The Estrogen Files part 1
Hi my mystical tribe,
I'm excited to bring you today's post. If you don't know already I love to write and I can easily get carried away especially if it's something that interests me. So to make sure I hold your attentions I have split this post into a three part series.
Anyway back to the topic. 'Estrogen', I've been working around this hormone for quite some time trying to get to grips with how it works in unison (or not) in the female body, formulating compounds to assist family, friends and clients that are facing female related imbalances and not forgetting having important conversations with my 7 and 10 year old daughters - making sure they're clued up for life!
So I thought why not talk about it...Over the next coming weeks I will release parts of my blog titled 'The Estrogen Files'
Part 1: Introduction, What is Estrogen.
Part 2: Estrogen and Menopause - is there a link?
Part 3: Shedding light on the importance of achieving and maintaining hormonal balance.
So the question I've been asking myself is why is it in 2023 is Estrogen so prevalent? And exactly what role does it play in the female and male bodily systems? By sharing my findings and unlocking the keys to access my own innate knowings I aim to correct any miseducation and misinformation relating to Estrogen as a hormone.
And as a gift to you I've compiled a list of herbs/foods that better help and support the female reproductive systems. So look out for this in every post!!
Because like I always say 'if we know better we can do better'.
So let's jump right in, and take a brief look into what Estrogen actually is and why we need it.
Disclaimer: this is not a women's only read!! I open this post to both males (all ages). It is of great importance that each individual has an awareness of the bodies hormonal roles and functions. By doing so we remove the space for misunderstandings.
What is Estrogen (Oestrogen)
Estrogen is a group of steriod hormones, that carries physiological messages to the bodily organs and systems. These messages differ for each body organ and system.
🌸 Specifically to Females: Estrogen is a group of hormones that play an significant role in the sexual and reproductive developments within the female body.
The ovaries (located in the uterus) are responsible for the production of a huge majority of the estrogen hormones needed to sustain the female reproductive and sexual systems, however the adrenal glands and fat cells also play their role in producing small amounts of estrogen.
FYI ** Both men and women produce estrogen, however it’s usually considered a “female hormone” because men produce smaller amounts of estrogen in their testicles. However the role of estrogen within the masculine body is not a topic that is commonly spoken on, but there is research that shows one of the most significant effects of estrogen within the male body is its capability in effecting the erectile response. For example. When the male body is experiencing estrogen imbalances at high levels, the symptoms of high estrogen in men can include changes in sexual desires/ performance (libido), lack of erectile functioning, and bone density.
However it is important to note that too much estrogen in both the feminine and masculine body is never a good thing, all hormones imbalances can lead to various health issues.
Estrogens role in the Female body.
When a young female reaches the stage where her estrogen levels start to rise (puberty), she will begin to develop secondary (sexual) characteristics, such as breast tissue, pubic and armpit hair. Around 1-3years after puberty starts, estrogen levels have risen significantly and now plays the part in another important role, of regulating a females monthly menstrual cycle.
This is a pivotal point as the hormone is now the number one controller during a woman’s childbearing years, taking responsibility for the growth and/or shedding of the uterine lining.
Estrogen is now flowing through the bloodstream at a higher level than before, binding and communicating with the estrogen receptors located within the cells in the body.
So what are estrogen receptors and what's their purpose? ..well estrogen receptors are infact a type of protein, that are capeable of binding and communicating with estrogen hormones found inside the cells of female reproductive tissue (and other bodily tissue). Depending on the level of interaction between estrogen and estrogen receptors some cells to may start to grow.
In addition to the affects on the reproductive and sexual system, estrogen can also effect other systems and areas within the human body such as the urinary tract, bones, skin, hair, mucous membranes, pelvic muscles, the brain, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems, and not forgetting regulating the metabolic processes i.e glucose and cholesterol levels. So it is of great importance that we know exactly what estrogen is and how to keep our hormonal levels in balance.
Three Main Types of Estrogen
So far I've shed light on Estrogens role in helping to initiate the physical sexual changes that young females experience during puberty, such as the development of secondary sexual characteristics (i.e body hair, breasts and menstrual cycles), aswell as the possible effects estrogen can have on the other bodily systems.
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Now lets take a deeper look into the different types of estrogen.
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There are three types of estrogen; Estrone, Estradiol, and Estriol.
(i) Estrone also known as oestrone, is a weaker estrogen and a minor female sex hormone. Primarily produced (either directly or from conversion of other hormones) by the ovaries as well as by adipose (fat) tissue and the adrenal glands. It has a much weaker biological activity than estradiol. estrone is the major type of estrogen hormone produced in postmenopausal women this is thought to be due to the fact, that when a women enters menopause her ovaries stop producing estradiol, and it is at this point that the conversion of adrenal steroid hormones to estrone takes over as the main source of estrogen.
Can I have too much estrone?
Increased estrone production can occur in women with breast cancer and in men undergoing treatment for testicular or prostate cancer (which reduces testosterone production). Obese women also produce more estrone from their fat tissues. Overproduction of estrone within the breast may be associated with the development of breast cancer in some women. Aside from this, estrone production may affect health in both positive and negative ways, but to what extent is unknown.
What happens if I have too little estrone?
Insufficient levels of estrogens can cause a hosts of health related issues, such as; increased risk of depression, tiredness and fatigue, increased risk of developing bone related dis-eases i.e osteoporosis, hot flushes and loss of libido. Since estrone is the main estrogen in postmenopausal women, it is thought that low levels can worsen the above symptoms (some of which are also common during menopause), however, further tests and studies are apparently still needed to confirm this.
(ii) Estradiol is the strongest of the three estrogens and a vital player in the female reproductive system. While men and women both have and need estradiol in their bodies, women have much higher levels of the hormone than men.
What Does Estradiol Do?
Estradiol has several functions in the female body. Its main function is to mature and then maintain the reproductive system. During the menstrual cycle, increased estradiol levels cause the maturation and release of the egg, as well as the thickening of the uterus lining to allow a fertilized egg to implant. The hormone is made primarily in the ovaries, so naturally levels decline as women age and decrease significantly during menopause. In men, proper estradiol levels help with bone maintenance, nitric oxide production, and brain function. While men need lower levels than women, they still require this important hormone to function well.
What are the potential problems connected to imbalanced Estradiol Hormone Levels?
There is research higlighting the link between unbalanced estradiol levels in women and a added risk of suffering within depression, issues managing weight, menstrual inconsistencies, low libido, digestive issues and poor skin health (acne). If the levels are extremely high, some women put themselves at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular dis-eases, uterine and/or breast cancers.
For men, unbalanced estradiol levels can lead to the development of female characteristics i.e breast (gynecomastia), issues relating to having a hormone imbalance and loss of sexual function or muscle tone.
If the body does not have enough estradiol, bone growth and development are slowed, and adults can develop osteoporosis (bone weakness). Girls may experience delayed puberty with low estradiol levels. Mood swings have also been connected to low estradiol levels.
Is there a link ? - Estradiol and Menopause
This you'll have to wait until part 2.
(iii) Estriol is the weakest form of estrogen, naturally occurring in the body, but while estriol is the weakest estrogen, some studies have shown that it is highly effective in overcoming menopausal symptoms, protecting urinary health, and improving bone density. Unlike stronger pharmaceutical estrogens, estriol has a better safety profile and can be a natural alternative to hormone drug therapy.
Estro Food & Herbs
Nature has provided the human population an abundant supply of herbs and other natural resources which can be remedied to benefit our overall health and wellbeing. When it relates to herbs for hormonal estrogen balancing or estrogen dominance, nature has continued to provide a steady supply of herbs that can work wonders when administered correctly.
Estro Food & Herbs is a list I have put together that help to balance female hormone levels, reduce symptoms relating to pms and menopause, reverse conditions of the womb, and not forgetting deliver a whole host of additional medicinal benefits.
Click to view M.H.A Estro Food & Herbs list
I hope you enjoyed this weeks read and gained some insight into what Estrogen is.
Join me next time, as we continue The Estrogen Files.
I appreciate you.
Love & Light
Mystee 💫
DISCLAIMER
This content is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. You are advised to consult your doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions you may have. Neither mystology.co.uk nor the publishers of this content take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person reading or following the information in this educational content.