5 Reasons for Fatigue in Females
Fatigue is a general symptom that usually is a secondary symptom to a larger issue. Feelings associated with fatigue are low energy, muscle weakness, irritability, exhaustion, and low motivation. Hormones are essential in the body to regulate multiple functions. When hormones are imbalanced, fatigue can result. Because many different aspects regulate hormones, we will discuss various lifestyle factors that impact hormones and fatigue.
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Here are 5 reasons for fatigue in females:
1. Birth Control
The first of the reasons for fatigue in females is birth control. Fatigue can result from birth control itself, or it can result from recently getting off birth control. About 4 - 10% of women experience adverse mood effects from using oral contraceptives. These effects include depressed mood, fatigue, and emotional sensitivity. The part of the brain that responds to emotion and fear is called the amygdala. A study found that the amygdala in women who experience adverse emotional effects while using an oral contraceptive has more habituation than those taking a placebo in the study. These women will have more reactive responses to negative things occurring in their lives, resulting in depressive moods and fatigue.
In contrast, when women stop taking birth control after long-term use. The body can experience fatigue due to the withdrawal of artificial hormones. When using hormonal birth control, your body is no longer producing hormones internally because hormones are administered through the pill, patch, IUD, ring etc. During this time, this controls birth control by not ovulating. After long-term use your body will adapt and get used to this system. A few months after quitting birth control, the body has to re-learn how to produce its own hormones to ovulate. This process can be energy taxing on the body while it adjusts, resulting in fatigue.
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2. B Vitamin Deficiency
Another one of the reasons for fatigue in females is the lack of proper intake of B vitamins. Encompassing about 8 total vitamins, these are crucial for energy levels in the body. Specifically, B1, B2, B12, and B3 all play an important role in energy production reactions. Without enough of these vitamins, the energy production process is limited and can’t move forward. For hormone health specifically, folate, vitamin B9, is essential. Studies found that folate intake in women was associated with a decline in ovulatory infertility. It is also a vital coenzyme in many metabolic functions which can assist with fertility. Additionally, it is advised to take methylated folate instead of folic acid.
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3. PMS
PMS or premenstrual syndrome is another one of the reasons for fatigue in females. During this time of the month, hormone levels drop. As mentioned, without sufficient hormones, mood and energy levels decline. Mood and cognition stability are both heavily reliant on estrogen balance. Estradiol and estrone are different forms of the estrogen molecule that we produce. It has been shown that estradiol is more beneficial to regulate stable mood patterns and has antidepressant effects when taken in normal limits, but with low levels, it can cause unstable emotions which are another one of the symptoms for what is premenstrual syndrome. Your hormones must be balanced to avoid fatigue as one of the PMS symptoms.
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4. PCOS
PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome is another one of the reasons for fatigue in females. This condition is defined by having 2 out of the 3 criteria ovarian cysts, irregular periods, and/or elevated androgen levels. Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms in those with PCOS and it may be linked to androgen production from the adrenal glands. In normal cases, the ovaries should produce androgens. Still, studies show that some women with PCOS produce these hormones from the adrenal glands, which are the glands that control stress levels. Over time with adrenal exhaustion, fatigue can develop from overuse.
Source: NIH
5. Not enough quality sleep
Not having enough quality sleep is the last of the reasons for fatigue in females. This is because sleep is a huge regulator of our stress and energy levels during the day. Matching your sleep patterns to the circadian rhythm is extremely important. The circadian rhythm is our body’s 24-hour internal clock which helps us rest at night and do things during the day. When this is disrupted from not enough sleep at night or erratic sleep patterns, this confuses the circadian rhythm, and energy levels will not be as high during the day resulting in fatigue.
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