Low Estrogen Raises Your Risk of Osteoporosis

While there are many symptoms associated with low estrogen levels, one of the most serious is an increased risk of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis can substantially deteriorate your quality of life. The condition, characterized by weakened bones, increases the risk of fractures, potentially leading to loss of mobility and independence. It can also cause chronic pain, which can significantly impact your mental health and overall well-being.

Although this can seem like a daunting diagnosis, you can offset this risk caused by low estrogen by restoring your body’s normal hormone levels and making healthy lifestyle choices that support bone health. Rest assured that even if your hormones are out of balance now, we can help you take action to keep your bone health firmly on track for the future. Schedule an appointment with us now to get your hormone levels assessed.

Low Estrogen is Common as We Get Older

The natural process of menopause can cause a significant decrease in estrogen levels in women. This is a common occurrence and can result in a variety of symptoms such as hot flashes, mood changes, and vaginal dryness. Low estrogen can have an impact on many of your daily activities and make it feel like you just aren’t yourself.

However, it’s also important to note that low estrogen levels can happen to women at other stages of life as well, not just during menopause. Health and environmental factors can also contribute to decreased levels of estrogen, which can cause issues such as irregular periods and fertility problems.

Your Osteoporosis Risk Rises with Each Year

Treating low estrogen helps reduce your risk of developing debilitating osteoporosis.

As women enter menopause, the levels of estrogen in their bodies drop significantly, which causes their risk of developing osteoporosis to shoot up. Unfortunately, this risk only continues to increase as we age, making osteoporosis a serious concern for many postmenopausal women. The risk of osteoporosis increases with age, with one in two women over the age of 50 expected to break a bone due to this disease.

Osteoporosis is a pervasive health issue, affecting approximately 200 million women worldwide, according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation. In the United States alone, it’s estimated that 10 million individuals are afflicted with the disease, and almost 80% of these cases are women. It’s a significant concern for women’s health, especially considering the aging population of the U.S.

Estrogen Affects Your Bones’ Ability to Rebuild

When it comes to maintaining strong and healthy bones, there’s more to it than just consuming enough calcium. Low estrogen leads to a major imbalance in the bone remodeling process. This is because estrogen plays a critical role in keeping bones strong by promoting the activity of osteoblasts, the cells responsible for bone formation.

Osteoblasts are tiny cells that build new bone by manufacturing crucial proteins and minerals. Osteoblasts secrete collagen, which provides the necessary structural support for bones. Collagen is fundamental for robust and healthy bones as it forms the structural matrix around which mineral crystals, such as calcium, are deposited, providing bones with the strength and flexibility needed to withstand stress.

In addition to collagen, these cells also produce other essential compounds like osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase that aid in bone formation. Osteocalcin is a protein produced by osteoblasts and is crucial in binding calcium to the bone matrix, an essential process in bone mineralization.

Alkaline phosphatase plays a vital role in creating a conducive environment for mineralization. It aids in the breakdown of phosphate, supplying the necessary phosphate ions required for the formation and growth of hydroxyapatite crystals, an integral component of bone tissue.

With the help of osteoblasts, our bodies continuously repair and renew our skeletal system. When estrogen levels drop, as is the case in menopause or due to other health factors, osteoblast activity decreases. This ultimately results in weaker bones and an increased likelihood of fractures.

When osteoblasts don’t produce as much new bone tissue as they used to, it causes your bones to weaken and can lead to osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis Makes Your Bones Thin and Brittle

Osteoporosis directly affects the structure of your bones. Bones consist of a hard outer shell that encompasses a secondary layer characterized by tiny struts and spaces arranged in a honeycomb-like design. This intricate layer not only contributes to the strength of bones but also ensures their lightweight nature.

However, in the case of osteoporosis, this structure becomes weakened and brittle. Osteoporosis, literally meaning “porous bone,” describes the condition where the spaces in the secondary layer enlarge and the struts between them become thinner and more fragile. As a result, the bone loses its internal density and thickness, making it significantly more susceptible to fractures and breaks even from minor incidents such as a simple fall or bump.

The intricate network of struts and spaces, once robust and resilient, becomes compromised, leading to an increased risk of fractures and a loss of overall bone strength. It is crucial to understand the progressive nature of osteoporosis and the importance of early detection and intervention to preserve bone health and prevent fractures.

HRT Can Help You Maintain Bone Strength

As we age, bone strength and health become increasingly important to our overall mobility and function. Imagine a life dictated by frail bones, where each step is taken with caution, where a simple stumble can result in a painful fracture. This is the reality for those living with osteoporosis. Simple tasks that were once taken for granted, such as picking up a grandchild or reaching for a book on a high shelf, become challenges riddled with risk and discomfort.

Unfortunately, natural declines in estrogen levels can make it hard to maintain strong and healthy bones. That’s where hormone replacement therapy (HRT) comes in. This treatment offers you an easy and convenient way to maintain consistent levels of estrogen. By restoring estrogen levels to a healthy level, HRT can help you maintain strong and healthy bones, ensuring that you can stay active and maintain your mobility and strength as you age.

Support Your Bone Health with Lifestyle Choices

Incorporating other healthy lifestyle choices can also make a big difference in supporting strong bones. Getting regular physical activity, such as weight-bearing exercises like walking or jogging, can help maintain bone density. Additionally, consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can provide vitamins and minerals essential for bone health, while limiting alcohol and quitting smoking can help prevent bone loss. Taking care of our bones is a lifelong process, and making these additional choices can go a long way in promoting healthy aging.

Effective Treatment for Low Estrogen from HerKare

At HerKare, we are dedicated to providing our patients with the best hormone treatment options to improve their long-term health outcomes. Our staff listens to the unique needs of each patient and strives to provide the personalized care they need.

Our goal is to provide women with quality healthcare in a compassionate setting. Contact us now to schedule an appointment, or for more information on our comprehensive services for hormone therapy.