Effects Of Estrogen On The Female Body – Alexandra Perez, PharmD, MBA, BCGP Medically Reviewed — By Ann Pietrangelo — Updated March 30, 2023

Hormonal birth control is not without side effects. As with all drugs, there are beneficial effects and potential risks that affect everyone differently.

Effects Of Estrogen On The Female Body

Most believe that hormonal birth control serves one purpose: preventing pregnancy. While it is very effective compared to other forms of birth control, the effects are not only limited to pregnancy prevention. In fact, they can even be used to help treat other health issues such as menstrual relief, skin changes, and more.

Balancing Hormones With Functional Medicine

Birth control pills and patches are dispensed only with a prescription. Hormone-based contraceptives are available in several forms, including:

Each type has similar benefits and risks, although everyone responds differently to hormones. If you are interested in birth control, talk to your doctor about which type is most effective for you. Effectiveness is based on how consistent your birth control use is.

For example, some people find it difficult to remember to take a pill every day so an implant or IUD would be the best choice. There are also non-hormonal birth control options, which can have different side effects.

However, no form of hormonal birth control protects against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). You will still need to use condoms to prevent STDs.

A Guide To Balanced Hormones

Ovaries naturally produce the female hormones estrogen and progestin. Any of these hormones can be synthetically made and used in contraceptives.

Above normal levels of estrogen and progestin stop the ovary from releasing an egg. Without an egg, sperm has nothing to fertilize. The progestin also changes the mucus in the uterus, making it thick and sticky, making it harder for sperm to find their way into the uterus.

When using certain hormonal contraceptives such as the Mirena IUD, you might experience lighter and shorter periods and a relief from menstrual cramps and premenstrual symptoms.

These effects are among the reasons some women take birth control specifically for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a severe form of PMS. Some women with endometriosis also take birth control to ease painful symptoms.

The Effects Of Oestrogens And Their Receptors On Cardiometabolic Health

The risk decreases the longer oral contraceptives are taken and the protection continues even years after a woman stops taking oral contraceptives.

However, the risk of breast and uterine cancer may be increased in women taking the oral contraceptive pill.

While birth control has many benefits, it can also cause side effects. Spotting between periods, also called breakthrough bleeding, is common in people on hormonal birth control.

Spotting is most common with very low-dose, low-dose forms of hormonal birth control such as the hormonal IUD, the implant, and birth control pills.

Women Have Been Misled About Menopause

Birth control can cause other side effects as well. Reproductive side effects as your body adjusts to oral contraceptives, inserts and patches include:

For some women, birth control pills and patches can raise blood pressure. These extra hormones can also put you at risk for blood clots.

These side effects are uncommon in most women, but when they do occur, they can be very serious. This is why hormonal birth control methods require a prescription and routine monitoring.

Since the body works to maintain a hormone balance, it is possible that the introduction of hormones creates a disturbance, causing changes in mood.

Menopause And Your Brain Health

But there are few studies on the mental health effects of birth control on women and their well-being. Only recently, a 2017 study looked at a small sample of 340 healthy women and found that oral contraceptives significantly reduced overall well-being.

Some women experience changes in their appetite and weight while taking hormonal contraception. But there are few studies or evidence that birth control causes weight gain.

Some women taking hormonal contraceptives may experience side effects such as nausea and bloating. These tend to ease after a couple of weeks as your body gets used to the extra hormones.

Taking the pill with food can help with nausea. Switching to a pill with less estrogen may also help.

The Truth About Sex Differences In Deep Vein Thrombosis| Everyday Health

See your doctor if you have severe pain, vomiting, or yellow skin and eyes (jaundice). Dark urine or pale-colored stools can also be a sign of serious side effects.

On the other hand, other people may experience breakouts of acne or notice no change at all. Every woman’s body and hormone levels are different, so it is difficult to predict what side effects will occur as a result of birth control.

Sometimes, birth control hormones cause unusual hair growth. More often, though, birth control actually helps with unwanted hair growth. Oral contraceptives are also the main treatment for hirsutism, a condition that causes thick black hair to grow on the face, back, and abdomen.

Talk to your doctor if you feel that your current birth control is not right for you. Being open and honest about your side effects and how they make you feel is the first step to finding the right dose and quality you need.

Estrogen And Progesterone: Video, Anatomy & Definition

Has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using superior references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Our experts are constantly monitoring the health and wellness space, and we update our articles as new information becomes available. Apart from the absence of menstruation, menopause involves a wide range of effects on the body. Some of them may be uncomfortable (hello, hot flashes!), while others may go unnoticed.

Estrogen and progesterone are the primary female hormones related to reproduction. When ovarian function declines with age, ovulation does not occur regularly. This leads to irregular or missed periods.

Eventually, the ovaries stop ovulating completely, and periods stop altogether. This results in lower levels of estrogen and progesterone production by your ovaries.

Your Body Type Is

You have officially entered menopause when you have 12 missed periods in a row. This natural life stage usually begins around the mid-40s and mid-50s and can last for several years.

While menopause means you will no longer have periods and can no longer get pregnant, the decrease in estrogen also has several other effects on the body.

While your period may change over the years during perimenopause, you don’t technically hit menopause until your monthly period stops completely. This means your body stops producing eggs for fertilization.

Menopause can also affect other parts of the reproductive system. When you no longer have a monthly cycle, you may not have any thickening of the cervical mucus in the middle of your cycle, a symptom that often means ovulation.

Menopause And Bone Loss

In general, vaginal dryness and a lack of libido can also occur with menopause, but these do not have to be permanent. An over-the-counter lubricant can help.

Your OB-GYN can also help you find other ways to increase your sex drive if you’re experiencing this effect in menopause.

The endocrine system includes hormones responsible for reproduction. These include hormones related to menopause, or in this case, a lack thereof: estrogen and progesterone.

Hot lips are among the most talked about side effects of menopause. These occur in a lack of estrogen. They can also last a few years

The Effects Of Hormonal Birth Control On Your Body

Hot mouth causes a sudden feeling of warmth, along with red skin and sweat. They can come suddenly at any time of the day or night. They can last just a few seconds or for several minutes at a time.

Lifestyle changes are very important in preventing and managing hot flashes. This may include avoiding caffeine and hot drinks.

Menopause causes your body to reserve more energy, which means you won’t burn calories and fat as easily. This can lead to weight gain. Menopausal women are also more likely to gain weight around their midline.

Menopause can affect your overall mood. You may feel happy and love yourself one day, but then later.

When Estrogen Becomes A Problem: Beachside Naturopathic Clinic: Naturopathic Doctors

You may also experience mood swings that cause irritability. It is important to see your doctor if you continue to experience anxiety or depression beyond a couple of weeks. Menopause can be a

Sleep can also be difficult during menopause. A drop in estrogen can cause hot flashes and night sweats that keep you up at night. These effects also make it difficult to fall asleep.

For unknown reasons, menopause is also said to affect memory. Memory loss is more common with age, but it is not clear if there is a strict menopause connection or if another underlying cause may be at play here.

A drop in estrogen levels can also lead to bladder leakage, also called incontinence. You may find that you urinate more often or leak when you laugh, work out, or sneeze. Frequent urination can also interfere with your sleep.

Estrogen Effects Image Stock Vector. Illustration Of Pictogram

Estrogen exerts a cardioprotective effect on the body and lower levels of estrogen can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Lower levels of estrogen also affect the body’s cholesterol, which can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. Your doctor may recommend hormone replacement therapy to counteract some of these changes.

Menopause causes your bones to lose their density. This can increase your risk of fracture. Menopausal women are also at increased risk of developing osteoporosis.

A loss of muscle mass during menopause can also occur at a higher rate than before. Your joints may also become stiff and painful. Regular exercise can help reduce bone density loss

The effects of estrogen on the female body, estrogen effects on women body, effects of estrogen cream, effects of estrogen on the body, effects of low estrogen on the body, effects of estrogen on the male body, estrogen side effects female, lack of estrogen effects on the body, effects of too much estrogen in the female body, the effects of estrogen, male to female estrogen effects, effects of estrogen therapy