About Effects of High Estrogen Levels
Estrogen is completely a female hormone even though it found in men. The effects of high estrogen can bring more problems for women and they tend to produce more estrogen than men. The problem arises when people start to produce too much estrogen than required in the body. Estrogen plays an important role in sexual function when it comes to men.
Some women experience the effects of high estrogen as a result of taking certain medications. These medications include
- Steroid medications
- Ampicillin
- Phenothiazines
- Tetracyclines
The above medications can produce effects of high estrogen levels. Loss of hair, pain in the head, bloating, unable to concentrate on the things or difficulty in concentrating, feeling sleepy all the time, and loss of desire to do sex are the indicators of high estrogen levels in a person.
What are the effects of high estrogen levels?
It is really important to the effects of high estrogen levels. These effects can bring a lot of changes in a person and can have a serious effect on anyone. These effects of high estrogen are severe if the person is diabetic or pregnant. Every hormone should contribute their parts equally for the normal functioning of the body. Following are the effects of high estrogen levels and it includes
- Weight gain
- Swollen breasts
- Fibrocystic breasts
- Irregular periods
- Heavier periods
- Mood swings
- Low sex drive
- Pain in the head
- Hair loss
- Cold hands and feet
- Loss of memory
- Sleep problems
- Fatigue
Here is the List of effects of high estrogen levels in detail
Weight gain
Weight gain is one of the common effects of high estrogen in your body. People particularly observe sudden weight gain in the hip site. They may end up being overweight as a result of having too much estrogen levels in the body. They also experience bloating after they eat and it will be difficult for them to lose the extra weight due to high estrogen. One should maintain estrogen levels as it supposed to be but having too much estrogen can lead to weight gain.
Swollen breasts
Tender breasts are another effect of high estrogen levels. Women’s breasts may become sensitive due to extreme hormone changes. Women normally observe changes in their breast when they are in the phase of the menstrual cycle but if it is more swollen than it used to be, then it due to the effect of high estrogen levels. Women also observe soreness around the nipples.
Fibrocystic breasts
Women have fibrocystic breasts due to high estrogen levels. The effects of high estrogen on breast tissue can make the breasts looks lumpy. It can cause a lot of pain to some women who are experiencing these changes due to the effects of high estrogen levels on the body. Progesterone and estrogen should maintain balance and an imbalance between can lead to the formation of fibrocystic breasts.
Irregular periods
There are many other reasons behind the irregular period and high estrogen is one of them. If you are worried about your missing period, then talk with your physician about why you missed it. He or she may recommend some specific tests to find out the problems. Every hormone in a human body should work together and produce equal levels of hormones. Unbalance between the hormones and the can make your period irregular and it is one of the effects of high estrogen levels.
Heavier periods
Women experience a heavier period and it is one of the effects of high estrogen levels in your body. Estrogen is responsible for thickening the lining of the uterus and the effect of high estrogen can make more lining and your period will be heavier than usual as a result of it. Reasons for a heavy period other than the effects of high estrogen levels include
- Sudden changes in weight
- Certain use of medications
- Changes to your birth control
- Underlying medical conditions
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Menopause
Physicians prescribe contraceptive pills or other medications depends on the severity of your condition.
Mood swings
Changes in a person’s mood are one of the common effects of high estrogen levels and may experience the following feelings as a result of it. These feelings include
- Nervousness
- Panic attacks
- Feeling depressed
An Unbalance between the hormones can cause depression in some people. Elevated levels of estrogen may often contribute to the cause of agitated depression. high estrogen can make people experience mental health conditions such as
Low sex drive
People observe the loss of libido due to the high estrogen levels. There is no evidence to prove this point. High estrogen levels can cause erectile dysfunction in men which means unable to maintain an erection during sexual intercourse. Low sex drive is one of the effects of high estrogen levels in the body.
Is Pain in the head one of the effects of High Estrogen Levels
Sudden changes in the levels of estrogen can make people experience severe headaches. Women often experience headaches due to the unbalance between progesterone and estrogen hormones. Headaches are one of the common effects of having high estrogen levels in the body.
Having High Estrogen Levels Cause Hair loss?
You might excess hair loss due to high levels of estrogen. People start to lose hair slowly and it becomes more severe if you don’t act on your problem. Having low progesterone levels also contribute to the loss of hair. You should have a word with your physician if your hair is falling out too much.
Cold hands and feet
People observe coldness in their hands and feet due to poor circulation. It is one of the effects of high estrogen levels in the body. Estrogen also plays a vital role in circulation throughout the body but it lacks evidence. Researchers are still conducting experiments to know the effects of estrogen on the circulation.
Loss of memory
Low estrogen levels are one of the risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease. But having high estrogen levels also can be bad for your memory. People suffer to remember things due to the high estrogen levels in their bodies. This high active hormone can make it difficult for you to recollect things and you will completely lose your memory as a result of it.
Can High Estrogen Levels Cause Sleep problems
This exciting hormone can’t give you a good night’s sleep. People tend to be active when their body produces too much estrogen and it can interfere with your sleep routine if it produces at night. Difficulty in sleeping or unable to sleep is one of the effects of high estrogen levels in the body and consult a physician if it is a big problem for you.
Your doctor may prescribe some sleep medications to deal with your problem and using these medications for a long time can make you addicted to these drugs. Examples of some sleeping medications include
- Doxepin (silenor)
- Estazolam
- Suvorexant (Belsomra)
- Triazolam (Halcion)
Dizziness, pain in the head, allergic reactions, prolonged sleepiness, hard bowel movements, nausea, and difficulty in concentrating or unable to concentrate on the things are the side effects associated with prescription sleeping pills.
The above side effects can occur at any time during medication use. It is advised to consult a physician when you are experiencing the side effects of the sleeping pills. Your physician may change the dosage of the medication or switch you to another one.
Is Fatigue one of the Effects of High Estrogen Levels
Sometimes, people exhibit low levels of energy due to this hormone. If you are not sleeping well, you feel more fatigued and you need to bring your energy levels back to go on with your day. Feeling tired is normal for any human being after a difficult task but if you are exhausted more than usual and often showing low levels of energy without any reason then the effect of high estrogen may be the reason behind it.
Conclusion
Maintaining healthy body weight, doing physical activities daily, and following a healthy diet can reduce the chances of experiencing these adverse conditions associated with the effects of high estrogen levels. If you think your estrogen levels are too high, then see your physician immediately.
References
- https://academic.oup.com/endo/article/150/6/2537/2456047
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1534735413502076
- https://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/9/8/773
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306453017304195
Image References: muscleandstrength.com
