What Happens When Estrogen Disappears: Why Hormone Loss Isn’t Just “Natural”

When we talk about hormones, it’s easy to lump everything under the umbrella of “imbalance.” However, according to OB/GYN Dr. Barbara Taylor—known widely as Menopause Taylor—what most women are experiencing in midlife isn’t a fluctuation. It’s a full-blown deficiency.

“Hormones rise and fall all the time. That’s precisely how they exert their effects. So, all hormones are supposed to span a range of normal values,” Taylor tells Respin. “What’s completely abnormal is the complete loss of a hormone. That’s what we call a hormone deficiency.”

We understand this concept when it comes to conditions like diabetes or hypothyroidism, where insulin or thyroid hormone levels drop below what the body needs to function. Left untreated, those deficiencies become dangerous. Estrogen loss, Dr. Taylor argues, is no different. “With estrogen deficiency, you have 22 signs and symptoms. If you fail to compensate for the absence of estrogen, you will eventually have a high risk of the deadly diseases that are associated with menopause.” 

In other words, midlife shouldn’t be a slow fade. You deserve to thrive.

“Simply put, you cannot live if your body is deficient in any substance it needs in order to function normally.”

The Hormone–Health Connection

The endocrine system touches every part of our being—reproductive, cognitive, metabolic, and emotional. But few of us are taught to recognize its signals. “Our bodies talk to us,” Taylor says. “We’re just not used to listening.”

In men, testosterone gradually declines with age—but never disappears entirely. For women, estrogen and progesterone production halts sharply at the end of the reproductive years, typically after 35 to 40 years of hormonal rhythm. Menopause doesn’t just signify the end of menstruation—it marks a rapid hormonal shutdown.

“This loss of female hormones happens rapidly, over just a few months or years. And rapid hormonal changes are always quite drastic,” says Taylor. She calls estrogen a woman’s “fountain of youth,” and when it vanishes, the effects are both visible and invisible. “When we lose our estrogen, we start aging rapidly on the outside and the inside.”

Symptoms range from the familiar—fatigue, dry skin, joint pain, sleep disruption—to the often-overlooked: brain fog, mood shifts, urinary incontinence, and plummeting libido. But the consequences can be much more serious. Untreated estrogen loss has been linked to Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and osteoporosis.

“It’s Not a Pause—It’s Estro-Gone”

Dr. Taylor takes issue with the term “menopause” itself. “It’s certainly not just a pause. And it’s certainly not just about the cessation of menstrual cycles (which is the derivation of the root ‘meno’). I think we should call it ‘estro-gone.’ Our estrogen is gone, gone, gone.”

And for many women, that reality isn’t temporary. It becomes the backdrop of their next chapter. “For the vast majority of women, it will constitute one-third to one-half of their lives,” Taylor says.

So why aren’t we talking about it?

“There’s nothing whatsoever ‘natural’ about outliving your ovaries and running out of estrogen,” Taylor continues. “There is nothing subtle about estrogen loss at menopause. So, why is there silence on the topic? Women are suffering. And we need to speak up in order to help them.”

Managing Hormone Deficiencies with Intention

The hormonal shifts of midlife aren’t optional—but how we move through them can be. “Ignoring what your aging body is telling you is like fighting Mother Nature,” Taylor says.

“If your knees say, ‘I don’t like running anymore,’ but you continue to run anyway, you’ll run into big problems down the line. If you stay up all night like you did in your twenties, your body is going to put up a fight. If you don’t give your body time to get over jet lag, you’ll endure huge setbacks.”

Managing hormone deficiencies isn’t about quick fixes or one-size-fits-all solutions. It’s about tuning in and finding what works with your body instead of against it. “Every option has benefits and risks—the key is being realistic about what each approach can and can’t accomplish,” Taylor says. “Accepting the trade-offs is part of the process.”

Tools range from hormone replacement therapy and non-hormonal medications to integrative practices like acupuncture, lifestyle adjustments, targeted nutrition, and herbal remedies.

“Hormones travel all over your body, exerting their effects in many different organs and in many different ways. All aspects of your life and body will feel the effect of the hormone that’s ‘off.’ So, every aspect of your life can contribute in some way to improving the problem.”

Because the goal isn’t just to survive this chapter—it’s to reclaim your sense of self and redefine what ease, strength, and presence can look like in your second act.

Want to learn more about this topic? Join us for Facts Over Fear: What Science Really Says About Estrogen & Breast Cancer 

On May 20, Respin Health (https://respin.health) is hosting a live event with Coach Jill Chmielewski, Dr. Carol Tavris, and Dr. Avrum Bluming from Estrogen Matters to unpack what science really says about estrogen and breast cancer. If you’ve ever felt confused, afraid, or unsure about hormone therapy, this conversation is for you. Let’s replace fear with facts—and help you make informed, empowered decisions. 

Tuesday, May 20 at 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT,

RSVP here, no membership required: 

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wH0afg6QRPGmxQe0n-RCag#/registration