The Many Facets of Estrogens

The many faces of estrogen are very interesting and challenging to deal with. Many women have very strong feelings about estrogens and the way they affect their bodies. The chemicals in our daily diet are mainly from the foods we eat. The levels of hormones are sometimes higher than the recommended dietary allowances. The consequences for women are that they can have a variety of symptoms including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, headaches, sleep disturbances, depression and anxiety.


This is not a surprise, since these are the direct result of too much estrogens. The danger here is that too much estrogens can lead to cancer, so it is always a good idea to stay as healthy as possible. There are ways to deal with the many problems arising from this. The most important one of them is to know what the causes are.

We are exposed to estrogens everyday in many ways, most of which are indirect. We inhale air that contains an abundance of estrogens. Smoke is another source that adds to the concentration. Products like shampoo, shaving creams, deodorants and so on all contain a certain amount of estrogens. Some of these are naturally produced while others are converted into esters that are added to gasoline.

In addition, we get estrogens through certain foods that we consume. Milk is one of these products. Most of us have a cow, although there are many soy varieties. Other sources include eggs and plums. We also get them by inhalation when cooking or baking. Even the chemicals we use to protect our foods contain estrogens, such as those used to preserve them.

The most obvious of the effects is a wide range of facial and breast changes. Breasts may swell, especially if you are a woman who has not yet finished puberty, while faces become more firm. The neck will develop a lighter skin tone, and the skin of the face will gain thickness and definition.

There are some concerns about estrogenic effects in developing boys and girls. One concern is the effect on growth and development of the prostate. The prostate gland produces a small amount of testosterone, but the amount produced depends on how much estrogen is present. If there is too much estrogen, the result can be enlargement of the prostate, which can cause impotence or even cancer.

There are other possible side effects of estrogens that many people do not consider. Estrogen consumption has been associated with a variety of cancers, including breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer and colon cancer. The distribution of estrogen in the body can affect the balance of calcium and phosphorus, which could lead to osteoporosis. Estrogen is thought to play a role in blood vessel malformations and some cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. Men and women are both exposed to a greater estrogen level than they are in men.

The many faces of estrogens include beneficial effects to some people, but there are negative sides as well. For example, a woman who becomes pregnant may find that her skin develops stretch marks. Estrogens can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, while reducing the chance of colon cancer. They have been linked to breast tumors and breast cancer in post-menopausal women. The risks are enough to make you want to learn more about estrogens.

One face of estrogens that everyone has to face is during menopause. Menopause is when a woman is past her fertile years and her body is no longer producing an egg monthly. She may also experience hot flashes, vaginal dryness and night sweats. Since these uncomfortable symptoms can be linked to many different factors, the medical community is not sure what causes them. Estrogens play a role in some of these conditions, but there is no evidence that they cause them all. There are many herbal remedies available that help women cope with menopause and relieve some of the discomfort associated with it.

Another common face of estrogens is during breastfeeding. Women produce an abundance of estrogen while breastfeeding. When the child is weaned and no longer receiving breast milk, the mother will produce even more estrogens. These should not be confused with estrogens produced by the ovaries, which are beneficial for breastfeeding and other reasons.

The last, but certainly not the least, is the adverse effects of estrogens on men and women. A number of adverse health reactions have been linked to estrogens. Some people develop facial hair, cataracts or arthritis. Others experience changes in sexual desire or performance. The worst effects of estrogens may occur during pregnancy and menopause, when hormone levels become unpredictable. Fortunately, there are many options for women and men that help reduce the adverse affects of estrogens.