What causes low estrogen levels in women?

Estrogen can promote the growth and development of women's secondary characteristics and the perfection of female sexual organs. Estrogen has a great effect on women. However, low estrogen levels will affect women's fertility and other aspects. What is the reason for women's low estrogen levels?

Causes of low estrogen in women

1. Low estrogen may be caused by some systemic diseases. Low estrogen levels may occur when there is diabetes, ovarian disease, endocrine dysfunction, or menstrual irregularities.

2. After entering menopause, many female friends will experience a significant decline in the function of each organ in the body, which will also cause a decrease in the estrogen content of female friends, leading to low estrogen.

3. Many young women have slightly low estrogen levels due to irregular diet. Some women reduce their diet in order to maintain a slim figure.

4. The reason for low estrogen in women may also be caused by abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary, pituitary, and uterine-ovarian axis.

Low estrogen metabolism can cause irregular menstruation and uterine shrinkage. In more serious cases, it can cause osteoporosis, amenorrhea, and menopausal symptoms, so it should be taken seriously.

Estrogen plays a very important role in the female body. If the female estrogen level is low, it will easily affect the development of the female secondary sexual characteristics, and may also cause symptoms such as odor and itching in the lower body, calcium deficiency, decreased libido and various other symptoms, such as osteoporosis, infertility, menopausal syndrome, irregular menstruation, etc.

Six estrogen tests

1. Testosterone (T): 50% of the testosterone in women's body is converted from jugular vein androstenedione, about 25% is metabolized by the adrenal glands, and only 25% comes from the uterus and ovaries. The key function is to promote the growth and development of the clitoris, vulva and mons pubis. It has an inhibitory effect on estrogen and has a certain impact on systemic metabolism. The normal concentration of T in women's blood is 0.7-3.1nmol/L. High blood T is called hypertestosteroneuria, which can cause infertility.

2. Estradiol (E2): It is metabolized by the eggs in the uterus and ovaries. Its key function is to promote the changes of the uterine wall into the reproductive period and promote the growth and development of women's secondary sexual characteristics. The concentration of blood E2 is 48-521 picomoles/L in the early ovulation period, 70-1835 picomoles/L in the ovulation period, and 272-793 picomoles/L in the middle and late ovulation period. Low values ​​are common in low ovary function, premature ovarian failure, and Sheehan's syndrome.

3. Progesterone value (P): It is metabolized by the luteinizing hormone of the uterus and ovaries. Its key function is to promote the change of the uterine wall from the reproductive period to the metabolic period. The blood P concentration should be 0-4.8nmol/L before ovulation and 7.6-97.6nmol/L in the middle and late ovulation period. Low blood P values ​​are easily consumed in the middle and late ovulation period, which is generally common in luteal insufficiency, abnormal uterine bleeding due to ovulation-type imbalance, etc.

4. Luteinizing hormone (LH): A glycoprotein growth hormone metabolized by the alkaline somatic cells of the anterior pituitary gland. It mainly promotes the ovulation period. Under the synergistic effect of FSH, it produces progesterone and metabolizes estrogen. The concentration of blood LH is 2-15mIU/ml in the early ovulation period, 30-100mIU/ml in the ovulation period, and 4-10MIU/ml in the middle and late ovulation period. The standard value during the non-ovulation period is generally 5 to 25 mIU/ml. Less than 5mIU/ml indicates that the gonadotropin effect is insufficient, which is common in Sheehan's syndrome. If high FSH and widened LH, it means that ovarian failure has been confirmed and no further examination is needed. LH/FSH ≥ 3 is one of the bases for diagnosing polycystic ovary syndrome.

5. Prolactin (PRL): Produced by eosinophils in the anterior pituitary gland

It is a pure protein hormone secreted by breast milk and is a key factor in promoting mammary gland proliferation, milk production and milk secretion. During the non-breastfeeding period, the standard value of blood PRL is 0.08～0.92nmol/L. Higher than 1.0nmol/L is hyperprolactinuria. Excessive prolactin can inhibit the metabolism of FSH and LH, suppress the ovaries, and suppress the ovulation period.

6. FSH is a glycoprotein growth hormone metabolized by the alkaline somatic cells of the anterior pituitary gland. Its key function is to promote the development and improvement of the uterus and ovaries. The concentration of blood FSH is 1.5-10 MIU/ml in the early ovulation period, 8-20 MIU/ml in the ovulation period, and 2-10 MIU/ml in the middle and late ovulation period. Generally, 5 to 40 MIU/ml is used as the standard value. Low FSH values ​​are common during estrogen-progestin treatment, Sheehan's syndrome, etc. High FSH is common in premature ovarian failure, uterine and ovarian insensitivity syndrome, primary amenorrhea, etc.