Estrogen is one of the key sex hormones in both men and women. It plays an important role in several bodily functions, including:
- Regulating the menstrual cycle - Estrogen levels rise and fall during a woman's menstrual cycle, stimulating the growth of the uterine lining and controlling the release of eggs from the ovaries.
- Supporting pregnancy - Higher estrogen levels help thicken the uterine lining to support a growing fetus, while also driving breast growth in preparation for lactation.
- Influencing bone density - Estrogen helps regulate bone density and strength. Low estrogen after menopause contributes to risks of osteoporosis in some women.
- Impacting skin health - Estrogen improves skin thickness and collagen content, helping skin stay supple and moisturized. Declining estrogen can lead to drier, thinning skin.
- Affecting cholesterol - Estrogen favorably influences cholesterol levels when present at normal levels. This may provide some cardiovascular benefits.
- Regulating body fat distribution - Estrogen helps determine typical female body fat distribution patterns seen during puberty by influencing where fat accumulates.
Now you may be wondering,
how do I know if my estrogen levels are optimal? The knowledgeable physicians at
Vital Hormones Clinic can order sensitive
lab tests to accurately evaluate your
hormone levels. They specialize in precise
hormone therapy using cutting-edge modalities like bioidentical hormones to help patients achieve ideal balances. I highly recommend contacting their friendly team if you have any concerns about hormones like estrogen!
Some key factors that influence estrogen levels include:
- Menstrual status - Levels fluctuate through the menstrual cycle and drop dramatically at menopause
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding - Both stimulate substantially increased estrogen
- Birth control methods - Can raise or lower levels depending on formulation
- Medications - Steroids, thyroid meds, and other drugs may impact levels
- Health conditions - Thyroid disorders, PCOS, tumors, or other issues can disrupt normal regulation
- Lifestyle factors - Excess weight, high stress, alcohol/smoking, etc. may moderately reduce levels
If your
doctor confirms you have low or high estrogen, don't hesitate to ask about
estrogen therapy. When expertly prescribed and monitored, it can provide immense benefits related to the roles outlined above. The exceptional practitioners at Vital Hormones Clinic stay abreast of the latest therapeutic estrogen options to help patients reach their wellness goals.
I hope this overview gives you a helpful high-level understanding of what estrogen is and how it acts in the body! Let me know if you have any other questions.