Current:Home > ScamsEstrogen is one of two major sex hormones in females. Here's why it matters.-LoTradeCoin
Estrogen is one of two major sex hormones in females. Here's why it matters.
View Date:2024-12-23 22:38:54
Infertility or reduced fertility is a common problem in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 out of 5 women are unable to get pregnant after a year of trying − the standard definition for infertility.
Other common reproductive disorders that affect women include menstrual problems like irregular or heavy bleeding and a number of conditions such as uterine fibroids, endometriosis and sexually transmitted diseases.
When it comes to improving one's reproductive health, few things matter more than estrogen.
What is estrogen?
Along with progesterone, "estrogen is one of two hormones secreted by the ovaries," says Andrew Greenberg, MD, director of the obesity and metabolism lab at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. Hormones are chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream to trigger specific functions or feelings throughout the body.
Sometimes also called ovarian estrogen, the secretion of estrogen "begins around the time of puberty" and continues throughout reproductive life − "puberty to menopause," says Cynthia Stuenkel, MD, a clinical professor of medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine. She explains that most women experience monthly cycling of estrogen and progesterone, "which matures the lining of the uterus in preparation for pregnancy should fertilization of the egg by a sperm occur." This ebb and tide of hormonal secretion by the ovary and monthly bleeding "becomes a familiar rhythm to most women," she adds.
What is perimenopause?Experts explain the typical age and symptoms to expect.
Along with being secreted by the ovaries, the hormone is "produced in a female's adrenal glands and fat tissue," says Disha Narang, MD, an endocrinologist at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital. And though significantly higher amounts of estrogen are produced and present in women, men also have the hormone as well. In males, estrogen is produced in the testes and, similar to women, in fat cells and adrenal glands.
What does estrogen do?
In addition to its fundamental roles in reproductive health and menstrual cycle regulation, estrogen also affects the female urinary tract, reproductive tract, bones, breasts, skin, hair, mucous membranes, pelvic muscles and the brain, per Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Other important functions or benefits of estrogen include a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease before menopause, a reduced risk of developing abdominal obesity, and reduced vasomotor symptoms and genitourinary symptoms during perimenopause −"a period of time before women fully enter menopause," explains Greenberg.
In men, estrogen helps with sexual development, improved bone strength and muscle mass, and contributes to a healthy metabolism.
What happens when estrogen levels are low?
Because estrogen plays so many vital roles in the body, it's important to maintain healthy levels of the hormone. In both males and females, low estrogen levels can affect "libido, cholesterol, metabolism, brain function, bone health and skin health," says Narang.
More:Have we been thinking about 'sex drive' all wrong?
To prevent low levels of estrogen production, good eating habits are a wise place to start since dietary choices significantly affect hormone balance. Reduced consumption of sugar-filled foods and getting plenty of foods high in fiber can help in this regard. Reducing one's stress through practices like mindfulness meditation and exercise can also be beneficial since high stress levels are associated with hormone imbalances. Quality and quantity of sleep is also important.
If estrogen levels drop too low, one's physician may recommend estrogen supplementation or a form of estrogen therapy.
veryGood! (232)
Related
- Democratic state leaders prepare for a tougher time countering Trump in his second term
- Herbivore Sale: The Top 15 Skincare Deals on Masks, Serums, Moisturizers, and More
- Transcript: Mesa, Arizona Mayor John Giles on Face the Nation, July 16, 2023
- Warming Trends: New Rules for California Waste, Declining Koala Bears and Designs Meant to Help the Planet
- Investigation into Chinese hacking reveals ‘broad and significant’ spying effort, FBI says
- As Big Energy Gains, Can Europe’s Community Renewables Compete?
- Buttigieg calls for stronger railroad safety rules after East Palestine disaster
- Incursions Into Indigenous Lands Not Only Threaten Tribal Food Systems, But the Planet’s Well-Being
- TikToker Campbell “Pookie” Puckett Gives Birth, Welcomes First Baby With Jett Puckett
- Kidnapping of Louisiana mom foiled by gut instinct of off-duty sheriff's deputy
Ranking
- New 'Yellowstone' is here: Season 5 Part 2 premiere date, time, where to watch
- Reframing Your Commute
- Titanic Sub Catastrophe: Passenger’s Sister Says She Would Not Have Gone on Board
- Trains, Walking, Biking: Why Germany Needs to Look Beyond Cars
- Nelly will not face charges after St. Louis casino arrest for drug possession
- Tens of millions across U.S. continue to endure scorching temperatures: Everyone needs to take this heat seriously
- Herbivore Sale: The Top 15 Skincare Deals on Masks, Serums, Moisturizers, and More
- Get a Rise Out of Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds' Visit to the Great British Bake Off Set
Recommendation
-
Former NFL coach Jack Del Rio charged with operating vehicle while intoxicated
-
Education was once the No. 1 major for college students. Now it's an afterthought.
-
From Denial to Ambiguity: A New Study Charts the Trajectory of ExxonMobil’s Climate Messaging
-
Say Bonjour to Selena Gomez's Photo Diary From Paris
-
‘Emilia Pérez’ wouldn’t work without Karla Sofía Gascón. Now, she could make trans history
-
How to file your tax returns: 6 things you should know this year
-
A surprise-billing law loophole? Her pregnancy led to a six-figure hospital bill
-
New York Embarks on a Massive Climate Resiliency Project to Protect Manhattan’s Lower East Side From Sea Level Rise