Estrogen is a naturally produced sex hormone that is essential for the physical and reproductive development of women. However, either through genetic predispositions or aging, estrogen levels in a woman can dip, causing a number of problems. Common symptoms of decreasing estrogen include hot flashes and migraines. While most doctors often prescribe hormone replacement therapy as a form of treatment to help mitigate low estrogen level symptoms, these treatments are not without side effects. Here is a quick list of some common estrogen side effects.

Gall Stones – Due to taking estrogen medication, the gall bladder often becomes inflamed and develops gall stones. These stones can be painful and cause lasting problems. The best treatment for gall stones is to remove the gall bladder entirely, necessitating surgery.

Cancer Risk – Heightened levels of estrogen in the body often increase a woman’s risk of certain types of cancer. While these risks are generally low and the benefits of combating symptoms of menopause are worthwhile, the dangers are still there. Women on estrogen treatments often are at a greater risk for developing breast and endometrial cancer. However, these are long term risks of taking estrogen supplements and can take years, if not decades, to develop.

Altered Sex Drives – Estrogen can often play havoc on sexuality in some women, either increasing or decreasing their libido. This can alter a woman’s lifestyle but estrogen can also, in some cases, cause changes in sexual tastes. Dramatic examples of this often include changing sexual preference or being attracted to new sexual stimuli.

Bleeding and Spotting – Estrogen can often cause bleeding and spotting in women. Women who take estrogen supplements prior to menopause are often more likely to display these symptoms or to suffer from heavier occurrences of bleeding and spotting than women who take estrogen supplements during menopause. Menstruation flows may also be heavier than normal compared to not taking estrogen supplements. A woman’s period may also cease during estrogen treatments and only return after the medication has been stopped.

Physical Changes – A woman taking estrogen may also see various physical signs of the treatment. Rashes are common during the beginning of treatment but should be monitored to determine if this is due to an allergic reaction. Yellowing of the skin and brown splotches may also appearing when beginning treatment that often fades over time. Consult your doctor should these physical signs become too invasive to manage. Changes in breast size may also occur during estrogen treatments, with breasts usually enlarging and becoming more sensitive.

Blood Clots – Estrogen treatments may raise a woman’s likelihood of developing a blood clot. This in turn can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke which can be fatal if not properly treated and prevented. Other medications can reduce the risk of a blood clot but special care must be paid in order to prevent medications from interfering with each other.

While not every woman prescribed hormone replacement therapy will face these negative effects of the therapy, but these estrogen side effects should be acknowledged.  It is important to recognize that these are possible so you are aware of what you may face and so you can get help from your doctor if any symptoms of these side effects show up.