Description
Estrogen is a hormone present in the body in small amounts.It is commonly associated with the female body. Men also produce estrogen, but women produce it in higher levels.The hormone estrogen is responsible for the sexual development of girls when they reach puberty,controls the growth of the uterine lining during the menstrual cycle and at the beginning of a pregnancy causes breast changes in teenagers and women who are pregnant,is involved in bone and cholesterol metabolism,
regulates food intake, body weight, glucose metabolism, and insulin sensitivity .Estrogens are secreted by the gonads, adrenal glands, and placenta. Total estrogens provide an overall picture of estrogen status for men and women.
Estrogen is primarily produced in the ovaries. Anything that affects the ovaries will end up affecting estrogen production.Women who have low levels of estrogen may benefit from hormonal treatment.Sex hormones, such as estrogen, influence the amount of fat in the body. Estrogen regulates glucose and lipid metabolism. If your estrogen levels are low, it can result in weight gain. Being overweight can increase your risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.Symptoms of abnormal estrogen levels can include fatigue, hot flashes, thinning hair, irregular menstruation, cramps, mood swings and changes in blood pressure.
Estrogen analysis may be helpful in establishing time of ovulation and optimal time for conception. Serial samples must be collected over several days to evaluate baseline and peak total estrogen levels.Estrogens are a group of steroids that play an important role in regulating the menstrual cycle and function as the main sex hormones in females. Estrogens are responsible for the development and maturation of female sex organs and other sexual characteristics. Estrogen analysis may be helpful in establishing time of ovulation and optimal time for conception. Serial samples must be collected over several days to evaluate baseline and peak total estrogen levels.
An estrogen test measures any of three forms of the hormone:
Estrone (E1)
Estradiol (E2)
Estriol (E3)
Estrogen levels that are considered normal or healthy depend on your age and your gender. For women, pregnancy will also have a big effect on your estrogen levels. Where you are in your menstrual cycle could also affect the results.High or low levels of a specific form of estrogen aren’t enough to diagnosis of your condition. The test results can help, though, to find the cause of your symptoms.High levels of E1 or E2 could mean early puberty in girls or tumors in the ovaries in girls and women. For boys and men, increased E1 and E2 levels could signal delayed puberty, tumors in the testicles, and may be the cause of gynecomastia.
For both men and women, high E1 and E2 levels could mean Hyperthyroidism,Cirrhosis (liver damage)or Tumors in the adrenal glands.For pregnant women, high E3 levels could mean labor will occur soon.Low estrogen levels in women are signs of several conditions, including Low levels of pituitary hormones,Poorly functioning ovaries,Failing pregnancy (when estriol levels drop),Eating disorder,Turner syndrome (inherited condition caused by an abnormal or missing X chromosome) or Low estradiol levels also happen, naturally, after menopause.
