Hormone Overview: Function and Five Advantages of Estrogen
Low estrogen levels can be a real headache, causing issues you might've associated solely with your reproductive system – think hot flashes, weight gain, and vaginal dryness. But this hormone isn't all bad news, especially during perimenopause and postmenopause. In fact, it offers some incredible health benefits that might surprise you!
Ob/Gyn Swapna Kollikonda, MD, lays it all out for us. Let's dive into what this hormone is all about, its functions, and the reasons it's essential for your overall health.
What is Estrogen?
Estrogen is a hormone responsible for numerous functions in your body, aiding in the development and maintenance of your reproductive system and characteristics like breasts and pubic hair. "Estrogen is a hormone that's secreted by the ovaries," says Dr. Kollikonda. "During the reproductive age, it regulates the menstrual cycle."
What does Estrogen do?
As you hit puberty, your estrogen levels start to rise. Each month, as your estrogen levels surge, your uterine lining prepares for potential fertilization. When those levels drop, menstruation begins. But, as you age, those levels begin to decrease, leading to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years. "As we get older, ovarian function declines and the number of egg sacs decrease in the ovaries," says Dr. Kollikonda. "That decreases the levels of estrogen. It's a natural aging process."
Health Benefits of Estrogen
Known primarily for its reproductive system support, research now shows that estrogen benefits practically every organ system. Here's how:
Heart Health
Estrogen keeps cardiovascular tissue healthy and helps maintain stable blood pressure. Additionally, high estrogen levels help keep blood triglycerides (fat) low, increase HDL cholesterol (the good kind), and lower LDL cholesterol (the bad kind). The link between estrogen and heart health is still being studied, with studies showing that heart disease increases in individuals who get bilateral oophorectomy (removal of both ovaries) before menopause.
Brain Health
Estrogen supports proper blood flow in your brain and protects against inflammation and disease, even helping with memory and fine motor skills. If you've ever experienced brain fog – finding it difficult to focus or losing your train of thought – low estrogen levels could be to blame. However, it's not entirely clear if low estrogen contributes to brain fog after menopause. One study suggests that the longer you've been exposed to estrogen, the better your brain health will be as you age.
Muscle Mass and Bone Density
Estrogen plays a significant role in the growth of your bones and improving muscle mass. It helps protect against osteoporosis, a condition where bones become weak and brittle due to loss of tissue. During menopause, bone mass decreases due to the decrease of estrogen, making bones weak and fragile with an increased tendency to break easily.
Mood and Sex Life
Those pesky mood swings you might get right before your menstrual cycle might be caused by the fluctuating levels of estrogen. Estrogen helps keep serotonin levels regular – those "feel-good hormones" – and aids in the effectiveness of endorphins. It also helps protect nerves and encourages nerve growth. While researchers are still trying to figure out exactly how low estrogen impacts mood, they do know that estrogen is crucial for your sex life. The hormone keeps your vagina lubricated, making sex enjoyable. When estrogen levels are low, your vaginal walls become thin, and you produce less lubricant.
Should you take Estrogen?
Your doctor can help you determine if estrogen replacement therapy is right for you. While there had been concerns about hormone replacement therapy causing an increased risk of breast cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, recent research suggests that estrogen can be beneficial if hormone replacement therapy is started sooner rather than later. If you're experiencing hot flashes and night sweats, it's essential to start hormone replacement therapy as soon as you're in menopause, as the benefits generally outweigh the risks. But if you wait 10 years after menopause, the risks of breast cancer, deep vein thrombosis, stroke, and cardiovascular disease increase, outweighing the benefits.
In conclusion, estrogen offers long-lasting benefits beyond reproductive health, impacting various aspects of your overall health, including your heart, brain, bones, skin, and hair, making it a vital hormone for your wellbeing. Talk to your doctor to find out if estrogen replacement therapy is suitable for you and discuss the potential benefits and risks. After all, who wants to suffer through unnecessary symptoms?
1.Estrogen, beyond its role in reproductive health, benefits various organ systems, such as heart, brain, bones, and muscles, by maintaining healthy cardiovascular tissue, supporting proper brain flow, aiding in bone growth, and improving muscle mass.
- The link between estrogen and heart health suggests that heart disease might increase in individuals who undergo bilateral oophorectomy (removal of both ovaries) before menopause, highlighting the crucial role of this hormone in maintaining cardiovascular health.
