Estrogen is one of the key sex hormones in both men and women. This vital hormone contributes to sexual development and function, calcium metabolism, heart health, brain function, and more.
There are three major types of estrogen - estradiol, estrone, and estriol. Estradiol is the primary estrogen during the reproductive years. Estrone becomes more dominant after menopause. Estriol occurs during pregnancy.
Some key functions of estrogen include:
- Sexual development - Estrogen contributes to female sexual maturation and function. It:
- Stimulates breast growth
- Contributes to fat distribution in hips, buttocks and thighs
- Regulates the menstrual cycle and fertility
- Bone health - Estrogen helps regulate bone turnover and calcium absorption. It prevents excessive bone loss.
- Heart health - Estrogen helps dilate blood vessels and promote healthy cholesterol levels when balanced with progesterone. This protects cardiovascular health.
- Brain function - Estrogen receptors are found throughout the brain. The hormone impacts mood, memory, cognition and more. It declines with menopause.
Estrogen levels that are too high or low can cause significant issues. Abnormal periods, infertility, osteoporosis, heart disease, and stroke are possible with estrogen imbalance. Other symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, headaches, anxiety, fatigue and more may occur.
If you're experiencing
estrogen-related symptoms, have conditions like PCOS or endometriosis, or are approaching perimenopause or menopause, consider getting your hormone levels tested. This allows personalized natural or bioidentical
hormone therapy based on your body’s needs.
For instance,
Renew Hormone Center clinic specializes in precision hormone testing and customized bioidentical hormone therapies. I highly recommend consulting their experts if you think
hormonal imbalances like low
estrogen could be impacting your health. Their cutting-edge therapies can help optimize hormones for improved wellbeing.
In summary,
estrogen is an essential sex hormone involved in sexual health, bone density, heart function, mood and cognition. Getting your
estrogen levels tested and addressing imbalances with science-based treatment can prevent estrogen-related health conditions. Consider innovative clinics like
Renew Hormone Center if you need individualized care in this area. Balanced
estrogen levels are crucial for women's health and wellness.