Is a type of steroid hormone that is produced naturally in vertebrates and some insects; that is, an organic compound composed of four rings are mainly made from the compound cholesterol. A group of chemical compounds such as estradiol, estron, estraol, which have an important role in the reproduction process are listed under estrogen. Compound estradiol is the most productive during the years of fertility, while the role of estraol appears during pregnancy, and estrogen during menopause.
Estrogen is produced naturally in males and females, but is produced more in females; it is produced in a large amount of ovaries (from the follicle containing the egg, and from the yellow body), the placenta and in a lesser amount of adrenal glands, liver, breast and fatty tissue, Mainly in males of the testes, so it is considered female sex hormones. Because most estrogen production is from the ovaries and placenta, its production is lower in women who have entered menopause.
After the estrogen production of its plants is pumped into the blood, it is carried out with blood in veins, arteries and capillaries to reach all the cells in the body. Estrogen is transported in the blood in two ways: a hormone linked to a transport protein, and also as a free, unrelated hormone. Free estrogen passes through the plasma membrane of the cells to reach its receptors in the cytoplasm of the cells and thus the desired response by the secretion of extracellular proteins to reach the desired place, while the hormone associated with the transport protein enters the nucleus to control the production of proteins necessary for the body by affecting the genetic material By increasing or reducing its production.
Estrogen hormone plays an important role in the appearance of female sexual characteristics, both primary and secondary, while its role is not clearly apparent in men, but it is thought to be related to influencing the numbers of sperm. The effect of estrogen in females is shown not only on the breasts and the uterus, but also on the bones, liver, brain and other tissues. It controls the thickness of the lining of the uterus and the maturation of the eggs and the occurrence of contractions in the uterus during menstruation or reproduction, and reduce the pH in the vagina and thus reduce vaginal bacterial infection, and bone growth (hand in hand with vitamin D and calcium and minerals and other hormones, resulting in osteoporosis when the reduction of levels of estrogen ), And the appearance of the skin (the lack of skin and the appearance of signs of aging), and cholesterol levels in the body (which increases the proportion of good cholesterol and triglycerides and reduce the proportion of bad cholesterol in the blood by increasing the production of estrogen). It also affects the sexual desire of women, and controls the production of milk from the breasts.
Menstrual period, puerperal period, menopause, multiple polycystic ovary syndrome, severe exercise reduce estrogen levels in the body. To treat this deficiency, doctors resort to industrial estrogen pills, which are called contraceptives, or a diet containing plant-derived estrogen alternatives, such as flavonoids (especially isoflavonoids), especially legumes , And plants rich in stilbins, such as grapes, strawberries and cranberries. But the problem lies in the stimulation of artificial discs for the growth of cancerous tumors, which are mostly in the breasts. So be careful of these tablets and take into account the history of illness in the family before the description and treatment. And not to take it for long periods, and to perform monthly examination of the domestic breast by the patient.