Understanding the Function of Estrogen Hormone in a Woman's Body

There are so many functions of the hormone estrogen in the human body, from regulating the performance of the reproductive system to supporting the development of the fetal organs in the womb. The hormone estrogen is one of the main hormones in women, but also in men.

In the body of men and women, there is the hormone estrogen. It's just that, in a woman's body, levels of this hormone are more. Whereas in the male body, the amount of estrogen is less and is not the main hormone. Therefore, the hormone estrogen is often referred to as female sex hormone.
The hormone estrogen is produced naturally by the body. However, there are also estrogen hormones that are synthetic or artificial and commonly used as a treatment. The artificial estrogen hormone is known as estradiol, estriol, and estron. This artificial estrogen hormone is widely used in hormone replacement therapy and hormonal birth control, such as birth control pills and injectable birth control.

This Function of Estrogen Hormone in the Body
The hormone estrogen is produced by the adrenal glands in small amounts. In men, this hormone is produced by the testes. Whereas in women, the hormone estrogen is produced by the ovaries. But when pregnant, women get more of this hormone from the placenta or the placenta.

In a woman's body, estrogen is not always produced in the same amount. At certain times, the production of the hormone estrogen can increase or decrease. This is related to the function of the hormone estrogen in regulating the female reproductive system.

The following are some functions of the hormone estrogen in a woman's body:

Starting and controlling the menstrual cycle
During puberty (ages 9-14), the hormone estrogen plays an important role in the physical changes experienced by women, such as the growth of breasts and pubic hair, and initiating and controlling the menstrual cycle.

When reaching the fertile or productive age (age 15-49 years), the production of the female hormone estrogen increases in the middle of her menstruation. At this time, the hormone estrogen functions to thicken the lining of the uterus and mature eggs so that it is ready to be fertilized.

If fertilization does not occur, the egg will be removed through the menstrual process and the hormone estrogen will decrease to normal levels. The ups and downs in the production of the hormone estrogen will continue to recur as long as a woman has not yet menopause.

Promotes a healthy pregnancy
When pregnant, a woman's body will produce more estrogen. At this time, the hormone estrogen has several important roles, namely:

Maintain and maintain the strength of the uterus.
Supports the development of fetal organs.
Help the growth of glands and milk ducts to support the process of breastfeeding.
Delivering nutrition consumed by pregnant women to the fetus.
Not only that, increased estrogen during pregnancy also has an impact on the appearance of pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea and enlarged breasts. This hormone is also thought to cause pregnant women to snore during pregnancy. This hormone also causes brighter skin during pregnancy. In some time after delivery, estrogen levels in the body will return to normal.

The production of the hormone estrogen decreases with age. When a woman reaches menopause, estrogen production in the body will decrease dramatically. Decreasing the hormone estrogen is one of the reasons women experience menopausal symptoms.

Not much different from women, the hormone estrogen in men also plays a role in the reproductive system, including producing sperm and helping the function of the hormone testosterone in controlling libido.

In addition, both men and women, the hormone estrogen also has an important role in regulating the metabolism and health of a number of organs, such as the heart, brain, and bones. Therefore, several studies show that women are more at risk of developing osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease after entering menopause.

Signs of Disorders of Estrogen Hormones
Low production of the hormone estrogen in women who have not entered puberty or have menopause is normal. However, if low levels of estrogen in the body are experienced by women of childbearing age, then this could be a sign of a health problem.

In women, low estrogen levels can be characterized by the appearance of symptoms such as:

Headache.
Limp body.
The vagina is dry, so it feels painful when having sex.
Menstrual cycles are irregular or even stop.
Sudden heat sensation on the chest, neck or face.
Numbness in the breast.
Psychological disorders, such as mood swings or depression.
While in men, low estrogen in the body can cause symptoms in the form of decreased sexual desire and excessive fat deposits in the stomach.

If you experience these symptoms at a young age or before menopause, you should consult a doctor so you can get the right treatment if necessary.