Hypoestrogenism refers to a lower than normal level of estrogen

Estrogen

Estrogens , oestrogens , or œstrogens, 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...

, the primary sex hormone for women. In general, lower levels of estrogen may cause differences in the breasts, genitals, urinary tract and skin.
Hypoestrogenism is most commonly found in women who are postmenopausal, have premature ovarian failure, or are suffering from amenorrhoea

Amenorrhoea

Amenorrhoea , amenorrhea , or amenorrhœa, is the absence of a menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age. Physiological states of amenorrhoea are seen during pregnancy and lactation , the latter also forming the basis of a form of contraception known as the lactational amenorrhoea method...

; however, it is also associated with hyperprolactinaemia

Hyperprolactinaemia

Hyperprolactinaemia or hyperprolactinemia is the presence of abnormally-high levels of prolactin in the blood. Normal levels are less than 500 mIU/L for women, and less than 450 mIU/L for men....

 and the use of Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs in treatment of Endometriosis

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a gynecological medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus appear and flourish outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the ovaries. The uterine cavity is lined by endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones...

. Additionally, it has also been linked to scoliosis

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a medical condition in which a person's spine is curved from side to side. Although it is a complex three-dimensional deformity, on an X-ray, viewed from the rear, the spine of an individual with scoliosis may look more like an "S" or a "C" than a straight line...

 and young women with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Side Effects

Presentations of depressed estrogen levels include hot flashes, headaches, and lowered libido. Reduced bone mass density leading to secondary osteoporosis

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease of bones that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density is reduced, bone microarchitecture is deteriorating, and the amount and variety of proteins in bone is altered...

 and atrophic changes such as pH change in the vagina is also linked to hypoestrogenism.
Low levels of estrogen can lead to dyspareunia

Dyspareunia

Dyspareunia is painful sexual intercourse, due to medical or psychological causes. The symptom is reported almost exclusively by women, although the problem can also occur in men. The causes are often reversible, even when long-standing, but self-perpetuating pain is a factor after the original...

 and limited genital arousal because of changes in the four layers of the vaginal wall.
Hypoestrogenism is also considered one of the major risk factors for developing uncomplicated urinary tract infections(UTI) in post menopausal women who do not take hormone replacement therapy.

Treatments

In patients under long-term therapy, small amounts of estrogens could be given back (“add-back regimen”) through estrogen cremes, estrogen rich foods and supplements to combat such side-effects and to prevent bone wastage. Though long-term patients, both male and female, tend to undergo annual DEXA

Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry

Dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry is a means of measuring bone mineral density . Two X-ray beams with differing energy levels are aimed at the patient's bones. When soft tissue absorption is subtracted out, the BMD can be determined from the absorption of each beam by bone...

scans to appraise bone density.

External links

• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist-induced hypoestrogenism and blood flows in cerebral arteries.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/pubmed/20839956.

References