Estrogen has an important role in all stages of a woman's life, from puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, to menopause. actually what what is meant by estrogen and how does this hormone work? Check out the full explanation below.
Estrogen is a term for a group of hormones that play an important role in the development and growth of female sexual characteristics and the reproductive process. This hormone is actually not only produced in women's bodies, but also in men's bodies at much lower levels.
Know HOrmons and their Functions
Hormones are chemical substances produced in the body to control and regulate the activity of certain cells or organs. In general, there are several functions of hormones in the body, including:
- Regulate the development and metabolism of the body
- Determine the function of sexual and reproductive tissues
- Control the mood
Recognizing the role of hormones, especially the hormone estrogen in the body, can make women better understand the various changes in their bodies.
The Importance of Estrogen Functions in the Female Body
The female hormone estrogen specifically plays a role in the growth and development of sexual organs. There are 3 types of estrogen hormone, namely estradiol, estriol, and estrone.
Estradiol has the highest levels in women during their childbearing years, while estriol is produced by the placenta during pregnancy. Meanwhile, estrone is widely distributed in the body and becomes the main estrogen during premenopause.
Some of the other functions of estrogen are:
- Helps regulate body temperature and keep it stable
- Supports recall ability and improves memory
- Helps manage the part of the brain that prepares the body for sexual and reproductive development
- Regulates cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the risk of plaque buildup in the arteries of the heart (atherosclerosis)
- Stimulates the maturation of the ovaries and stimulates the start of the menstrual cycle. This condition indicates that the reproductive system has matured
- Stimulates uterine maturity and helps prepare the uterus as a place for fetal development
- Stimulates breast development at puberty and prepares the mammary glands to produce milk
- Helps maintain bone density
The Role of Estrogen from Time to Time
During puberty, increased levels of estrogen cause the growth of a woman's breasts, as well as the growth of pubic and axillary hair.
During pregnancy, a woman usually produces more estrogen than in her entire life. The role of this hormone is also very important during pregnancy. This is because estrogen plays a role in forming new blood vessels in order to drain nutrients to the fetus's body for optimal growth and development.
In the menopausal transition period or before menopause, estrogen levels generally fluctuate before finally dropping and causing physical and emotional changes.
Overcome Effect Decreased Estrogen Levels in Century Menopause
During menopause, low levels of estrogen can cause vaginal dryness and thinning of the vaginal walls, making sexual intercourse painful.
In addition, a decrease in estrogen levels can also cause hot flash or a warm sensation in the body, face, or neck, mood swings (mood swings), decreased sexual desire, and sleep disturbances.
One way to overcome the symptoms of decreased levels of estrogen is with estrogen hormone replacement therapy. However, this therapy cannot be given to all women and needs to be considered considering the long-term side effects of an increased risk for breast cancer.
In addition, several types of antidepressant drugs can also be used to reduce pain hot flashes. In order to reduce complaints of vaginal dryness, doctors can prescribe an estrogen cream that is applied to the vagina.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle is also important to reduce the effects of decreasing estrogen levels during menopause. For example, eating nutritious foods, getting enough rest, avoiding smoking and consuming alcoholic beverages, and practicing relaxation techniques.
Estrogen is one of the most important hormones in the female body. However, estrogen levels need to be kept in balance. This is because if the amount is excessive or reduced, it can cause health problems, except for menopause, which is normal.
Therefore, there is no harm in doing regular check-ups regularly to the doctor to ensure that estrogen levels remain stable.