Article: Personal Hormone Profile
Personal Hormone Profile
by: Dr. Janet Starr Hull, Ph.D., CN
http://www.sweetpoison.com/newsletter/
In last month's Healthy Newsletter, I began a series of short
articles on human hormones. In this month's newsletter, I
have written about estrogen. Next month's newsletter will
have an article on DHEA.
Hormones are powerful chemical messengers that circulate
through your bloodstream to specific target cells where they
generate a wide range of biological responses. You might
think of hormones as the "prime movers" of your physical
and emotional well being.
Every time you get angry, become tired, laugh, cry, have
sex, wake up, feel hungry, or fall asleep your body is
responding to hormones. That's because hormone levels
can impact virtually every major system and organ in your
body.
Estrogen
Estrogen is the name of a group of hormones that includes
Estrone, Estradiol, and Estriol. Estrogen imbalances can
trigger or worsen symptoms of premenstrual syndrome
(PMS) and menopause. Monitoring estrogen replacement
therapy is crucial to ensuring proper estrogen levels.
Estradiol is the primary estrogen produced by the ovaries
and is the principal female sex hormone responsible for
secondary sex characteristics. Estradiol modulates the
course of both the menstrual cycle and menopause, and
proper levels support well being during menstruation.
Estrone, formed from Estradiol, is a weak estrogen and
the most abundant found in the body AFTER menopause.
Estriol is produced in the placenta in large amounts during
pregnancy, is a breakdown product of Estradiol, and may
have anti-cancer effects. It is produced almost exclusively
during pregnancy and is the major estrogen produced in
the normal human fetus. High levels of Estriol are seen in
gestation. Otherwise the production of Estriol is uniformly
low regardless of menopausal status or gender.
Before menopause, Estradiol is the predominant estrogen
and after menopause, Estradiol levels drop so that Estrone
is predominant.
In females, the estrogens are necessary for fertility and
reproduction, breast development, the health of the skin,
vascular system and bone. They have an effect on blood
coagulation, cholesterol metabolism and female libido. But
don't forget that men have estrogens, too.
Estradiol is the most active form of estrogen in the human
body and helps maintain the size and density of breast tissue,
though excessive amounts may increase the risk of some
forms of breast cancer. Estradiol has a positive effect on skin
thickness, skin collagen, water content, skin softness, and
blood flow to the skin. Estradiol lowers LDL (the bad
cholesterol) and total cholesterol while increasing HDL levels
(the good cholesterol) and also significantly reduces the risk
of developing heart disease.
During menopause, a decrease in Estradiol is often
accompanied by hot flashes and night sweats. But I don't
perceive 'hot flashes' as the bad guy, as this is the body's
way of eliminating the excess Estradiol from the bloodstream
liken to sweating when working-out. A decrease in Estradiol
can augment a rise in heart disease, and an increased rate
of bone loss such as osteoporosis if the other estrogens and
hormones are not in a healthy balance. A proper nutrient
program is advantageous at this time.
In men, the amount of testosterone usually does not allow
Estradiol to have any significant physiological effects on the
body. If the amount of Estradiol compared to testosterone
increases, physiological changes can take place such as
broadening of the mid section, enlarged breasts, decreased
sex drive, and many other symptoms associated with low
testosterone.
Certain medications and drugs, hormone-laden foods, chronic
alcoholism and other chronic health conditions can result in
increased Estradiol levels in men.
