Three Estrogens in Balance Throughout A Woman's Lifetime

Three Estrogens in Balance Throughout A Woman's Life

Estrogen is vital for healthy reproduction and menstruation in women. Estrogen is also responsible for maintaining secondary sexual characteristics, for maintaining endometrial (uterine lining) gland development, and for the production of cervical and vaginal mucus. In addition, estrogen has positive influences over a woman's cardiovascular health, bone density, brain function, mood, and female libido. Estrogen also reduces bowel motility and stimulates the production of many different enzymes within the body.

Because estrogen may stimulate the effects for overgrowth of the endometrium, the levels should be checked and should always be balanced by the protective effects of bio-identical progesterone when hormone replacement is being contemplated.

Progesterone is not only essential for being a protective balancing hormone to estrogen in postmenopausal females with an intact uterus, for it is also neccesary in all women as an essential hormone that gets utilized by many other cells and organs of the body.

The Three Estrogens

When we speak of estrogen, it really is not accurate to assume that we are speaking of only one particular hormone. There are actually three major forms of estrogen within the male and female human body, estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3).

Of the three estrogens, estradiol is the most potent with a potency that is 12 times greater that of estrone and 80 times greater that of estriol. The bulk of estradiol pre-menopausally is made in the ovaries, so it is the most predominant estrogen during a woman's pre-menopausal years. Although estradiol remains the most potent estrogen among the three, the levels typically decline in menopause as the ovarian functions start to decline.

Once a woman has reached menopause and the ovaries lose their function, estrone takes over as the predominant form of estrogen in the woman. Most of estrone's production depends first upon the production of androstenedione (an androgen, or male hormone) within the adrenal glands. Androstenedione is then converted to estrone, by a process known as aromatization which ocus in various peripheral tissues, but particularly within adipose, or fat tissue. See the chart below for more details on all of the major steps that occur in the production of our sex hormones.

The Cascade of Hormones Leading to the Production of Estriol (E3)

Estriol is the least potent estrogen in the body, and is considered to be a mild and brief-acting hormone. Estriol is thought to originate primarily from estrone, via 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone, although some estriol may come directly from androstenedione.

Estriol has a much lower affinity for the sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) which is responsible for binding hormones traveling from the gland of production through the bloodstream. SHBG acts as a sort of reservoir for hormones, making them unavailable to the tissues for immediate use. Since estriol binds poorly to this carrier portein, a greater percentage of it is typically available for biological activity. It has been speculated that estriol may be protective against estrogen-associated cancers, although further research is needed to confirm this in the medical literature.

Progesterone and the Balancing Act

Progesterone is the balancing act for all of the estrogens within the body. It is also very important for normal reproduction and for menstrual function. Bioequivalent progesterone influences the health of your bones, blood vessels, heart, brain, skin, and many other tissues and organs.

As a precursor, progesterone is used by the body to make all of the other steroid hormones, including DHEA, cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone. In addition, progesterone plays an important role in mood, blood sugar balance, libido and thyroid function, as well as in the health of your adrenal glands.

The Role of Testosterone In A Woman's Body

Testosterone is an important hormone for women, helping her to maintain lean body mass, bone density, skin elasticity, blood cell production and her libido.

Finding Your Hormonal Harmony

All three forms of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone must be in proper balance with each other for optimal health during the reproductve years and for healthy menopaausal transitions with mild to minimal symptoms.

My recommendation is that you get your salivary hormones tested, including checking your Cortisol, Insulin and Sex Hormone levels. Seek a health care professional that can show you the very best way to balance the act of perimenopause and menopause.

If you are suffering from less than optimal health and need help finding hormonal balance, or for help with choosing high quality nutraceutical grade formulas and detoxification programs to boost your weight loss program and to get the most out of your nutrients & foods get in touch with us today. Don’t suffer with less than optimal health or poor performance. There is a better way.

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