Estrogen Replacement Therapy & Your Immune System

by SXHH Marketing | Nov 5, 2020 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause, Wellness

In the midst of flu season, the COVID-19 pandemic, and winter, where respiratory illnesses like colds can run rampant, many of us are wondering how to help our immune systems fight off viruses and other bugs that can make us sick. Studies suggest that estrogen replacement therapy may help improve your immune system after menopause.

Estrogen replacement therapy may help your immune system during menopause.

Several studies show that hormone imbalance treatment may help keep your immune system in good shape if you have low estrogen levels. Therefore, if you’re experiencing menopause symptoms, now may be the time to address them with our provider. We conduct a full blood panel to determine if your hormone levels are low and offer personalized care to help you take care of your health. 

Summary

• After menopause, declining estrogen can weaken immune defenses, making infections and illnesses more common because estrogen enhances immune response and helps fight bacteria and viruses. Studies suggest estrogen replacement therapy may improve immune function and regulate changes that occur with low estrogen levels.
• Pre-menopausal women generally have stronger, more reactive immune systems, partly due to higher estrogen, but after menopause both aging and low estrogen can reduce certain white blood cells, making the body more vulnerable to infections. Research shows estrogen replacement therapy may enhance antibody response to flu vaccines and help to better protection against illnesses.
• Because estrogen interacts with immune cells, maintaining balanced estrogen through therapy may support overall immune health and reduce the severity of infections during and after menopausal transition.

Your Immune System After Menopause

During our pre-menopausal years, the female immune system is generally stronger and more reactive compared to the male immune system. Many researchers believe this is due, in part, to higher levels of estrogen in our bodies. Studies suggest that estrogen may have an enhancing effect on immune response and our immune systems. Pre-menopausal women are less likely, on average, to experience infections like the flu or colds compared to after menopause. Also, post-menopausal women are more likely to experience more severe infections that may become life-threatening. 

Both aging and low estrogen levels may have a negative affect on your immune system, potentially weakening it. After menopause, estrogen levels for most women are about 90% lower than they are before menopause. Therefore, during this stage in our lives, we experience a change in our immune system that may make us more vulnerable to infections. This is a concern at any time, but especially during the winter season where colds, influenza, and other illnesses are more common, as well as during the current pandemic. However, research suggests that hormone replacement may help regulate some of these immune changes. 

Estrogen Replacement Therapy May Help Improve Immune Response

Estrogens may enhance many different elements of the immune system. For example, estrogens may help stimulate an inflammatory response in your body. This inflammatory response helps you fight off infections if you come into contact with bacteria, viruses, and other germs that can make you sick. 

After a hysterectomy, women experience many of the same symptoms as menopause, because they produce lower estrogen levels. Research suggests that estrogen replacement therapy may help reverse some of the immune system changes that happen after a hysterectomy. This suggests that menopausal women may benefit from a stronger immune system when taking estrogen. Other studies have found that hormone therapy was associated with an improved systemic immune response for post-menopausal women. Therefore, estrogen replacement therapy may not only help alleviate uncomfortable menopause symptoms, it may also help your body’s immune system fight infections. 

Estrogen & the Flu

There are several medical studies concerning how estrogen affects the immune system. Many of these studies involve the use of estrogen replacement therapy. For example, several studies show that estrogen replacement therapy may help improve menopausal women’s immune response to the influenza vaccine. In one recent study, women who received hormone replacement for menopause symptoms had better antibody responses to flu vaccines compared to those who didn’t take hormones. That study also saw a direct correlation between estrogen levels in the HRT group and the number of vaccine-specific antibodies in the blood.

Another study around estrogen replacement therapy and the flu is that estrogen may help reduce the amount of flu virus that can replicate in your body. When a virus infects one of your cells, it starts replicating itself. These replicated viruses then go on to attack more and more of your cells. The more the virus replicates itself, the more severe an infection can be. The researchers in the study suggested that this may be an added benefit of using hormone imbalance treatment for menopause symptoms. 

Why Might Estrogen Play a Role in the Immune System?

Many medical studies look at the effects of declining estrogen levels during menopause on the immune system. Research has found that certain types of white blood cells decline after menopause. Post-menopausal women also generally have higher levels of cytokines, which can cause chronic inflammation. Also, studies have found that immune cell function are also reduced after menopause. Low estrogen levels are also associated with fewer B and T cells. However, estrogen replacement therapy may help reverse some of these effects on the immune system. One reason may be because of hormone receptors in immune cells. This may allow estrogen to help control immune response.

Also, estrogen levels may have an indirect influence on your immune system. Low estrogen levels during menopause may lead to some uncomfortable changes in your life that can affect your immune system. For example, many women experience insomnia during and after menopause. Lack of sleep can take a toll on your immune system and overall health. Another common symptom of menopause is anxiety, which may also affect your immune system the same way high stress levels might. Therefore, other changes during menopause could lead to a weaker immune system. Estrogen replacement therapy may help relieve these symptoms to help you feel your best and live a healthier, more comfortable lifestyle. 

Let’s Talk about Estrogen Replacement Therapy for Menopause Symptoms

At HerKare, we are here to help you address your unique health needs at every stage of life. We provide comprehensive healthcare for women in a warm, welcoming environment. Our clinic is owned and operated by women who understand and take time to help you find underlying causes of your symptoms. Whether you’re experiencing uncomfortable menopause symptoms or are looking for preventative well woman care, our providers are here for you. We provide personalized treatment plans based on your lifestyle to help you feel better. Learn more about your health and how we can help you start feeling your best by booking an appointment today! Our team at HerKare is here for you.

How Low Estrogen Affects the Heart

by SXHH Marketing | Sep 18, 2020 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause, Wellness

Approximately 290,000 women die each year in the U.S. from cardiovascular disease. This makes cardiovascular disease the leading killer of women. What most don’t realize is that low estrogen could play a role in your risk for cardiovascular diseases. Women have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease during and after menopause, which may be due to declining estrogen levels in the body.

Summary

• Low estrogen levels during menopause may increase a woman’s risk of cardiovascular disease. Estrogen helps protect the heart, and when levels decline, women become more vulnerable to heart-related conditions. This is why heart disease becomes more common in women after menopause.
• Estrogen plays an important role in regulating cholesterol and maintaining healthy blood vessels. Low estrogen levels can increase “bad” LDL cholesterol and reduce “good” HDL cholesterol, which can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries. These changes can strain the heart and increase the likelihood of stroke, heart disease, or even heart failure.
• 54% of women experience heart palpitations during menopause due to declining levels of estrogen. Hormonal changes can overstimulate the heart and lead to irregular heart rhythms or a faster heartbeat. In some cases, these palpitations may be related to conditions like atrial fibrillation, which can increase the risk of stroke.
• Hormone replacement therapy may help reduce cardiovascular risks associated with low estrogen. Research suggests that estrogen replacement therapy can improve cholesterol levels and reduce plaque buildup in arteries. A HerKare provider can help tailor a personalized treatment plan for you.

Low estrogen could put extra stress on your heart. Take care of your heart health during menopause.

Low Estrogen and Cardiovascular Risks

Estrogen plays many important roles in the body. Low estrogen during menopause can lead to symptoms that many of us know about. For example, hot flashes, mood changes, and vaginal dryness. However, declining estrogen levels can also cause other effects on your health. Some of these don’t even have symptoms like high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Low estrogen levels may lead to cholesterol changes

Estrogen can help regulate cholesterol levels, which is an important part of heart health. Cholesterol is a type of fat found in your blood. There are good and bad types of cholesterol. However, when people say “high cholesterol,” most of them mean high bad cholesterol, which can affect your risk for cardiovascular disease. LDL cholesterol, commonly known as bad cholesterol, can start to collect and form deposits in your blood vessels, which affects how well your heart can pump blood and may increase the risk for blockages and overworking your heart. HDL cholesterol, a.k.a. good cholesterol, actually helps reduce bad cholesterol levels and makes it harder for LDL cholesterol to form deposits in your blood vessels.

Estrogen acts on the liver to help reduce bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol in your blood. Therefore, low estrogen levels can lead to high cholesterol. This can put additional stress on your heart and increase your risk for heart attack and death from heart disease. Cholesterol level screenings are important at any age, but especially after menopause when you likely have low estrogen levels. Estrogen replacement therapy may help reduce LDL cholesterol levels and help increase HDL levels for postmenopausal women. 

Low estrogen and blood vessels

Also, low estrogen can increase your inflammatory response to cholesterol deposits in your blood vessels. This inflammation can constrict blood flow even further and increase the risk for blockages and undue stress on your heart. Low estrogen levels may also cause your heart and blood vessels to become stiffer and less elastic. This can increase your blood pressure, which can damage your blood vessels and increase your risk for stroke, heart disease, and heart failure. 

Low estrogen and heart palpitations

Another common symptom that women experience during menopause due to low estrogen levels are heart palpitations. Lower estrogen levels can overstimulate the heart and cause arrhythmias. For most menopausal women, this is an increase in heart rate. These palpitations can be a sign of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which is irregular and rapid heartbeat due to the upper chambers of your heart beating out of rhythm with the lower chambers. AFib can increase your risk for heart complications like strokes, heart failure, and blood clots. 

Estrogen levels may lead to other health effects that increase your risk for cardiovascular disease

Low estrogen can also work more insidiously to affect your heart health. Hormone changes can increase your risk for conditions that also increase your risk for cardiovascular risk. For example, low estrogen levels have been linked to increased insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a risk factor for developing diabetes. Diabetes is another risk factor for heart disease and stroke. 

Additionally, estrogen affects how your body distributes fat. Declining estrogen often leads to weight gain and increased visceral fat during menopause. This affects your health in many ways, one of which is putting extra stress on your heart. Therefore, estrogen also has other, more indirect impacts on your heart health. However, estrogen replacement therapy may help reduce these risks and help relieve menopause symptoms. 

Estrogen Replacement Therapy May Help Reduce Cardiovascular Risk

Many researchers believe that estrogen plays a cardioprotective role in our bodies, which is why premenopausal women have less risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to men. Some studies suggest that starting estrogen replacement therapy may help reduce your cardiovascular risks. For example, one study followed women who started estrogen replacement therapy in their 50s after having a hysterectomy. That study showed that they had a reduced risk for cardiovascular death. Researchers looked at data from 10,000 women and found that the group who used estrogen replacement therapy after their hysterectomy had 12 fewer heart attacks and 13 fewer deaths over approximately 11 years. 

Another study showed that women’s hormone care may also help reduce levels of atherosclerosis, which is plaque buildup in heart arteries. This plaque buildup increases the risk for heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular conditions. However, the group of women who used hormone therapy reduced their risk for plaque in their arteries. For example, the hormone therapy group was 20% more likely to have a coronary calcium score of zero, which is the lowest possible score for the test that indicates atherosclerosis. Additionally, women using hormones were 36% less likely to have a score higher than 399, which indicates plaque buildup in the arteries and also a high risk for heart attacks. Therefore, estrogen replacement therapy may help reduce cardiovascular risks during menopause.

Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore 

There are many symptoms of heart issues that women with low estrogen shouldn’t ignore. If you notice these signs, it’s important to schedule a checkup to help with early detection: 

• Heart palpitations: Heart palpitations could be a sign of atrial fibrillation. 
• Shortness of breath: Unexplained shortness of breath could be a sign of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and AFib. 
• Pressure in the chest: Fullness, squeezing, or even a dull pressure in your chest could be a sign of heart disease or even heart attack. If chest pressure doesn’t go away or if it goes away and comes back, it’s vital to talk to your physician. 
• Headaches: While headaches could be caused by many different things, they can also be a symptom of high blood pressure. 
• Achy jaw: If your jaw aches this could be a symptom of health issues and can even be a sign of a heart attack for women. 
• Lightheadedness: Lightheadedness can be a symptom of many things, like heart failure, diabetes, and heart arrhythmias. 
• Swelling in your feet: If your feet start swelling, this could be a sign of congestive heart failure.
• Difficulty breathing when lying flat: Once again, this could be a sign of other conditions, but it can also be a symptom of pulmonary edema, or fluid buildup in your lungs, which is often caused by heart failure. 

At HerKare, we provide advanced, compassionate healthcare for women. Our goal is to help you improve your quality of life. Whether you’re suffering from low energy levels, hot flashes, or just need a plan for overall wellness, our providers are here for you. To celebrate National Cholesterol Education month, schedule an appointment to learn more about your cholesterol levels, heart health, and learn strategies to help improve your health.  

Hormone Replacement Treatment May Reduce Bloating

by SXHH Marketing | Sep 4, 2020 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause, Wellness

Hormone replacement treatment can help with many symptoms of menopause. For example, many women seek hormone care for hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. However, another common issue you may experience during menopause is bloating. Women who experienced bloating symptoms during PMS in their pre-menopausal years are more likely to notice these symptoms during perimenopause and after. Some characteristics of bloating include uncomfortable pressure or tightness in your abdominal area and changes in abdominal size or shape. Bloating is generally due to either gas retention or water retention. Either of these can occur due to hormone imbalances. While occasional bloating is normal for people of all ages, chronic bloating can negatively impact your quality of life. Therefore, if you notice frequent bloating, make an appointment to talk to one of our physicians about your symptoms.

Hormone replacement treatment may help with bloating during and after menopause.

Why Am I Bloating During Menopause?

Bloating is different from weight gain, though many people mistake the two. The way to tell the difference is bloating often causes sudden changes or fluctuations. For example, you may notice differences throughout the day or after meals. Weight gain generally doesn’t cause such quick changes and usually requires diet and exercise to change. There are many things that can cause bloating. For instance, many people bloat from eating or drinking too quickly, chewing gum, or taking certain medications. Additionally, bloating is common for those with gastrointestinal disorders and food intolerances.

However, hormone changes can also cause bloating. This is especially true during perimenopause when your hormone levels begin to fluctuate and often become imbalanced. However, even after menopause, low hormone levels can lead to bloating. Fortunately, hormone imbalance treatment can help keep your hormone levels in healthy ranges and may assist with symptoms like bloating and hot flashes.

High Estrogen, Low Progesterone

During perimenopause, a common hormone imbalance to see is estrogen dominance. This is where your body produces more estrogen and less progesterone. Estrogen can encourage water retention, which may lead to chronic bloating. Bloating caused by water retention may be different than bloating caused by gas retention. Generally, gas retention causes bloating only in the abdominal area, while water retention can cause bloating throughout the body. A common sign of water retention bloating is your hands or feet feeling “puffy.”

High estrogen and low progesterone levels can lead to water retention and bloating. Estrogen often acts as a fluid retaining hormone, while progesterone is a natural diuretic. Therefore, when these hormones are thrown off balance, you may notice bloating. This is commonly the cause of perimenopausal bloating. There are many strategies for handling bloating due to water retention, including hormone replacement treatment when the cause is hormone fluctuations.

Low Estrogen

However, even low estrogen can cause bloating. After menopause most women will have lower levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Estrogen doesn’t just play a role in water retention; it also aids in bile production. This means that low estrogen may lead to a reduction in bile, which may lead to symptoms that cause menopausal bloating. Bile is made in the liver and helps digestion in several ways. Notably, bile helps break down fats in food and turn them into fatty acids. Bile also helps lubricate the small intestine to help soften stool and promote bowel movements. Declines in bile production due to low estrogen levels can lead to constipation and other gastrointestinal symptoms that may cause bloating. However, hormone replacement treatment can help bring estrogen levels up to healthy levels to help with menopause symptoms.

Hormone Replacement Treatment May Help Menopausal Bloating

If you’re bloating during menopause, hormone therapy may be able to help relieve your symptoms. While menopausal bloating is often confused with other conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, a common cause is simply hormone changes that naturally occur during perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. If you have bloating due to these hormone changes, hormone replacement treatment may help reduce bloating.

The aim of hormone replacement treatment is to help bring hormone levels up to healthy ranges and to help create hormonal balance. Our provider may recommend hormone imbalance treatment if your hormone levels are low or if you have too much of a hormone. Often, this may cause other symptoms in addition to bloating, such as:

• Mood changes
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Low libido

If you and your doctor decide to start hormone replacement treatment, our team offers hormone injections for fast, convenient, and advanced hormone care. Injections can help you absorb the hormones better and allow more dosage control so we can adjust your dosage to suit your needs and body.

Hormone therapy from our team also means regular monitoring to help us fine-tune your dosage. This also helps us keep track of how you’re responding to treatment and evaluate your overall health. Hormone care from our team means routine checks of your hormone levels to help personalize your treatment plan.

Lifestyle Changes Combined with Hormone Replacement Treatment

However, because we take a broad approach to healthcare, we may recommend combining hormone replacement treatment and lifestyle changes as part of your custom treatment plan. Depending on your specific circumstances, there are several changes you may be able to make to help reduce bloating. We understand that there are many factors that can influence bloating, which is why we often recommend making some healthy changes when you’re experiencing symptoms. Some of the changes we may suggest include:

• Drinking plenty of water
• Exercising regularly
• Reducing sodium intake
• Eating smaller meals
• Avoiding foods that cause gas retention, like:
  • Beans
  • Broccoli
  • Fatty foods
• Reducing stress

Therefore, if you’ve been experiencing chronic bloating, it’s important to talk to a physician about your symptoms to help you start feeling better.

At HerKare, we provide advanced, compassionate women’s healthcare. Whether you’re experiencing uncomfortable menopause symptoms or need a general wellness checkup, our team is here to listen and provide a warm, friendly environment where you feel comfortable to discuss all your health concerns. Our goal is to help you feel your best and help you remain healthy. Therefore, we work with you to find solutions tailored to your needs and your lifestyle. Book an appointment today and let’s talk about your health and wellbeing. We are here for you.

Can HRT Help Lower Cortisol? The Connection Between Estrogen and Stress Hormones

by SXHH Marketing | Aug 5, 2020 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause, Wellness

Today, women are under more stress than ever before. Life changes like perimenopause and menopause put women more at risk for these rising stressors, taking a toll on their health. Many women though, are turning to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as its effects may reduce stress in addition to hormonal balance.

Studies have shown that estrogen can play a key role in reducing cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, by helping restore hormonal balance. HRT may support healthier cortisol levels as well as improving overall well-being.

What is Cortisol?

Imagine you’re driving when someone suddenly swerves into your lane. If you’ve ever been in a scary situation like this, then you can thank cortisol for the rush of energy you get as you try to avoid the accident.

Cortisol has earned the nickname “the stress hormone,” as it’s responsible for the fight or flight response. It quickly increases your blood sugar so your body has quick access to energy, helping you get out of life-threatening situations. However, cortisol also responds to other stressors that aren’t dangerous, like meeting a deadline at work or getting stuck in a traffic jam.

But it isn’t just fight or flight or normal stress, cortisol plays an important role in everyday life. For example, your body normally has higher cortisol levels when you wake up and when you exercise, helping to give you the energy you need.

Effects of High Cortisol

The problem is, most of us are walking around with higher than normal levels of cortisol. In fact, studies have shown that women tend to have higher cortisol levels than men. This can cause many unwanted symptoms to show up, such as:

• Fatigue
• Increased abdominal fat
• Brain fog
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Mood changes

In addition to these internal symptoms, high cortisol levels can impact you in more visible ways. Some people refer to a visible effect called “cortisol face”.

Cortisol face, sometimes known as moon face, refers to facial puffiness that can happen when cortisol levels stay elevated. This is because cortisol can affect how the body manages fluid retention.

While cortisol is often called the “stress hormone”, it does not work alone. Estrogen is also important when it comes to the body regulating stress, making the relationship between HRT and cortisol worth exploring.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and Cortisol

So, how does hormone replacement therapy, specifically estrogen replacement therapy, have to do with the stress hormone?

During perimenopause and menopause, your estrogen levels naturally start to decline. At the same time, the body’s stress response becomes more sensitive, leading to higher cortisol levels. This is where estrogen replacement therapy may help.

By stabilizing your nervous system, estrogen replacement therapy reduces the body’s stress response, helping avoid the physical menopause symptoms that cause stress.

In one study examining stress, researchers exposed participants to mild stressors to measure their cortisol response. Women not using hormone therapy showed higher cortisol levels than women who were on estrogen replacement therapy. The women on estrogen replacement therapy have a more balanced cortisol response, even when exposed to the same stressors.

These results point to the idea that estrogen replacement therapy may support a more balanced stress response, especially during perimenopause and menopause.

Explore Your HRT Options

Hormones play a central role in how the body manages stress, and estrogen and cortisol are closely linked in that process.

At HerKare, hormone replacement therapy is one of the many ways we help support hormonal balance through every stage of life. Treatment is always personalized and may help relieve symptoms related to the stressors of perimenopause and menopause.

If stress, energy, or mood changes are affecting your daily life, our team can help you explore whether hormone therapy may be right for you.

Book an appointment today to get started.

People Also Ask

How do I know if my symptoms are caused by hormones or stress?

Hormonal changes and stress often overlap in symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and sleep issues. To better understand the cause, talk to a HerKare provider about hormone testing.

Does cortisol always stay high during menopause?

Not always. Cortisol levels naturally fluctuate throughout the day. However, during perimenopause and menopause, hormonal changes may make the body more sensitive to stress, which can affect how cortisol responds.

Can lifestyle changes help lower cortisol levels?

Yes! Sleep, nutrition, exercise, and stress management can all influence cortisol levels and may work alongside hormone therapy for better symptom support.

When should I consider hormone testing?

If you are experiencing persistent symptoms like stress, fatigue, or mood changes, hormone testing may help uncover underlying imbalances.

WOMEN & STRESS – The American Institute of Stress

Estradiol Therapy After Menopause Mitigates Effects of Stress on Cortisol and Working Memory – PMC

Moon Face: Causes & Treatment