Estrogen withdrawal

Abdomen | Gynecology | Estrogen withdrawal (Disease)


Descripton

Estrogens (AmE), oestrogens (BE), are a group of compounds named for their importance in the estrous cycle of humans and other animals. They are the primary female sex hormones. Natural estrogens are steroid hormones, while some synthetic ones are non-steroidal.

Estrogens are used as part of some oral contraceptives, in estrogen replacement therapy for postmenopausal women, and in hormone replacement therapy for trans women.

The withdrawal from estrogen hormone replacement can cause symptoms similar to menopause in an abbreviated time period and be very uncomfortable. Symptoms may include headache, mood swings, irritability, depression.

Causes and Risk factors

While menopause is a component of the complex process of aging, a well-recognized set of functional changes is attributable to estrogen withdrawal, such as hot flushes and accelerated bone loss. Women with gonadal dysgenesis, who have never had normal levels of endogenous estrogen, do not experience flushes even at an advanced age. However, when estrogen is administered for several months and then treatment is discontinued, these women experience classic menopausal flushes for the first time. This observation suggests that menopausal flushes are a manifestation of a classic withdrawal syndrome, mediated through functional changes of estrogen-sensitive neurons within the brain, which are linked to thermoregulation.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Treatment includes: hormone replacement therapy, symptomatic treatment of major symptoms, and/or homeopathic treatments. ...