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Estrogen is a group of steroids that aid the menstrual cycle in the female body. Estrogen is most commonly given to women who are post-menopausal to lessen the symptoms of menopause. Symptoms like hot flashes, depression, mood swings and vaginal dryness can be lessened with a small dose of estrogen therapy. Although most women will... more »
Although physical differences between males and females are obvious from birth, they become more distinct after a girl has her first menstrual cycle and the role of estrogen increases. A female's reproductive life continues until her last cycle, ushering in menopause. With menopause comes a reduced level of estrogen and usually... more »
Estrogen is a hormone associated with women, but is actually produced by both male and females. In women, estrogen affects the female reproductive system, heart, bones, brain and other parts of the body. ERT, or Estrogen Replacement Therapy, is used to supplement estrogen loss or lack of hormone production during menopause. ... more »
There are several reasons you might want to boost your estrogen levels. Perhaps your pituitary gland is malfunctioning and you need extra hormone to balance your reproductive system, or maybe you want to get pregnant but your doctor tells you that your estrogen levels are too low. Many women also require hormone supplements during... more »
Estrogen is a sex hormone that acts to develop sex characteristics in women which make women physically different from men. Women have wider hips, smaller muscles and larger breasts than men because women have more estrogen in their bodies than men. This hormone also regulates the menstrual cycle by causing the thickening of the... more »
HRT, or hormone replacement therapy, involves the use of synthetic estrogen and progesterone to...
Choosing a contraceptive method is one of the most important aspects of sexual activity....
A party would not be a party without the gift of alcohol. Throw inhibitions out the window and...
Birth-control options flood pharmacy shelves and the airwaves, boasting the latest formulas and...
Estrogen dominance is a phrase coined by Dr. John Lee in his book about natural progesterone, which describes how a deficit amount of... more »
When a man is being treated for prostate cancer, doctors often attempt to lower his levels of testosterone. This is because this male hormone... more »
Estrogen is an important hormone to maintain a healthy body. Of course women need more estrogen than men, but it is necessary for men as well.... more »
Recent studies indicate that hormone replacement therapy may increase a women's risk of cancer. So women are seeking safer, gentler alternatives... more »
With so much information from Internet, TV, radio and newspaper sources, it can be difficult to determine what is safe for use and what is not.... more »
Estrogens (U.S., otherwise oestrogens or œstrogens) are a group of steroid compounds, named for their importance in the estrous cycle, and functioning as the primary female sex hormone, their name comes from estrus/oistros (period of fertility for female mammals) + gen/gonos to generate.
Estrogens are used as part of some oral contraceptives, in estrogen replacement therapy for postmenopausal women, and in hormone replacement therapy for transwomen.
Like all steroid hormones, estrogens readily diffuse across the cell membrane. Once inside the cell, they bind to and activate estrogen receptors which in turn up-regulate the expression of many genes."isbn1-85996-252-1"> Additionally, estrogens have been shown to activate a G protein-coupled receptor, GPR30."pmid17222505">
Types
Steroidal
The three major naturally occurring estrogens in women are estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3). Estradiol (E2) is the predominate form in nonpregnant females, estrone is produced during menopause, and estriol is the primary estrogen of pregnancy. In the body these are all produced from androgens through actions of enzymes.
* From menarche to menopause the primary estrogen is 17β-estradiol. In postmenopausal women more estrone is present than estradiol.
* Estradiol is produced from testosterone and estrone from androstenedione by aromatase.
* Estrone is weaker than estradiol.
Premarin, a commonly prescribed estrogenic drug, contains the steroidal estrogens equilin and equilenin, in addition to estrone sulfate but due to its health risk, more genetic estrogen named Progynova (estradiol valerate) are now more often prescribed.
Nonsteroidal
A range of synthetic and natural substances have been identified that also possess estrogenic activity."pmid11258977">
* Synthetic substances of this kind are known as xenoestrogens.
* Plant products with estrogenic activity are called phytoestrogens.
* Those produced read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estrogen
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