Essay On Estrogen

"Among the routes of human exposure to estrogens, we are mostly concerned about cow 's milk,” says Davaasambuu, “which contains considerable amounts of female sex hormones." Dairy accounts for 60 percent to 80 percent of estrogens consumed according to Davaasambuu.

and fallopian tubes. Estrogen also stimulates the growth of the external female genitalia and breasts. Fat distribution in the female is also controlled by estrogen. The non-reproductive functions of estrogen include reduction of LDL (bad cholesterol) and an increase in HDL (good cholesterol). Estrogen also preserves bone strength by slowing down cells involved in bone break down. Estrogen concentrations in the body decrease post menopause which is why women suffer from osteoporosis later in life (Parl, 2000). Estrogen utilizes a positive feedback loop by increasing the production of gonadotropin releasing hormone in the hypothalamus which then increases the release of FSH and lutenizing hormone. This increase in FSH and LH prepare the uterus

Testosterone belongs to a class of male hormones called androgens that is vital for sexual and reproductive development. The National Institutes of Health regards “testosterone as the most important male hormone”(Rettner). Although the primary role of testosterone directly relates to males, women also produce testosterone at lower levels. Women’s total levels are about a “tenth to a twentieth of men’s levels”(Rettner). According to the Mayo Clinic, this hormone plays a role in sex drive, sperm production, fat distribution, red cell production, and maintenance of muscle strength and

Another factor that contributes to the development of breast cancer is actually the hormone estrogen. This seems unusual because estrogen is a hormone that is essential to the bodies of women in various ways. Estrogen is necessary for normal growth and development of breasts and reproductive organs, as well as for the maintenance of a healthy heart and bones. However, lifetime estrogen exposure may increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. It does not actually produce the mutation in the DNA, nevertheless Estrogen stimulates the proliferation of breast cells that already contain a mutation. These mutated cells will continue to reproduce and have an increased chance of becoming cancerous.

the menstrual cycle, estrogen affects the reproductive tract, the urinary tract, the heart and blood

To grow and reproduce, breast cancer cells require the female hormone estrogen. Tamoxifen is an "anti-estrogen" and works by competing with estrogen to bind to estrogen receptors in breast cancer cells. Tamoxifen is formally known as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). By blocking estrogen in the breast, tamoxifen helps slow the growth and reproduction of breast cancer cells. While tamoxifen fights estrogen in breast cancer cells, it also mimics the positive effects of estrogen in other body systems. Post-menopausal women who take tamoxifen may decrease their risk of heart disease or osteoporosis (a degenerative bone disease) without having to use hormone replacement therapy (HRT ).

Various reasons have been proven as to why people begin suffering from hair loss. Hormonal imbalance is vital to a healthy, cancer free mind and body but can be disrupted in many ways. It can be caused by things like toxins, menopause, perimenopause, or living an unbalanced lifestyle. A human’s hormonal cycle can and does vary at multiple different times in our lives, therefore allowing this to have a direct impact on the quality of hair. This phase is said to be very common and is able to occur in anyone's life. Hormonal imbalance is experienced by women many times during her pregnancy. During these nine months, as everyone may have already experienced, women’s hormones tend to be all over the place. Once she has given birth, those hormones

Is estrogen good? Is it bad? How much do I need? Understanding estrogen, the good, the bad and the ugly can be complex. Both men and women produce the hormone, estrogen. Women naturally have higher levels due to their reproductive organs and for the purpose of procreation. Estrogen is the primary source of our sex hormones and is mostly responsible for our reproductive health. Our bodies make these “good” or healthy estrogens and this is completely normal. These “good” estrogens can help to give us energy, boost our libido and protect us from certain cancers, including breast and ovarian. On the flip side, there are also “bad” estrogens or xenoestrogens, a type of hormone that mimics estrogen. Our body

Weight gain the hormonal changes of menopauses can add to weigh problems particularly in the mid-section causing increased belly fat named visceral fat that is underneath the subcutaneous fat. By exercising regularly during the day and not at night. Taking control of your diet intake play a huge part during menopause and weight gain, by monitoring your sugar and caffeine intake. Hair changes there are two issues while going through menopause. Thinning hair on the scalp and unwanted facial hair on the chin and chest area. It is caused by the rapid drop in estrogen levels combined with the slower reduction in androgen levels (a male sex hormone, testosterone). Skin changes can run the gamut, from dry itchy skin to oily skin causing adult acne. Irregular menstruation, hot flashes and night sweats, which transmit to insomnia and sleep issues. The best bedtime habits to have for hot flashes and insomnia, is going to bed at the same time each night and limit long naps during the day, wear cotton pajamas and keep your bedroom cool with good ventilation. There is also elevated heart rate causing you to feel like you’re having a panic attack, palpitation and the feeling of your heart pounding rapidly. Mood changes when hormones are fluctuating during this time, making it difficult to concentrate, you tend to be more forgetful, irritability, fatigue, anxiety and depression. Vaginal discomfort and urinary issues, because of the decline of estrogen the lining and tissues of the vagina and urinary tract become thinner and drier leading to less elastic and muscle control. Bone loss plays a big part during a woman’s life especially during menopause and postmenopause the risk factors for osteoporosis are higher during this time. Research indicates that up to 20% of bone loss can occur during these stages (Hormone Health Network page 22). A good way to prevent bone loss is through dairy products by eating dark

There has been conflicting research and advice about the safety of hormones with the increase in the aging female population within the last twenty years (National Institute on Aging). Hormone therapy has demonstrated to be the most effective FDA approved medication in the relief of menopausal symptoms, but these benefits must be weighed against serious adverse effects that hormones can cause. Although many women differ in their response to hormone products, MHT has been universally linked to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, blood clots, and strokes. Concerns about the findings discovered in the clinical and observation trials performed on MHT, have left some doctors and women hesitant in utilizing MHT to combat menopausal

Early studies on estrogen set out to research why women live longer than men. It was believed that it was due to the difference in hormone levels between the two. In previous years it has been common for women to take estrogen as a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) when they reached menopause. Several studies were showing that estrogen had all of these beneficial effects such as protection against ischemia disease, and acting as a vasodilator by opens up blood vessels to name a few. Therefore, it was believed that estrogen does something beneficial to the cardiovascular system that causes women to live longer. This was contradicted in 2002 when women in the WHI trial who were on HPT had a higher risk for heart attack and stroke. Researchers then set out to find out what was going on with the hormone to produce two effects. Dr. White and others started to study the direct affect of estrogen on the coronary arteries. This research is so important because heart disease is the number one killer. Its medical relevance is crucial to women and men because both have these hormones present in their bodies. It needs to be known whether are not this hormone has a harmful or helpful role in this disease. His initial studies showed that introduction to concentrations of estrogen caused pig arteries to dilate. He believed this occurred because estrogen has two targets, endothelial and smooth muscle cells, which both express receptors for estrogen.

A reason could be that the body already produces enough estrogen but now if you add progesterone it will shut off the secretion of the gonadotropins. If you were to add both estrogen and progesterone you would be adding to the estrogen. When estrogen levels are high it promotes the synthesis of more estrogen. High estrogen plus increasing progesterone cause the LH surge so this is possibly the reason as to why taking a contraceptive with just progesterone might be more affective then one with both progesterone and estrogen.

The reproductive hormone 17β-estradiol (E2) is the main form of estrogen found in female has several functions; particularly it maintains the female reproductive system and acts as a component of metabolic processes. (6) Research has shown that E2 has effects in animal models in reducing anxiety as well as other depressive behaviors. (11) E2 can exert its effects via direct genomic action, but can also cause effects via indirect genomic action. The direct genomic action occurs through the utilization of two intracellular receptors for estrogen, estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and estrogen receptor beta (ERβ). ERα is thought to be involved with stimulatory processes, while ERβ is thought to be involved in inhibitory processes. (6) To test

Of particular interest are those chemicals, which mimic the female hormone of estrogen, which is

The impact of certain estrogenic xenobiotics on the reproductive system development and health of animals has been clearly documented. Findings, such as ours demonstrate thathumans are also exposed at risk. As data accumulate regarding to infertility, genital tract malformations and increasing cancer rates in estrogen target tissues (especially the breast),