Estrogen Facts

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Estrogen Facts from DenverHormoneExperts

Estrogen Facts Slideshow Transcription

  • Estrogen occurs naturally in both women and men.
  • The word Estrogen is derived from the Greek word oistros (meaning “gadfly” but figuratively conveying sexual desire).
  • Estrogen is a steroid hormone.
  • Your sex drive is dependent on your androgen levels (which only exist in the presence of estrogen.
  • All vertebrae, as well as some insects, synthesize estrogen.
  • Estrogen enhances skin, blood circulation and blood vessel repair.
  • Estrogen is produced in the ovaries in females.
  • Peak estrogen levels occur just before ovulation.
  • The liver, breasts and adrenal glands also produce small amounts of estrogen.
  • Estrogen increases bone strength.
  • Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) conducted a study that proved synthetic estrogen supplements were associated with an increased risk of blood clotting.
  • If taking a form of estrogen, always make sure it’s a bio-identical version of your naturally produced estrogen hormone.
  • Estrogen plays a significant role in a woman’s mental health.
  • Estrogen has recently been used to treat bulimia nervosa patients after discovering that the disease may be linked to a hormone imbalance in the brain.
  • Fat produces estrogen. This means overweight people have higher-than-average estrogen levels which causes imbalanced hormone symptoms.
  • 80% of breast cancers need estrogen to grow. These cancers are known as hormone-sensitive or hormone-receptor-positive. A treatment for these types of cancers is the suppression of estrogen development.
  • Recent studies have shown that common table mushrooms have anti-aromatase properties (a possible anti-estrogen effect). Scientists have begun to research whether or not table mushrooms can prevent breast cancer.
  • Estrogen is occasionally used as treatment for men with prostate cancers.
  • Estrogen promotes the development of female sexual characteristics (breasts, endometrial wall thickening, menstrual cycle, etc.).
  • Estrogen is essential in men for the maturation of sperm and may be necessary for a healthy sex drive.
  • Estrogen helps to accelerate metabolism.
  • Estrogen has been used to help treat traumatic liver injuries.
  • In the past, estrogen was used to prevent further growth in tall females.
  • The 4 natural estrogens produced in women are:
  • estrone (E1)
  • estradiol (E2)
  • estriol (E3)
  • estetrol (E4)
  • Estradiol is the predominant estrogen in the body throughout a woman’s reproductive years.
  • Estrone is the predominant estrogen during menopause.
  • Estriol is the predominant estrogen during pregnancy, trumping the potency of its sister estrogen, estetrol. Estetrol is only produced during pregnancy.
  • Despite estriol being the most bountiful of the three estrogens, it’s the weakest. Estradiol is the strongest estrogen (80x more potent than estriol).
  • Estrogen is not water-soluble.