer’s disease, showcasing the neuroprotective qualities of estrogen .
Estrogen helps promote healthy sleep by leveraging serotonin and other chemicals that contribute to falling asleep quickly, sleeping soundly, and waking fewer times in the night. While high estrogen levels are associated with strong sleep, low estrogen levels are associated with disrupted sleep. Insomnia is one of the common symptoms of menopause, a time when estrogen levels drop.
When Estrogen Fluctuates
During a woman's lifetime, estrogen levels will often fluctuate, rising during puberty and remaining at healthy levels until her 40s and 50s, or the beginning of menopause. At this point, estrogen production significantly drops, signaling the end of natural fertility and impacting the brain in ways that may be associated with mood changes, anxiety, depression, memory loss, and diminished neuroprotection.
Menopause, and its associated drop in estrogen production, can inflict sudden and sometimes severe health problems on women. Research shows that infusions of estrogen can treat depression and other challenges that sometimes accompany menopause. But not all menopause treatments are created equal, and it’s crucial to be able to explore and identify effective treatments.
In the years leading up to menopause, the body begins to produce less estrogen. This can lead to a range of symptoms experienced in perimenopause such as hot flashes, night sweats, lower sex drive, vaginal dryness, osteoporosis, insomnia , mood swings or depression, and impairments to memory and concentration . This is the most common time to experience low estrogen, but it can also affect young women for specific reasons such as an autoimmune condition or eating disorder .
Sometimes estrogen can become out of balance with progesterone and testosterone , such as when taking estrogen therapy . This imbalance can occasionally lead to mood swings, anxiety, headaches, insomnia, memory problems, bloating, swelling, and low sex drive, which may lead women to shift their treatment.
Options for treating low estrogen are estrogen therapy and hormone replacement therapy, which may include progesterone in addition to estrogen. Hormone replacement therapy aims to alleviate difficult symptoms of menopause—depression, insomnia, low libido, difficulty concentrating and remembering—and it can be delivered topically, orally, vaginally, or through injections.
Hormone replacement therapy was fairly common until 2002, when an NIH study, the Women’s Health Initiative, upended the field. The investigators found that hormone replacement therapy raised the risk of breast cancer, after which they stopped the study and women around the nation suddenly stopped taking estrogen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is estrogen?
Estrogen hormones are female sex hormones that are primarily produced in the ovaries. Estrogen is found in both women and men (where they are thought to play a role in sperm maturation and male libido), but are produced in much higher levels in women of childbearing age.
Is estrogen a serious condition?
Estrogen exists on a spectrum. While mild forms are a normal part of life, persistent or severe estrogen can significantly impact daily functioning and quality of life. It's important to seek professional support if estrogen is interfering with work, relationships, or wellbeing.
Learn More
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