some light reading on low e2 in women.
High stress, extreme dieting and too much exercise are contributing factors that correlate with competitive bodybuilding for women.
Eating disorders.
One may not think of it as an eating disorder but constant restrictive diets to maintain a lean physique can deprive the body of essential nourishment.
Aside from the protein needed for muscle, don't neglect the whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats that can support hormonal health.
Obviously other psychological factors can be at play that need to be addressed.
Much remains to be understood about the etiology of eating disorders. There is substantial evidence that reproductive hormones, specifically estrogens, play a direct role in normal food intake. Evidence is increasing that the reproductive hormones ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
"
Eating disorder symptoms, specifically binge eating and body dissatisfaction, show an inverse association with estradiol and positive association with progesterone.
Prenatal testosterone may play a protective role in the later development of an eating disorder.
Clinical research studies are needed to explore the impact of hormone augmentation, in conjunction with cognitive–behavioral therapy, in treatment outcomes for anorexia nervosa."
Genetic conditions:
Turner syndrome can have a range of symptoms, some of which may be noticeable at birth, such as short stature and physical features like a webbed neck. However, in many cases, symptoms can be subtle and may not become apparent until later in childhood or even adulthood.
rare...1 in 2500
Symptoms:
short stature (usually under 5' tall) is the most common feature of TS
narrow, high-arched palate (the roof of the mouth is higher and narrower than is typical)
retrognathia (the lower jaw is small)
ears protruding outward, and/or low set, and/ or rotated toward the neck
webbed neck (excess or stretched skin) which may include a lowered hairline in the back
droopy eyes
strabismus (lazy eye)
broad chest
cubitus valgus (arm turns slightly out at the elbow when the arm is extended)
scoliosis (curvature of spine)
flat feet
small and narrow fingernails, toenails that turn up
short fourth metacarpal (bone in hand between the knuckle of the fourth finger and the wrist)
edema (swelling or puffiness) or hands and feet, especially at birth
www.health.state.mn.us
Fragile X Syndrome is caused by a mutation in the FMR1 gene on the X chromosome, leading to various physical and behavioral symptoms.
Fragile X syndrome can lead to conditions like Fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI), which may result in low estradiol levels due to reduced ovarian function. This can cause irregular menstrual cycles and infertility in affected women.
symptoms:
intellectual disabilities
learning difficulties
anxiety and behavioral issues such as hyperactivity and social anxiety.
Physical features may include a long face, large ears, and flexible joints, which often become more noticeable with age.
oophoritis is the inflammation of one or both ovaries, often caused by a bacterial infection, and is commonly associated with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). It can lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain and may affect fertility.
also rare...
Symptoms:
pain in the lower abdomen and pelvis
menstrual bleeding that’s heavier than usual
bleeding between menstrual cycles
pain or bleeding during intercourse
heavy vaginal discharge, which may have a foul odor
burning sensations or pain during urination
difficulty urinating
below is a study on autoimmune diseases causing POI (premature ovarian inefficiency)
Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), previously known as premature ovarian failure or premature menopause, is defined as loss of ovarian function before the age of 40 years. The risk of POI before the age of 40 is 1%. Clinical symptoms develop as ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
"Clinical symptoms of POI are largely the result of estrogen deficiency and may include amenorrhea, oligomennorhea, vasomotor instability (hot flushes, night sweats), sleep disturbances, vulvovaginal atrophy, altered urinary frequency and recurrent infections, mood disorders including irritability and emotional lability."
" Women affected by POI are also at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, cognitive decline, Parkinsonism, and osteoporosis [
2]. They very often require psychological counseling to address issues relating to the diagnosis, such as infertility, lower self-esteem, and increased rates of anxiety and depression"
(FHA) Functional Hypothalamic amenorrhea.
If your body is stressed and not getting enough nourishment, you can develop hypothalamic amenorrhea. With hypothalamic amenorrhea, your brain doesn’t release enough of the hormone that activates estrogen production in your ovaries. As a result, your periods stop entirely.
Female athletes are particularly susceptible.
The menstrual cycle is a reproductive vital sign and provides insight into hormonal imbalance as well as pregnancy. The significance of estrogen, however, extends beyond fertility and plays a role on tissues and organs throughout the body. ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
TL;DR
If you are a younger woman and have irregularities in your menstrual cycle get bloodwork done. If you have low estradiol don't ignore it because it can have serious long-term implications for your health.
possible treatment options:
- Alter
diet
- Follow a more suitable training regimen
- hrt/birth control
(underlying condition not adressed)
- leptin replacement therapy
(if leptin deficiency is the cause)
-Cognitive behavioral therapy
(to reduce stress/cortisol)
- HMG
(to induce ovulation)
-kisspeptin
(initiating secretion of GnRH)
Hypopituitarism:
Probably not applicable ; Super rare (effecting about
0.05% of the population) the correlation perhaps with drug induced onset if one were say randomly jabbing themselves with chinese substances that act directly on the pituitary gland seems, for now unknown.
Low e2 can occur in women with hypopituitarism due to insufficient production of gonadotropins. (hormones that stimulate the ovaries to produce estradiol.)
Hypopituitarism is a chronic endocrine illness that caused by varied etiologies. Clinical manifestations of hypopituitarism are variable, often insidious in onset and dependent on the degree and severity of hormone deficiency. However, it is ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
