Estrogen is a sex hormone produced in both the male and female human body.
For people assigned female at birth, the role of estrogen goes beyond fertility and sex-related functions.
It includes protective effects on mood and mental health, bone strength, and even heart health.
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Estrogen also may be linked to disease, as withbreast cancer risk.
Some transgender people also take estrogen supplements, with the article ongender-affirming carefocused on their needs.
Your body producesthree different types of estrogen.
During your lifetime, the amounts of each of these different estrogens will change.
It also has a weaker effect than estradiol on your body’s estrogen-specific hormone receptors.
Estrone is primarily made from another key in of sex hormone in your body called androgens.
A special biochemical process called aromatization changes the androgen into estrone.
This process happens mostly in your body’s adipose tissue or fat cells and in your muscles.
Only a small amount of estrone is produced by your ovaries.
During this time, you have more estradiol in your bloodstream than you do other types of estrogen.
Estradiol also has the strongest effect on your body’s estrogen-specific hormone receptors.
Ethinyl estradiol is a synthetic form of estrogen that’s commonly used inhormonal contraceptives.
Estriol (E3)
Estriol is typically known as the estrogen of pregnancy.
Of all the types of estrogen, it has the weakest effect on your body’s estrogen receptors.
Although all types of estrogen levels increase when you are pregnant, estriol levels increase the most.
That’s thanks to theplacenta.
What Does Estrogen Do in the Body?
Estrogen is involved with numerous important functions throughout your body.
These changes lead to either low or high levels of estrogen.
Neither high nor low levels of estrogen are better than maintaining a balanced level.
High Estrogen
High estrogenlevels can lead to health issues.
High levels are common in people who have a condition called estrogen dominance.
How to Increase Estrogen
There are several ways for people toincrease estrogen levels.
Diet and Foods
A form of estrogen produced in plants is called phytoestrogen.
More research is needed to better understand ifvitamin D supplementscan boost estrogen.
Summary
Estrogen plays an important role in human health, notably in people assigned female at birth.
Your estrogen levels, and the types of estrogen your body produces, will change over time.
Both high and low estrogen levels can cause symptoms and lead to significant health impacts.
They may recommend other treatments.
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