What Is the Purpose of Estrogen?

Hormones are vital components that help our bodies function. Men and women alike produce certain hormones that perform specific tasks geared toward reproductive health. While both sexes have the same reproductive hormones, the levels and significance of each are specific to each gender. Estrogen is produced in both men and women, yet it is commonly referred to as the female hormone. Much has been discussed on treatments involving estrogen in medical journals and even in television commercials. However, many do not know the purpose of estrogen in the body. Estrogen has much purpose in the human body and produces many effects on reproductive health in females.

Definition

• Estrogen is a hormone found in both men and women, though it is found in significantly higher levels in females because of its role in female reproductive health. The hormone is produced within fat tissue, adrenal glands, as well as the ovaries. The term "estrogen" includes related compounds such as estradiol, estriol, and estrone.

Significance

• While men produce estrogen as well, its role in men's health has not been determined. Estrogen aids in the preparation of reproductive organs in women for conception and pregnancy. Specifically, estrogen is responsible for the development and growth of sexual characteristics that distinguish females from males, such as larger breasts. Not only is this hormone found in humans, but animals also produce estrogen as an integral part of their reproductive system. Estrogen circulates within the bloodstream, binding to estrogen receptors on targeted tissue cells in women. This not only affects the breasts but also women's bones, brain, heart and liver. The hormone also controls the growth of uterine lining and regulates metabolic processes such as bone growth and cholesterol levels.

Pregnancy

• Estrogen is vital to the ovulation process. During a female's menstrual cycle, the pituitary gland releases hormones that signal for an egg to be released from its follicle within an ovary. During the follicle's development, it produces estrogen that causes the uterine lining to thicken. This thickening of the uterine lining is to make the uterus receptive to another hormone called progesterone. Progesterone prepares the lining of the uterus to receive and nourish a fertilized egg so it will develop into a fetus. When fertilization does not happen, both of the hormones' levels drop sharply, and the lining of the uterus breaks down, allowing menstruation to occur.

Bone Health

• The body is continuously building and restructuring bone, using a process called resorption and deposition. Estrogen secreted from the ovaries work together with other hormones, calcium, vitamin D and other minerals to build bones. Until a person reaches her 30s, her body is able to produce more bone that it breaks down. However, when estrogen levels drop, such as when menopause occurs, this building process slows down significantly. As a result, a woman's body breaks down more bone than it produces after menopause, and osteoporosis can develop.

Considerations

• Estrogen is a vital hormone for women's reproductive health. Each woman is different and requires varying levels of estrogen to maintain reproductive health. If estrogen levels drop too low, this can signal the beginning of menopause in older women or represent missed periods in younger women. Too much estrogen can be equally alarming because heavy or long menstruation might result. If any irregularity arises in your menstrual cycle, see your gynecologist immediately so she can check your hormone levels and prescribe treatment if necessary.