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When you come across the word “estrogen,” what's the first thought that crosses your mind? The female reproductive organ? A sex hormone found only in women? Interestingly, estrogen is present in both males and females, although it’s generally linked with female reproductive health.
Beyond reproductive roles, estrogen affects other physiological processes, such as brain function, cardiovascular health, bone density, and other essential bodily functions. So, what is estrogen, and how does it affect the body? You may have some knowledge, but keep reading to get more information about this hormone.
Estrogen is a vital sex hormone that helps regulate sexual and reproductive health, particularly in women. However, its role in human physiology extends beyond sexual health, influencing various aspects of human health, including men. Still, you'd often find the hormone, alongside progesterone, more associated in women because of its importance in the development of female secondary sex characters - including hips and breasts - regulating the menstrual cycle and in pregnancy.
Like many other sex hormones, estrogen is a natural steroid, exhausting in various forms within the human body. The body naturally produces three primary forms of estrogen, each having distinctive functions. They include the following:
Estradiol is the most common form of estrogen, abundant in females at reproductive age, though also common in men. Variations in the level of this hormone play a crucial role in various physiological and cognitive functions. For example, excess levels can cause acne, low libido, and depression, and low levels are associated with weight gain and heart-related issues.
It is a less potent form of estrogen, more common in premenopausal women after the cessation of ovarian estrogen production. However, it is also influential in regulating bone density and heart functions.
This estrogen form increases during pregnancy till the woman delivers, as it aids uterus growth and prepares the body for delivery. Beyond pregnancy, there's less information relating to the role of this hormone.
Here, we will explore the roles and functions of the hormone estrogen beyond its influence on sexual health.
Estrogen is the most influential hormone in regulating the female reproductive system, particularly regarding fertility and reproductive health. Its influence included the following:
Alongside other steroidal hormones, estrogen helps maintain skeletal integrity and bone density. It is essential for keeping healthy and strong bones, promoting new bone tissue formation, and reducing bone breakdown. Moreover, adequate estrogen levels help prevent osteoporosis, a condition characterized by weak and brittle bones. It is common in premenopausal women after estrogen levels start to drop.
Estrogen is cardioprotective; it helps protect the heart, particularly relating to the relationship between cholesterol and heart diseases. The hormone helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels, promoting good cholesterol (HDL) and decreasing bad cholesterol (LDL), thus reducing the risks of heart diseases. In addition, research suggests that premenopausal women rich in estrogen levels often have a lower risk of specific heart diseases compared to men of similar ages.
New studies suggest that estrogen may be influential in protecting brain health and overall cognitive function, particularly memory. The hormone facilitates higher mental functions by promoting the growth of nerve cells. It also affects specific brain areas, like the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex, and supports communication between brain cells.
The body has a complex mechanism that helps regulate hormones. These hormones play crucial roles in bodily functions; hence, it’s best to ensure appropriate levels. However, like other endogenous substances in the body, estrogen levels vary among individuals. Even females that have robust levels of this hormone experience these variations. Such fluctuations are usually expected when puberty hits, during the menstrual cycle, and throughout their lifetime.
While females generally have robust estrogen levels throughout life, particularly from puberty and during the menstrual cycle. Some factors may cause a spike in its production or decrease it. Below are some of these factors.
The peak years of estrogen in a woman's life are during her reproductive years and decline during menopause. Estrogen levels increase during the onset of puberty and menstruation because it is required for the development of Secondary characteristics. However, as ovarian function declines, when the woman approaches menopause, it starts to decline.
This relates to diet, exercise, and stress levels. Maintaining a healthy diet rich in veggies, fruits, and whole grains, with regularly exercising, will facilitate healthy estrogen levels. On the other hand, a sedentary lifestyle, coupled with alcohol consumption, will negatively impact your body's estrogen level, which may disrupt the entire body's hormone regulation.
Certain medical conditions, particularly those related to the ovaries, may alter estrogen levels. These conditions include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), primary ovarian insufficiency, tumors of ovaries or adrenal glands, pituitary gland insufficiency, etc. Other conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure may also affect estrogen levels.
The following also play significant roles in altering the body's estrogen levels:
Maintaining a delicate balance is the goal of promoting well-being and overall body health. However, different factors can result in its imbalance, which we have discussed above. Also, we hinted that estrogen imbalance can come in two ways: deficiency or excess.
Therefore, this section will discuss the implications of these imbalances on health and well-being.
Factors likely to cause low estrogen levels include excessive exercise and poor eating habits, amongst others we already discussed above. That said, below are the common symptoms of low estrogen levels.
It is not uncommon for females to experience high estrogen levels at one point or the other throughout life. Females generally experience high estrogen levels during the onset of puberty and pregnancy, with the hormone fluctuating during the menstrual cycle and leaking at the proliferative phase, just after ovulation.
However, increased estrogen at these stages is normal. But remember, we mentioned that certain disease conditions may alter the hormone levels.
Below are potential causes of excess estrogen levels
The symptoms of high estrogen levels include
Upon detecting estrogen imbalance symptoms, you must first consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis. Afterward, if they've confirmed you have either of the conditions - low or high estrogen levels, they will recommend the best treatment that suits you.
That said, the following are effective means of managing estrogen imbalance.
Hormone replacement therapy is commonly recommended for women who experience symptoms of estrogen deficiency during menopause. It typically involves the administration of estrogen alone or in combination with other hormones like progesterone to simulate the natural hormonal fluctuations in the natural menstrual cycle. HRT helps to alleviate symptoms and reduce the risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
Since maintaining a healthy diet and exercising routine can help improve estrogen levels, properly adjusting to lifestyle is a practical means of correcting its imbalance. Eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help increase estrogen levels. Also, combining stress management techniques can help support hormonal balance and overall health. Eat more whole grains and fiber, and cut off the intake of processed foods, refined carbs, and unhealthy fats.
Another effective method of managing estrogen imbalance is to treat the underlying medical conditions. For example, if it is caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis, treatment needs to be targeted at the actual cause. Most of the medical interventions for managing estrogen imbalance do not require surgery, but in cases of cancers like breast cancer, it may become inevitable.
If you notice some symptoms of low estrogen levels, consider including food rich in these hormones. However, maintaining a healthy, balanced diet should give you enough nutrients. Certain foods contain phytoestrogens, an analog of estrogen in plants.
These food items include:
These foods may even prove effective in alleviating symptoms of menopause.
As mentioned earlier, men also possess estrogen in certain blood levels. In fact, it may be higher in healthy men of reproductive stage than in post-menopausal women. Some of the functions of estrogen in men's health according to research include the following:
While many associate estrogen with the feminine reproductive system, it is an essential hormone in both males and females. The role of this hormone extends beyond regulating the menstrual cycle. It performs cardioprotective functions and helps maintain bone and mental health.
Estrogen imbalance affects behavior by potentiating mood swings, depression, and anxiety. It may also result in constant agitation and increased aggression.
An overly high estrogen level in females may result in acne, low libido, mood swings, and an increased risk of uterine and ovarian cancer. One or more of these effects may be noticeable in females with high estrogen levels.
High estrogen levels in males may alter the normal testosterone levels, affecting the overall hormone balance. This may manifest as infertility issues and erectile and sexual dysfunction. Another indication of high estrogen levels in males is gynecomastia - a condition characterized by increased breast tissue in males.
