Estrogens are related to the hormones that both sexes have, but these are female hormones. Estrogens are steroid hormones that are produced in the ovaries. But in men with an excess of fatty tissue male sex hormones also begin to turn into estrogens. The main female sex hormones estrogens are estradiol , estriol, estrone, their main role in the body of a woman - in the pubertal period to ensure the development of female genital organs, and then - the regulation of the menstrual cycle.
What is the hormone responsible for estrogen?
In adolescence, secondary sexual characteristics are formed under the influence of estrogens, the growth of the uterus and mammary glands begins, fat cells are redistributed in the body according to the female type (on the hips), normal vaginal microflora with an acidic medium is formed. During the menstrual cycle, the hormone estrogen in women is produced to a certain level under the influence of FSH, providing proliferation of the endometrium. When the maximum of estrogen starts production of LH, inhibited FSH, and ovulation occurs, after which the level of estrogen decreases, and the level of progesterone increases.
Blood test for hormones of estrogens
Estrogen is defined in the blood of a woman on an empty stomach. The day before the analysis excluded sex, exercise and stress, alcohol and smoking. The analysis is given 7 days after ovulation (on days 21-22 of the cycle).
Fine:
- in women of childbearing age, the level of estrogen should not exceed 13-191 pg / ml;
- the level of estrogens in women in the period of menopause 11-95 pg / ml;
- in children under 11 years of age
- and in men it is 0-36 pg / ml.
Low levels of estrogen in women
The lack of the hormone estrogen in the blood leads in adolescence to the slow development of the mammary glands, genitals and skeleton. After maturation, a woman most often worried about the change in appearance (skin problems, dullness and fragility of hair and nails, wrinkles, pallor, excessive hairiness). The lack of estrogen leads to irregular painful periods and infertility , migraines, decreased libido, PMS, rapid fatigue, memory loss, hot flashes, excessive sweating, osteoporosis.
How to increase the hormone estrogen in a woman?
If it is necessary to increase the female hormone estrogen in the blood without using drugs, you need to know how to eat right. The level of estrogen is affected by the lack of vitamin E, so you need to know what it contains. The human estrogen hormone is similar in effect to the phytohormones of certain plants. The level of estrogen is influenced by such products as soy, peas, beans, beans, meat and dairy products, carrots, cauliflower, red grapes, pumpkin, coffee, tomatoes, eggplant, beer.
If necessary, the doctor prescribes estrogen containing hormones, which are selected individually for the level of estrogen in the blood. But such a remedy is usually used only after removal of the ovaries, since hormonal preparations inhibit the production of estrogens in the ovaries, further strengthening their lack.
High levels of estrogen in women
If the hormone estrogen is intensively produced, then its excess leads to violations of the menstrual cycle, obesity, digestive disorders, hair loss, acne, increased blood pressure, tendency to thrombosis, swelling, breast and uterine tumors (mastopathy, fibromyoma, endometrial cancer). But men have estrogen levels above 50-130 pmol / l - this is a sign of the tumor process in the testicles.
To understand how to lower the hormone estrogen in a woman's body, it should be remembered that the anti-estrogen drug is Tamoxifen and Progesterone.