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Not feeling upto the mark? Your estrogen levels could be out of whack

Neither too much nor too little – you need the right amount of estrogen to lead a healthy life. And if you think something is wrong, it’s time to look out for these tell-tale signs.
estrogen and weight gain
Estrogen can be your best bud, but also your biggest foe. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Nikita Bhardwaj Updated: 30 Oct 2023, 03:33 pm IST
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Every woman must have heard the word ‘estrogen’! Well, of course, it is a very important hormone that contributes to women’s health and well-being. At times, it goes off track and has a detrimental impact on the body. That’s why it is important to be alert and watch out for some signs that indicate your estrogen levels are not in place!

First, let’s understand the role of estrogen for our bodies. When you hit puberty, all the bodily changes that you observe are all because of estrogen. Growth of your breasts, pubic hair, underarm hair, and your periods all happen because of this hormone. And guess what? Estrogen also plays a critical role in childbearing. It has other functions too — right from keeping your cholesterol levels in check, protecting bones, maintaining your mood, and more. 

When there is something wrong with this hormone, the first sign can be seen in your menstrual cycle. This imbalance can lead to major problems in the future in both cases – if produced more or produce too little. That’s why it is very important to identify the problem immediately. 

But, how can you do it?

Well, ladies, it is very simple. All you have to do is just be a little vigilant and observe if there is something funny happening with your body.

Your body can give these eight signals that indicate your estrogen levels are out of balance
1. Sudden weight gain

If you observe fluctuations in your weight, it could be a sign. Majorly, it is weight gain, but some of them have also reported cases of weight loss. Basically, estrogen can be a little mean to you. It sends the signals to your body to start storing fat, due to which most of you experience weight gain.

estrogen imbalance
Watch your weight! Image courtesy: Shutterstock
2. Change in your skin and hair

Estrogen imbalance also affects your skin and hair. Sudden hair loss, baldness, and breakouts are what most people observe in case of hormonal imbalance. In fact, the growth of facial hair in women is also seen. This happens due to the excess amounts of this hormone in the body.

3. Recurring headaches

Estrogen has a lot to do with your brain. That’s why a sudden rise or fall in the hormone levels causes more migraine attacks, and leaves you distressed.

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4. Fatigue

When the hormone signals the body to store fat, instead of using it to release energy, you tend to feel tired and lazy all the time. Even after eating a meal, you don’t feel recharged. And that’s when both mental and physical fatigue kicks in.

estrogen imbalance
Extreme fatigue can also be a sign that your estrogen levels are out. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
5. Problems in sleeping

There is another hormone called progesterone. This hormone helps in inducing sleep. When estrogen is in excess, it tends to overpower the functioning of progesterone, due to which you deal with sleep issues like insomnia.

6. Constipation

Estrogen imbalance also has an impact on your gut. Basically, it wreaks havoc on the digestive process, and makes it slow.

7. Low libido

It’s sad, but true. Estrogen can also mess with your sex life. Do you know there is a very small amount of testosterone in our bodies? When estrogen is in excess, it affects their levels as well, which further affects your libido.

estrogen imbalance
Sex and estrogen imbalance go hand in hand. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
8. Sudden anxiety

If you find yourself panicking over every little thing, then estrogen is to be blamed. That’s because excess estrogen leads to an increase in the production of cortisol, the ‘stress hormone’, making you feel sad and anxious all the time.

So ladies, before estrogen takes control of your life, it’s time for you to take charge!

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About the Author

Six-pack abs are all that Nikita needs, along with her daily dose of green tea. At Health Shots, she produces videos, podcasts, stories, and other kick-ass content. ...Read More

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