What Is Estrogen?

Healthinfi

Overview

Estrogen is probably the most widely known and discussed of all hormones. The term “estrogen” actually refers to any of a group of chemically similar hormones; estrogenic hormones are sometimes mistakenly referred to as exclusively female hormones when in fact both men and women produce them. However, the role estrogen plays in men is not entirely clear.

To understand the roles estrogens play in women, it is important to understand something about hormones in general. Hormones are vital chemical substances in humans and animals. Often referred to as “chemical messengers,” hormones carry information and instructions from one group of cells to another. In the human body, hormones influence almost every cell, organ and function. They regulate our growth, development, metabolism, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, the way our bodies use food, the reaction of our bodies to emergencies and even our moods.

Estrogens are hormones that are important for sexual and reproductive development, mainly in women. They are also referred to as female sex hormones. The term “estrogen” refers to all of the chemically similar hormones in this group, which are estrone, estradiol (primary in women of reproductive age) and estriol.

In women, estrogen is produced mainly in the ovaries. Ovaries are grape-sized glands located by the uterus and are part of the endocrine system. Estrogen is also produced by fat cells and the adrenal gland. At the onset of puberty, estrogen plays a role in the development of so-called female secondary sex characteristics, such as breasts, wider hips, pubic hair and armpit hair.

Estrogen also helps regulate the menstrual cycle, controlling the growth of the uterine lining during the first part of the cycle. If the woman’s egg is not fertilized, estrogen levels decrease sharply and menstruation begins. If the egg is fertilized, estrogen works with progesterone, another hormone, to stop ovulation during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the placenta produces estrogen, specifically the hormone estriol. Estrogen controls lactation and other changes in the breasts, including at adolescence and during pregnancy.

Estrogen is instrumental in bone formation, working with vitamin D, calcium and other hormones to effectively break down and rebuild bones according to the body’s natural processes. As estrogen levels start to decline in middle age, the process of rebuilding bones slows, with postmenopausal women eventually breaking down more bone than they produce. This is why postmenopausal women are four times more likely to suffer from osteoporosis than men, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Estrogen also plays a role in blood clotting, maintaining the strength and thickness of the vaginal wall and the urethral lining, vaginal lubrication and a host of other bodily functions. It even affects skin, hair, mucous membranes and the pelvic muscles, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. For example, estrogen can make the skin darker. Some researchers hope to use this information to create safe fake tanning lotions by activating the skin darkening reaction in estrogen, without triggering other changes in the body due to the hormone.

“If you expose melanocytes to estrogen, they respond by making more melanin, but they don’t have the classic estrogen receptor,” Dr. Todd Ridky, senior author of a 2016 study on estrogen and skin color and an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania. The hormone also affects the brain, and studies also show that chronically low estrogen levels are linked with a reduced mood, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Men produce estrogen as well, but at lower levels than women. Estrogen in males is secreted by the adrenal glands and by the testes. In men, estrogen is thought to affect sperm count. Overweight men are more commonly affected by low sperm count due to estrogen because there is more adipose tissue in the obese, which can set off the creation of excess estrogen, according to a 2010 paper published in the Asian Journal of Andrology.  In 2011, researchers at American University in Washington, D.C., found a link between estrogen and the ability to control excessive inflammation in the brain. This research is hoped to help those with neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.

Estrogen can also help with ovarian cysts. “Most of the time nothing needs to be done to treat or prevent functional cysts,” said Dr. Antonella Lavelanet, an obstetrician at Boston Medical Center. “However, for women who are prone to ovarian cysts, an estrogen-containing birth control may help reduce the risk of developing certain types of functional cysts, in particular cysts that occur after ovulation. Oral contraception pills and the patch or ring, which have similar mechanisms of action, can help suppress ovulation.”

There are many times throughout a person’s life when estrogen levels may change. For example, estrogen levels naturally increase during puberty and during pregnancy. Estrogen levels fall after menopause, or when a woman stops menstruating. This reduction in estrogen production can cause symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness and loss of sex drive. Estrogen levels also decrease after childbirth. Other conditions that can cause estrogen levels to drop include hypogonadism (or diminished function of the ovaries) and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Extreme exercise and anorexia can also cause a decrease in estrogen levels because women with low body fat may not be able to produce adequate amounts of estrogen.

Some postmenopausal women with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have long durations of estrogen deficiency. Recent research has found that this deficiency could increase the risk of having more severe fibrosis, according to a study published in the journal Hepatology.

The Role of Estrogen in Women

The estrogenic hormones are uniquely responsible for the growth and development of female sexual characteristics and reproduction in both humans and animals. The term “estrogen” includes a group of chemically similar hormones: estrone, estradiol (the most abundant in women of reproductive age) and estriol. Overall, estrogen is produced in the ovaries, adrenal glands and fat tissues. More specifically, the estradiol and estrone forms are produced primarily in the ovaries in premenopausal women, while estriol is produced by the placenta during pregnancy.

In women, estrogen circulates in the bloodstream and binds to estrogen receptors on cells in targeted tissues, affecting not only the breasts and uterus, but also the brain, bone, liver, heart and other tissues.

Estrogen controls growth of the uterine lining during the first part of the menstrual cycle, causes changes in the breasts during adolescence and pregnancy and regulates various other metabolic processes, including bone growth and cholesterollevels.

Estrogen is found in most oral birth control pills (along with the hormone progestin.) Estrogen helps stop ovulation during pregnancy, and birth control pills mimic this effect by regulating the levels of estrogen and thereby preventing ovulation from occurring.

Hormone replacement therapy — a treatment to reduce symptoms of menopause — also includes estrogen (which can be given in combination with progestin). This therapy is sometimes used to treat postmenopausal problems such as hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, sleeping problems and vaginal atrophy, a thinning, drying and inflammation of the vaginal walls due to a decrease in estrogen, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Estrogen hormone replacement therapy is also key for transgender women to achieve breast growth, inhibit body hair growth and to create other changes that are important for transitioning from male to female. Hormone administration that uses estrogens and androgens has been used for over 50 years as an effective in treatment for gender dysphoria, according to the University of California. Sublingual, transdermal and injectable estrogen hormones are preferable for the treatment of transwomen and may be combined with other drugs such as anesthetics for hair removal, anti-androgens and progesterone.

While there are many benefits to estrogen, it can be a bad thing in some cases. For example, elevated estrogen levels may cause an increased risk for injury. A 2016 study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that the risk of ligament injury may be mitigated by the use of oral contraceptives. The majority of breast cancers are also sensitive to estrogen, meaning that estrogen promotes tumor growth. These cancers are called hormone receptor positive breast cancers. For people with these cancers, treatments to lower estrogen levels or block estrogen production can be used to help prevent cancer recurrence after surgery, or to slow cancer growth.

According to Breast Cancer.org, alcohol can increase a woman’s risk of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Alcohol also enhances the effects of estrogen in driving the growth of breast cancer cells, according to 2016 research at the University of Houston.

Endometriosis is another estrogen-dependent disease. Reducing estrogen levels and providing non-estrogen treatments have all been considered for the treatment of endometriosis. The problem is that reducing the levels of estrogen in women can lead to infertility.

A study by the Women’s Health Initiative showed that hormone replacement therapy — both solely estrogen and estrogen-and-progestin — had significant risks. It increased the risk of breast cancer, stroke and blood clots and did not, as predicted, lower the risk of heart disease. Given the danger, hormone replacement therapy should be prescribed on a case-by-case basis. It is currently approved for postmenopausal symptoms, though women who do start hormone replacement therapy are encouraged to try the smallest dose for the shortest amount of time, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Only women with a severe risk of osteoporosis who cannot take non-estrogen therapies should be considered for using hormone replacement therapy preventatively.

Estrogen & Pregnancy

During the reproductive years, the pituitary gland in the brain generates hormones that cause a new egg to be released from its follicle each month. As the follicle develops, it produces estrogen, which causes the lining of the uterus to thicken.

Progesterone production increases after ovulation in the middle of a woman’s cycle to prepare the lining to receive and nourish a fertilized egg so it can develop into a fetus. If fertilization does not occur, estrogen and progesterone levels drop sharply, the lining of the uterus breaks down and menstruation occurs.

If fertilization does occur, estrogen and progesterone work together to prevent additional ovulation during pregnancy. Birth control pills (oral contraceptives) take advantage of this effect by regulating hormone levels. They also result in the production of a very thin uterine lining, called the endometrium, which is unreceptive to a fertilized egg. Plus, they thicken the cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering the cervix and fertilizing an egg.

Oral contraceptives containing estrogen may also relieve menstrual cramps and some perimenopausal symptoms and regulate menstrual cycles in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Furthermore, research indicates that birth control pills may reduce the risk of ovarian, uterine and colorectal cancer.

Estrone (E1)

Estrone is considered a weaker form of estrogen and is the major estrogenic form found in naturally menopausal women who are not taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). It is the only estrogen that is present in any amount in women after menopause. Estrone is the least abundant of the three hormones.

Estrone is made in small amounts in most tissues of the body, notably fat and muscle.

Estradiol (E2)

Estradiol is the most potent form of estrogenic steroids produced by ovaries and exerts the fullest range of estrogenic effects. When estradiol reaches the tissues, it connects with estrogen receptors to trigger specific activities in those tissues and cells. In addition to being produced by ovaries, estradiol can also be produced by conversion from a number of precursors in the adrenal glands and the placenta. Estradiol is thought to contribute to many gynecological problems such as endometriosis, fibroids, and even female cancers, particularly endometrial cancer.

Estriol (E3)

Estriol is a metabolic waste product of estradiol metabolism that has some effects on a limited number of estrogen receptors.

Estriol is only produced in significant quantities during pregnancy.

Estriol is made by the placenta from 16-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (16-OH DHEAS)4, which is an androgen steroid made in the fetal liver and adrenal glands and is 8 percent as potent as estradiol and 14 percent as potent as estrone.

Other Roles of Estrogen

Bone

Estrogen produced by the ovaries helps prevent bone loss and works together with calcium, vitamin D and other hormones and minerals to build bones. Osteoporosisoccurs when bones become too weak and brittle to support normal activities.

Your body constantly builds and remodels bone through a process called resorptionand deposition. Up until around age 30, your body makes more new bone than it breaks down. But once estrogen levels start to decline, this process slows.

Thus, after menopause your body breaks down more bone than it rebuilds. In the years immediately after menopause, women may lose as much as 20 percent of their bone mass. Although the rate of bone loss eventually levels off after menopause, keeping bone structures strong and healthy to prevent osteoporosis becomes more of a challenge.

Vagina and Urinary Tract

When estrogen levels are low, as in menopause, the vagina can become drier and the vaginal walls thinner, making sex painful.

Additionally, the lining of the urethra, the tube that brings urine from the bladder to the outside of the body, thins. A small number of women may experience an increase in urinary tract infections (UTIs) that can be improved with the use of vaginal estrogen therapy.

Perimenopause: The Menopause Transition

Other physical and emotional changes are associated with fluctuating estrogen levels during the transition to menopause, called perimenopause. This phase typically lasts two to eight years. Estrogen levels may continue to fluctuate in the year after menopause. Symptoms include:

  • Hot flashes—a sudden sensation of heat in your face, neck and chest that may cause you to sweat profusely, increase your pulse rate and make you feel dizzy or nauseous. A hot flash typically lasts about three to six minutes, although the sensation can last longer and may disrupt sleep when it occurs at night.
  • Irregular menstrual cycles
  • Breast tenderness
  • Exacerbation of migraines
  • Mood swings

Estrogen Therapy

Estrogen therapy is used to treat certain conditions, such as delayed onset of pubertyand menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and symptomatic vaginal atrophy. Vaginal atrophy is a condition in which low estrogen levels cause a woman’s vagina to narrow, lose flexibility and take longer to lubricate. Female hypogonadism, a condition in which the ovaries produce little or no hormones, as well as premature ovarian failure, can also cause vaginal dryness, breast atrophy and lower sex drive and is also treated with estrogen.

For many years, estrogen therapy and estrogen-progestin therapy were prescribed to treat menopausal symptoms, to prevent osteoporosis and to improve women’s overall health. However, after publication of results from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) in 2002 and March 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now advises health care professionals to prescribe menopausal hormone therapies at the lowest possible dose and for the shortest possible length of time to achieve treatment goals. Treatment is generally reserved for management of menopausal symptoms rather than prevention of chronic disease.

The WHI was a study of 27,347 women aged 50 to 79 (mean age, 63) taking estrogen therapy or estrogen/progestin therapy. They were followed for an average of five and a half to seven years. The study was unable to document that benefits outweighed risks when hormone therapy was used as preventive therapy, and it found that risk due to hormones may differ depending on a woman”s age or years since menopause.

The National Cancer Institute found a very significant drop in the rate of hormone-dependent breast cancers among women, the most common breast cancer, in 2003. In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in April 2007, researchers speculated that the drop was directly related to the fact that millions of women stopped taking hormone therapy in 2002 after the results of a major government study found the treatment slightly increased a woman’s risk for breast cancer, heart disease and stroke. The researchers found that the decrease in breast cancer began in mid-2002 and leveled off after 2003. The decrease occurred in women over 50 and was marked in women with tumors that were estrogen receptor (ER) positive—cancers that require estrogen to grow. The researchers speculate that stopping the treatment prevented very tiny ER positive cancers from growing (and in some cases, possibly helped them to regress) because they didn’t have the additional estrogen required to fuel their growth.

However, for symptomatic menopausal women or for women with premature menopause, hormone therapy remains the most effective therapy for hot flashes. For more on the WHI study, guidelines for considering menopausal hormone therapy and its potential risks and benefits, visit the National Institutes of Health.

In addition to treating menopause-related symptoms, estrogen and other hormones are prescribed to treat reproductive health and endocrine disorders (the endocrine system is the system in the body that regulates hormone production and function).

Some uses of hormone therapy include the following situations:

  • delayed puberty
  • contraception
  • irregular menstrual cycles
  • symptomatic menopause

Diagnosis

Because hormone disorders can cause a wide variety of symptoms that also are associated with other conditions, a careful evaluation of your symptoms and general health is recommended, especially if you experience any unusual symptoms. To arrive at a diagnosis, your health care professional will want to rule out certain conditions. Your assessment will include a thorough personal medical history, a family medical history and a physical examination. Blood and other laboratory tests may be ordered to measure hormone levels. Brain scans are sometimes ordered to identify abnormalities that may be affecting the endocrine system, and DNA testing can detect genetic abnormalities.

Estradiol or other hormone levels may be tested in the evaluation of precocious puberty in girls (the onset of signs of puberty before age seven), delayed puberty and in assisted reproductive technology (ART) to monitor ovarian follicle development in the days prior to in-vitro fertilization. Hormone levels are also sometimes used to monitor HT.

Estrone and/or estradiol levels may be tested if you are having hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia and/or amenorrhea (the absence of periods for extended periods of time). However, due to the day-to-day and even hour-to-hour fluctuations in estradiol levels, they are less helpful than follicle stimulating hormone levels (FSH) for these evaluations. Salivary estradiol testing is less reliable still and of no value in diagnosing or treating symptoms. In most cases, a woman’s age, symptoms and menstrual irregularity is sufficient for making the diagnosis.

Accurate diagnosis of hormonal disorders is important to determining appropriate treatment, which often includes estrogen therapy.

The following are common reasons estrogen therapy is prescribed:

  • Delayed puberty. Delayed puberty can result from a variety of disruptions to normal hormone production, including central nervous system lesions, pituitary disorders, autoimmune processes involving the ovaries or other endocrine glands, metabolic and infectious diseases, anorexia or malnutrition, exposure to environmental toxins and over-intensive athletic training.Signs of delayed puberty include:
    • Lack of breast tissue development by the age of 13
    • No menstrual periods for five years following initial breast growth or by age 16
    • Estrogen treatment for girls with delayed puberty is somewhat controversial; some health care professionals advise treatment, while others prefer close monitoring.
  • Irregular menstrual periods. Once a medical evaluation finds that there is no other serious cause of your irregular cycles, oral contraceptives or cyclic progesterone may be used to regulate your cycle, assuming there is no reason you can’t use them. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a common cause of irregular menstrual cycles.
  • Contraception. Oral contraceptives containing estrogen are one of the most popular methods of fertility control in the United States. Other hormonal methods include some types of intrauterine devices (IUDs), the patch and an intravaginal ring.
  • Menopausal Symptoms. Declining or fluctuating levels of estrogen and other hormones such as testosterone may begin as early as the late 30s. These hormonal changes trigger many of the physical and emotional changes associated with the transition to menopause. Of course, menopause is a life stage, not a disease, but symptoms associated with menopause can be bothersome and concerning for some women.

These changes may include:

  • Irregular menstrual periods
  • Hot flashes (sudden warm feeling, sometimes with blushing or sweating)
  • Night sweats (hot flashes that occur at night, often disrupting sleep)
  • Fatigue (probably from disrupted sleep patterns)
  • Mood swings
  • Early morning awakening
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Fluctuations in sexual desire or response
  • Difficulty sleeping

There is a wide range of possible menopause-related conditions. Ask your health care professional about any changes you notice.

For symptomatic menopausal women or women with premature menopause, HT or estrogen therapy (ET) remains the gold standard for relief of hot flashes and vaginally related symptoms. The estrogen-only therapy may only be prescribed for women who have had a hysterectomy and therefore are not at risk of uterine cancer. For perimenopausal women with these symptoms, estrogen is usually given short-term (usually two to five years), with the goal of tapering and eventually discontinuing it.

If you are experiencing moderate to severe menopausal symptoms or not getting symptom relief from nonhormonal methods, hormone therapy may be an option. (To find out about alternative, nondrug methods of relieving menopausal symptoms, visit the menopause topic at HealthyWomen.org.)

New, lower-dose versions of the hormone therapies used to treat symptoms of menopause are now available. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved pills, skin patches, gels, lotions and sprays in lower doses. Delivery of estrogen through the skin may be less likely than pills to cause blood clots in the legs or lungs. The estrogen dosage used for hormone therapy varies widely depending on the symptoms it’s intended to manage, as does dosing schedule. Discuss your symptoms and concerns with your health care professional. In 2003, the FDA announced that a new warning on all estrogen products for use by postmenopausal women. The so-called “black box” is the strongest step the FDA can take to warn consumers of potential risks from a medication. It advises health care professionals to prescribe estrogen products at the lowest dose and for the shortest possible length of time. While HT had also until 2002 been widely used to prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis, the health risks of hormone therapy may outweigh this benefit for many women. Other osteoporosis therapies should be considered first.

Although observational studies over many years indicated that HT prevented heart disease in postmenopausal women, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), and several other professional organizations say menopausal hormone therapy should not be used for primary or secondary prevention of coronary heart disease because there’s not enough evidence to show long-term estrogen therapy or hormone replacement therapy improves cardiovascular outcome. However, ACOG and NAMS say women in early menopause who are in good cardiovascular health may consider estrogen plus progestin for their menopausal symptoms. Talk to your health care professional about your individual risks.

Treatment

There are many formulations and dosages of estrogen and estrogen-progestin combinations on the market today for treating conditions that result from estrogen deficiency, for birth control and for regulation of hormone-related processes such as menstruation.

Hormonal contraception

Oral contraceptives

Most combination oral contraceptives contain between 20 to 50 mcg of estrogen, a lower dose (one-fourth or less) than those marketed 20 to 30 years ago.

Oral contraceptives containing estrogen are now prescribed by some health care professionals for health benefits beyond contraception. For instance, they can:

  • Regulate and shorten a woman’s menstrual cycle
  • Decrease severe cramping and heavy bleeding
  • Reduce ovarian cancer risk
  • Reduce the development of ovarian cysts
  • Protect against ectopic pregnancy
  • Reduce the risk of uterine (endometrial) cancer
  • Decrease perimenopausal symptoms

Contraceptive patches and vaginal ring

The patch and ring contain hormones similar to oral contraceptives and provide many of the same benefits, although through a different route of administration.

Hormone-containing intrauterine device

The hormone-containing IUDs provide contraception and, in the case of the Mirena IUD, greatly reduce menstrual bleeding.

There are side effects and risks associated with estrogen-containing birth control pills, however, although many have been reduced through the introduction of lower-dosage versions in recent years. These include heart attack, stroke, blood clots, pulmonary embolism, nausea and vomiting, headaches, irregular bleeding, weight gain or weight loss, breast tenderness and increased breast size. In addition, smoking cigarettes while taking birth control pills dramatically increases the risk of heart attack for women over 35. Smoking is far more dangerous to a woman’s health than taking birth control pills, but the combination of oral contraceptive pill use and smoking has a greater effect on heart attack risk than the simple addition of the two factors. For women of all ages, smoking raises the risk of blood clots and stroke associated with birth control pills.

If the primary reason you are taking an oral contraceptive is to prevent unwanted pregnancy and you are worried about potential estrogen-related side effects, the “mini-pill,” which contains progestin (a synthetic form of the natural hormone progesterone), may be an option.

Hormone Therapy for Menopausal Symptoms

There are two types of therapy used to replace hormones that decline with the onset of menopause or are deficient as a result of medical conditions.

Estrogen-progestin

Postmenopausal hormone therapy, until recently referred to as “hormone replacement therapy,” or “HRT,” is now also termed “menopausal hormone therapy” (MHT) or simply “hormone therapy” (HT). HT typically refers to a combination of estrogen and either a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone (progestin) or a natural form of the hormone. Progesterone or progestin is necessary in women with an intact uterus to decrease the stimulating effect of estrogen on uterine tissue—a risk factor for uterine cancer.

Estrogen-only

Estrogen therapy” (ET) refers to the use of estrogen alone. Estrogen therapy alone may be prescribed for women who have had a hysterectomy (and therefore are not at risk of uterine cancer).

A variety of estrogen medications containing various types of estrogen are available. These include pills, patches, injections, lotions, gels, sprays, vaginal creams, rings or tablets.

Conjugated estrogens. Premarin is the most frequently prescribed conjugated estrogen therapy product. It contains several types of conjugated estrogens derived from the urine of pregnant mares. It is available in oral, intravenous and vaginal cream formulations. Cenestin is a blend of nine plant-derived, synthetic conjugated estrogens and is FDA approved for treating menopausal symptoms.

Esterified estrogens. These estrogens may be made from plant sources or be prepared from the urine of pregnant mares. Brand names are Estratab and Menest. Estratest is a combination of esterified estrogens and methyltestosterone, a male hormone. It is the only testosterone currently FDA approved for women. However, oral testosterone has been associated with decreases in good HDL cholesterol, and it can cause side effects like acne and increased facial hair growth. You shouldn’t take these medications if you are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy.

Estratest. Estratest is a combination of esterified estrogens and methyltestosterone, a male hormone. It is the only testosterone currently FDA approved for women. However, oral testosterone has been associated with decreases in good HDL cholesterol, and it can cause side effects like acne and increased facial hair growth. You shouldn’t take these medications if you are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy.

Estradiol (systemic). This type of estrogen, normally produced during the reproductive years, is available in many brand-name oral and transdermal preparations. Oral estradiol is available in a number of FDA-approved brand-name products, including Femtrace, Estrace, Gynodiol and generic estradiol. Transdermal patches include Alora, Climara, Esclim, Estraderm and Vivelle. An ultra–low-dose estrogen patch, Menostar, is approved for prevention of osteoporosis. Estradiol gel (EstroGel) is an FDA-approved bio-identical estradiol in a transdermal gel; Estrasorb is a transdermal estradiol lotion.

Estrone. This is the predominant natural hormone in menopausal women and is a product of the metabolism of estradiol. Some forms of estrone are present in conjugated and esterified estrogen preparations, as well as in combination with piperazine.

Estropipate (Ogen, Ortho-Est). This natural estrogenic substance is available in a pill.

Ethinyl estradiol (Estinyl). This synthetic estrogen is available in tablet form.

Synthetic conjugated estrogens, B (Enjuvia). This is a plant-derived, synthetic conjugated estrogen product in tablet form.

Local vaginal estrogen therapy

Several forms of estrogen are available as creams applied vaginally for treating vulvar and vaginal atrophy. They include: conjugated estrogen cream (Premarin), micronized estradiol (Estrace), and dienestrol (Ortho dienestrol).

Estradiol is also available as an inserted vaginal ring (Estring), for treating those conditions as well as urethritis, and in vaginal tablet form (Vagifem).

Combination hormone therapy: estrogen and progestin

Taking estrogen daily and progestin for two weeks every month may result in monthly bleeding similar to menstruation. Many women prefer taking both hormones every day to eliminate bleeding, which usually stops after three to six months of daily combination therapy.

Some examples of combination pills are:

  • 17 beta-estradiol and norgestimate (Prefest) continuous estrogen and pulsed progesterone.
  • Conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone (Prempro, Premphase)
  • 17 beta-estradiol and norethindrone acetate (Activella)
  • Ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone acetate (Femhrt)

Some examples of combination transdermal products are:

  • estradiol and norethindrone acetate patch (CombiPatch)
  • estradiol and levonorgestrel patch (Climara Pro)

Any of these products may be prescribed for menopausal symptoms, including vulvar or vaginal atrophy.

Bioidentical, natural or compounded estrogen

The term “bioidentical hormones” is used to refer to hormones that are identical to the form of hormone made in the body. They may also be called “natural.” Sometimes hormones sold in a compounding pharmacy are called “natural” or “bioidentical.” All of these estrogen or progesterone products are made in a laboratory and then mixed with a cream or put into a pill form.

There is no evidence that compounded hormones are safer or more effective than FDA-approved hormones. There are many FDA-approved bioidentical estrogens and progesterones on the market and a wide range of dosing options. FDA-approved products have stricter oversight in terms of product purity and dose consistency than compounded products.

You should not take any form of estrogen if you are pregnant or have had:

  • Breast, uterine or ovarian cancer
  • Abnormal uterine bleeding of an unknown cause (until the cause has been determined)
  • A very high triglyceride level (in this case, some women can take estrogen via a patch, lotion or gel)
  • Active liver disease
  • Blood clots or pulmonary embolism

Women taking either estrogen alone or estrogen plus progestin are advised to have yearly breast exams and receive annual mammograms. Potential side effects of taking ET or HT include increased risk for blood clots, heart disease, heart attacks, stroke and breast cancer (the risks of breast cancer are greater with estrogen plus progestin than with estrogen alone). Other possible side effects include:

  • vaginal bleeding (starting or returning)
  • breast tenderness (which often goes away after three months)
  • nausea (which often goes away after your body adjusts)
  • fluid retention (bloating)
  • headache
  • dizziness
  • depression
  • increased risk of ovarian cancer and gallbladder disease
  • change in vision, including intolerance to contact lenses

Estrogen can interact with a variety of other commonly prescribed medications, including thyroid hormone, so be sure to tell your health care professional about all medicines you are taking, including alternative/complementary products and supplements.

In making the decision about whether to use estrogen to treat your condition, you and your health care professional will discuss your personal health history. This discussion will include considering if you are at increased risk for one or more of the conditions with which estrogen is associated.

Facts to Know

  1. Estrogen is produced in the ovaries, adrenal glands and fat tissues. It prepares the reproductive organs for conception and pregnancy. Estriol, a form of estrogen, is produced by the placenta during pregnancy.
  2. The function of estrogen in the body is complex. We have learned a lot, but there is still much more to learn.
  3. Declining or low levels of estrogen can cause physical symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness.
  4. By the time you reach menopause, you will produce only about one-third the amount of estrogen you produced during your childbearing years.
  5. Supplemental estrogen taken after menopause does not appear to prevent heart disease when initiated in older women several years past menopause.
  6. The term “hormone replacement therapy (HRT)” has been largely replaced by other names, including post-menopausal hormone therapy (PHT), hormone therapy (HT), or menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). Estrogen-alone therapy, previously referred to as estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), has been largely replaced by the term estrogen therapy (ET).
  7. The term “estrogen” includes a group of closely related compounds, including estradiol, estrone and estriol.
  8. Estrogen therapy may be prescribed for conditions such as delayed onset of puberty, genital atrophy or female hypogonadism (incomplete functioning of the ovaries, creating symptoms such as vaginal dryness, breast atrophy and lower sex drive).
  9. There is new evidence that long-term use of hormone therapy may increase a women’s risk of ovarian cancer and that estrogen plus progestin may possibly increase lung cancer mortality.
  10. Findings from a memory sub-study of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) indicate that women who are older than 65 when they start taking combination hormone therapy have an increased risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, compared with women who do not take the medication. Effects in younger women remain unknown and require further study.

Key Q&A

  1. The menopausal symptoms I’m experiencing since my ovaries were removed are worse than expected. Why?The abrupt decrease in hormone levels for women who have surgical menopause can cause more severe symptoms than natural menopause. Talk to your health care professional about medications and lifestyle changes that can ease those symptoms.
  2. Should I have my ovaries removed if I have a hysterectomy for benign disease?Increasing evidence suggests that, unless a woman is at elevated risk of ovarian or breast cancer, the benefits of keeping the ovaries may outweigh the risks. This is especially true for women who have not yet reached menopause at the time of hysterectomy. A recent study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology reported that removing both ovaries during a hysterectomy is associated with a decreased risk of ovarian and breast cancer but an increased risk of lung cancer, coronary artery disease and death from other causes, even in postmenopausal women. Talk to your health care professional about your surgical options and the best plan for you.
  3. I’ve heard that estrogen can affect my chances of getting osteoporosis. How?Estrogen helps reduce the rate of bone loss that occurs during normal bone remodeling. Normally there is a balance in the activity of the cells that break down bone and the cells that build it back up. By decreasing the activity of the cells that break down bone, estrogen allows the cells that build bone to have a greater overall effect. Once estrogen levels drop, this balance shifts.While hormone therapy has been shown to decrease hip and vertebral fractures, it may also increase your risk of other health conditions, such as invasive breast cancer, stroke and blood clots. Discuss the risks and benefits of available treatments with your health care professional.
  4. What sort of side effects can I expect when taking estrogen?The most common side effects are breast tenderness, water retention and uterine bleeding.
  5. How does hormone therapy affect breast cancer risk?According to the American Cancer Society, taking estrogen alone is not linked to a higher risk of breast cancer. In fact, in certain groups of women, such as those with no family history of breast cancer or no personal history of benign breast disease, estrogen may lead to a slightly lower risk of breast cancer.The story is a little different for women taking a combination of estrogen and progestin, however. The Women’s Health Initiative found taking estrogen and progestin replacement therapy was linked to a higher risk of breast cancer. Specifically, for every 10,000 women who took estrogen and progestin hormone replacement therapy each year, there were eight more cases of breast cancers than there were in women who hadn’t taken the hormones. And the longer a woman took estrogen and progestin replacement, the higher her risk. However, this risk drops within three years of stopping the hormones but remains slightly elevated compared to women who never used combination hormone therapy. The ACS also reports breast cancers in women taking estrogen and progestin replacement therapy tend to be larger and possibly more advanced once they are found.HT can also increase breast density and make mammograms less reliable.
  6. How does estrogen affect cardiovascular health?ACOG and NAMS say menopausal hormone therapy should not be used for the primary or secondary prevention of heart disease because there isn’t enough evidence to show long-term estrogen or estrogen plus progestin therapy improves cardiovascular outcomes. However, ACOG says women in early menopause who are in good cardiovascular health may consider estrogen plus progestin for menopausal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about your individual risk.
  7. What is known about the benefits of hormone therapy on bone health?Postmenopausal osteoporosis is characterized by decreased bone mass, deterioration of bone architecture and high bone fragility, making bone fractures of great concern. Estrogen deficiency is the most common risk factor for osteoporosis in women.

    Estrogen, with and without progestin, has been shown to be a protective and effective prevention measure against osteoporosis and the risk of clinical fractures. However, considering the potential risks of HT uncovered in the WHI, such as increased risk of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer, it is no longer recommended as a first-line therapy for osteoporosis.

    Other ways to reduce the risk of osteoporosis include avoiding tobacco, increasing weight-bearing exercise and resistance training and having adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D.

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