As you enter menopausal transition from the age of 35 onwards, your levels of estrogen start to naturally decrease until they reach a new post menopausal level suitable to your new non-reproductive status.

Hormone levels always fluctuate throughout the day and throughout the month.  These fluctuations can be graceful or they can be a roller coaster ride.

For the lucky ones, the hormonal fluctuations are in concert with each other and so annoying symptoms are kept at bay. When not, various symptoms can arise. 

With estrogen you are usually looking at its level compared to progesterone – the hormone that is the counterweight in your menstrual cycle.  

There are two basic out of balance scenarios:

1. too little estrogen in relation to progesterone

2. too much estrogen in relation to progesterone.

In both cases, it is more the ratio of estrogen to progesterone that is not right as opposed to the actual level of either hormone.

Estrogen is the hormone behind some of menopause’s most annoying symptoms.

Too little estrogen:

  • hot flashes/flushes
  • night sweats
  • vaginal dryness
  • increased forgetfulness
  • foggy thinking
  • tearfulness
  • mood swings

Too much estegoen:

  • tender breasts
  • menstrual bleeding changes
  • uterine fibroids
  • ovarian cysts
  • water retention or bloating
  • depression
  • anxiety
  • moodiness.

So it is a good idea to get it tested.  

Ideally, you should always test estrogen in combination with progesterone.  So we recommend the follow test kits in order of importance:

If money is an issue then get the Basic Hormone Panel.

Once you know your level, you make take a three prong attack to deal with it:

  • Diet
  • Exercise
  • some form of hormone therapy.

It is natural that your estrogen levels will decrease. It is not the aim of hormone therapy to keep your hormones at their youthful levels.  The aim is to recreate a balance between your hormones.  Hormone therapy is not the fountain of youth but it might be the key to aging gracefully.