Estrogen is one of the key sex hormones that play an integral role in female sexual development and reproduction. When we think of estrogen, the three main forms that come to mind are:
- Estrone
- Estradiol - The dominant estrogen during reproductive years
- Estriol - The primary estrogen produced during pregnancy
These hormones are mainly produced in the
ovaries and perform a wide array of functions in the female
endocrine system:
- Stimulate female sex characteristics during puberty like breast development, distribution of fat, etc.
- Regulation of the menstrual cycle
- Maintains the health of tissues in the vagina and uterus
- Plays a role with progesterone in preparing the body for pregnancy
- Contributes to bone strength and health
Now during
menopause, as the ovaries start to produce less estrogen, it leads to symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood changes, trouble sleeping, etc. This is why hormone therapy using external estrogen is commonly prescribed during this stage of life.
To summarize the key points:
- Estrogen refers to a group of female sex hormones that develop female characteristics and regulate the reproductive system
- The main kinds are estrone, estradiol and estriol with estradiol being the most abundant during reproductive years
- Estrogen levels drop during menopause leading to various symptoms
- Hormone therapy with bioidentical estrogens can provide relief from menopausal symptoms
- Getting hormone testing is crucial before starting any kind of hormone therapy
I hope this gives you a good overview of what the role of estrogen is in the female body! Let me know if you have any other questions.