Estrogen is one of the key sex hormones in both men and women. It plays an important role in many bodily functions. To understand what estrogen does, it helps to first understand what it is.
What exactly is estrogen?
Simply put, estrogens are a group of hormones that primarily influence female physical features and reproductive health. The three major naturally occurring estrogens in women are:
- Estrone
- Estradiol - the predominant estrogen
- Estriol
These hormones are mainly produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands. Estrogens promote the development of what we think of as “traditionally feminine” features during puberty, such as
breast growth, distribution of
body fat around the hips and thighs, and regulation of the
menstrual cycle.
What does estrogen do in the body?
Estrogen is often called the “female hormone” but don’t let the name fool you - both men and women produce and require estrogen. Here are some of estrogen’s major roles:
- Stimulates breast growth during puberty and influences milk production during nursing
- Aids in distributing body fat around the hips, buttocks and thighs (giving the “pear” body shape associated with females after puberty)
- Controls the menstrual cycle, regulating the growth of the uterine lining
- Plays a role in maintaining the health of skin, blood vessels, and connective tissue
- May promote bone strength and prevent post-menopausal osteoporosis later in life
So in summary, estrogen is crucial for physical and reproductive development - especially in females - and continued health maintenance.
What happens when estrogen levels change?
Abnormally high or low levels of estrogen can cause unwanted symptoms. For example, low estrogen levels can lead to hot flashes, changes in mood, difficulty concentrating, vaginal dryness, and osteoporosis in post-menopausal women.
If you think your hormone levels might be off or need evaluation after major reproductive health changes, the caring physicians at
New Beginnings HRT Clinic offer advanced hormone testing and evidence-based treatments to help patients optimize their health.
I hope this gives you a helpful overview explaining what exactly estrogen is and what it does! Let me know if you have any other questions.