What Causes Low Estrogen?
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Introduction
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Estrogen is an important hormone for both women and men. In women, estrogen is responsible for everything from body development to pregnancy. Estrogen helps men with the production of sperm, and it may also have an affect on a man's libido. With such important functions, it is important that estrogen levels stay sufficient in both men and women. However, it is not uncommon for estrogen levels to dip below normal ranges.
In Women
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Causes of low estrogen in women are usually related to the pituitary gland. Not eating correctly (such as with eating disorders), excessive exercise, and pituitary diseases and disorders can all contribute to low estrogen levels. When these issues occur, the pituitary gland does not communicate properly with the ovaries. Without the pituitary gland telling the ovaries to produce estrogen, not enough of the hormone will be produced.
Low estrogen levels in women can also be caused by the ovaries being unable to produce estrogen. According to the Mayo clinic, this is a normal part of a woman growing in age and entering menopause. Hormone replacement therapy is the most often recommended treatment for women with low estrogen levels.
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In Men
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A study done by the Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Department of the University of Illinois shows that most estrogen in men is produced from converting testosterone using the enzyme aromatase. This usually occurs in the testicles. Low estrogen levels in men can be caused by the body not producing enough aromatase to convert the needed amount of testosterone into estrogen. Damage and disorders of the testicles can also result in low levels of estrogen being released in the body for men.
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Resources
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