Estrogen is a hormone that is naturally produced by the ovaries in women, and it is produced in smaller amounts in the adrenal glands in both men and women. Estrogen is vital to the feminine reproductive system. It regulates the menstrual cycle and helps to prepare the body for pregnancy. After menopause, hormone replacement therapy can add estrogen back to the body after natural production slows down and levels are reduced.
Regulates Reproductive Cycle in Women
Estrogen is a primary hormone in the functions of the female reproductive system. It triggers the build up of the lining of the uterus in preparation for pregnancy. According to Vitamins-Supplements.org, estrogen is also responsible for the increase in blood vessels, lymphatic system and nerves that feed and control the expanding uterus. It allows blood and lymph to flow easily between mother and child.
Helps Treat Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is the break down of bone tissue. It is caused by the body's inability to maintain and utilize calcium. Estrogen helps to strengthen bone and maintain the necessary amounts of calcium to keep bones healthy. When a woman reaches menopause, estrogen production is reduced. Hormone replacement therapy is prescribed to help keep bone density at normal levels by decreasing the amount of calcium that is lost. Estrogen in adequate amounts is necessary to maintain healthy bones and tissue and can prevent bone loss.
Negative Cardiovasculart Effects
According to the New York Presbyterian Hospital, a study performed by the Women's Health Initiative in 1991, did not show that estrogen improved or prevented heart disease. Lower levels of estrogen may actually have positive affects on the cardiovascular system. The addition of progestin to estrogen may also negatively affect coronary artery disease, according to Vitamins-Supplement.org. Even though estrogen and progestin are produced naturally in the human body, an excessive amount of either can throw off the delicate balance and cause problems within the cardiovascular system.
May Cause Cancer
Estrogen stimulates cell growth. Therefore, excess estrogen may cause cell growth in abnormal cells and tissue, and this abnormal growth may turn into cancer if not treated promptly. According to Vitamins-Supplements.org, excess amounts of estrogen may cause breast cancer. Estrogen can tamper with DNA, causing it to replicate errors in breast cancer cells. This increases the risk of tumors in the breast, and cancer. Women who have been exposed to higher than normal levels of estrogen for longer periods of time, may be at higher risk than women who have had less exposure.
