estrogen

Whatdoes

do?

Estrogen is one of two main sex hormones that women have. The other one is progesterone.
Estrogen is responsible for female physical features and reproduction. Men have estrogen, too,
but in smaller amounts.

Why is estrogen important?

Estrogen helps bring about the physical changes that turn a girl into a
woman.
This time of life is called puberty. These changes include:
1 Growth of the breasts
2 Growth of pubic and underarm hair
3 Start of menstrual cycles
Estrogen helps control the menstrual cycle and is important for
childbearing.
This hormone has other functions:
1 Keeps cholesterol in control

Protects bone health for both women and men

Affects your brain (including mood), bones, heart, skin, and other
tissues

How does estrogen

work?
The ovaries, which produce a womans eggs,
are the main source of estrogen from your body.
Your adrenal glands, located at the top of each
kidney, make small amounts of this hormone.
So does fat tissue. Estrogen moves through
your blood and acts everywhere in your body.

Your body makes three

main types of
estrogen:
such as
What can go wrong with
estrogen levels?
For many reasons, your body can make too little or too
much estrogen. Or, you can take in too much estrogen,

through
birth control
pills or
estrogen
replacement
therapy.

You might want

to keep track of
your symptoms
(changes you
feel) by writing
them down

each day. Bring this symp-tom journal to your doctor.

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t

the most

common
type in
women of
childbearing

io
rl

the main

estrogen

during
pregnancy

age

the only

estrogen your

body makes after

menopause
(when menstrual

periods stop)

Estrogen and your

menstrual cycle
Your estrogen levels change
throughout the month. They are
highest in the middle of your
menstrual cycle and lowest
during your period. Estrogen
levels drop at menopause.

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rogen.
Ask your
doctor
what your
test
results
mean.

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Hormone Health u
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Where to
learn
more

Health
information:

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To find
an
endocrin
ologist
near
you:
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P atients have
The Hormone Health
Network is your trusted
source for endocrine
patient education. Our
free, online resources are
available at hormone.org

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questions.

We have

answers.