Let’s talk about Estrogen. Estrogen is one of those hormones that is easy to take for granted when it’s in balance—but when there’s too much or too little of it, it can wreak havoc on your system.
At some point in time, you learned the basics about how estrogen is crucial to a properly functioning reproductive system and contributes to your monthly period. Still, there are a lot of other exciting facts about estrogen and how it impacts the reproductive system you may no the aware of.
Fact #1
Estrogen is responsible for the structural differences between male and female bodies and reproduction. For example, females have a wider pelvis and more permanent hair on the head as well as more fully formed breasts.
Fact #2
Not only does estrogen stimulate the growth of an egg follicle in the ovary, but it also stimulates the growth of the vagina to its adult size. It thickens the vaginal wall, increases vaginal acidity that reduces bacterial infections, and helps lubricate the vagina.
Fact #3
Estrogen is responsible for the contractions that transport the egg and sperm cells from the fallopian tubes to the uterus.
Fact #4
Estrogen stimulates the muscles in the uterus to develop and contract. Contractions help deliver the infant and placenta during labor. They also assist the wall of the uterus in getting rid of dead tissue during menstruation.
Fact #5
Because it regulates the flow and thickness of uterine mucous secretions, estrogen is responsible for enhancing the movement of a sperm cell to an egg and enables fertilization.
Fact #6
Estrogen has a unique relationship with other hormones in the breasts. This combo of hormones is responsible for the growth of the breasts during adolescence, the pigmentation of the nipples, and stopping the flow of milk when an infant is no longer breast-feeding.
Fact #7
Your body actually makes three different types of estrogen.
- Estrone (E1) is the only kind of estrogen your body makes after menopause. It is a weak version of the hormone and is present in most tissues of the body, mainly fat and muscle. Estrone can be converted to estradiol and estradiol to estrone.
- Estradiol (E2) is the most common type of estrogen in women of childbearing age. This is the strongest type of estrogen which is produced by the ovaries. Researchers believe that it may contribute to a range of gynecological problems, such as endometriosis, fibroids, and cancers that occur in females, particularly endometrial cancer.
- Estriol (E3) is the main estrogen that the body produces during pregnancy. It is actually a waste product made after the body uses estradiol. Estriol cannot be converted to estradiol or estrone.
Estrogen Is a Lot More Complicated Than You Thought, Right?
You may also be interested to learn more subtle ways estrogen is responsible for the differences between male and female bodies. For example, in a female body estrogen:
- Is responsible for the smaller and shorter bones, a broader pelvis, and narrower shoulders.
- Increases fat storage around the hips and thighs, making the body more curved and contoured.
- Slows down the growth of females during puberty and increases sensitivity to insulin, which influences the amount of body fat and lean muscle a person can develop.
- Makes body hair finer and less pronounced. It also makes the hair on a woman’s head more permanent.
- Makes female voice boxes smaller and vocal cords shorter, which produces a higher-pitched voice than males.
- Suppresses the activity of the glands in the skin that produce oily substances, which reduces the likelihood of acne.
Estrogen Doesn’t Just Stick to the Reproductive System
Estrogen affects your brain, skin bones, and heart.
- In the brain, estrogen:
- Helps maintain body temperature.
- Regulates the part of the brain linked to sexual development.
- Enhances the effects of the brain’s “feel-good” chemicals.
- When it comes to the skin, estrogens improve the thickness and quality of the skin as well as the collagen content, which prevents aging.
- Estrogen helps to preserve bone strength and prevent bone loss.
- Estrogen regulates cholesterol production in the liver, helping to protect the heart and arteries.
You can see why estrogen is so important not just for our reproductive system but other systems of the body. At any point in life, an imbalance- whether it is a lack of dominance- can leave you to feel sick in your body and in your mind.
What Can Go Wrong with Estrogen Levels?
Estrogen levels in your body do not remain static. In fact, they are consistently changing depending on what phase of life you are in or, if you are in your child-bearing years, what part of your menstrual cycle you are in. They are highest in the middle of your menstrual cycle and lowest during your period.
You can also take in too much estrogen through outside sources like birth control pills or estrogen replacement therapy. You can even take it in as phytoestrogens through foods like:
- Cruciferous vegetables
- Soy and some foods containing soy protein, the most concentrated source
- Berries
- Seeds and grains
- Nuts
- Fruit
- Wine
Estrogen levels can be measured via a blood or urine sample taken by your provider. Your provider will interpret the results for you and will determine if hormone levels are in balance or not.
What Are the Effects of Hormone Imbalance on the Body?
Low Estrogen
The most common reason for low estrogen in women is naturally occurring menopause or surgical removal of the ovaries (induced menopause).
Symptoms of low estrogen include:
- Menstrual periods may be less frequent or stop completely
- Hot flashes (suddenly feeling very warm)
- Night sweats
- Trouble sleeping/insomnia
- Dryness and thinning of the vagina
- Low libido (decreased sexual desire)
- Mood swings
- Dry skin
Women in their child-bearing years may also get menstrual migraine, a bad headache right before their menstrual period, because of a drop in estrogen. In men, low estrogen can cause excess belly fat and low sexual desire.
High Estrogen
Women with excess estrogen can experience a range of problems, including:
- Excessive premenstrual syndrome symptoms
- Noticeable weight gain (mainly in your waist, hips, and thighs)
- Menstrual problems like light or heavy bleeding
- Fibrocystic breasts (non-cancerous breast lumps)
- Fibroids (noncancerous tumors) in the uterus
- Fatigue
- Loss of sex drive
- Feeling depressed or anxious
High estrogen levels in men can cause:
- Enlarged breasts (gynecomastia)
- Poor erections
- Infertility
Do You Think Your Estrogen Is out of Whack?
If you are experiencing the symptoms of estrogen imbalance, there is good news! These imbalances can be brought back into balance using Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).
What Is Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy?
This is not the same kind of treatment as synthetic hormone replacement therapies(HRT). BHRT is a natural alternative to synthetic hormone replacement therapies.
Subcutaneous bio-identical hormone replacement therapy utilizes bioidentical hormones derived from natural, plant-based substances. Unlike synthetic hormones, the structure of the bio-identical hormone – testosterone, estrogen, or both – most closely matches each patient’s individual needs.
Since they are derived from nature, plant-based hormones metabolize in the body, just the way nature intended. You’ll see the phrases “BHRT” (bio-identical hormone replacement therapy) and “pellet therapy” scattered all over our website. Still, you may not know what the difference is or how they’re related.
- Pellet therapy is a type of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.
- BHRT is a way to deliver bio-identical hormones to your body.
There are several methods of delivering bioidentical hormones to your body. You can apply:
- Patches
- Creams
- Pills
Each of these “solutions” has its issues; they:
- Require constant maintenance
- Require you to remember to do something every day
- Can be messy
- Aren’t even guaranteed to work
That’s Why We Prefer Pellet Therapy
It consists of injecting a prescribed number of pellets that are a little bigger than a grain of rice into the fatty tissue underneath your skin. The pellets contain hormones that are bio-identical to the ones in your body and are gradually released into your bloodstream.
EvexiPEL’s approach to BHRT is superior because it’s natural. The materials used in our pellets are derived from natural plant sources. Federally qualified pharmacists extract the exact amount of testosterone or estrogen needed from plant sources and compound them into our pellets. Nothing synthetic or hard to pronounce is going in your body so you can feel safe using our pellet method.
Why Do You Need It?
BHRT is one of the most effective methods of addressing hormone imbalances or deficiencies. One of the best ways to get back to balance is to put the hormones you need back into your body, which is exactly what we do with BHRT.
If you have been suffering from any of the following, you may have a hormonal imbalance.
- Mood swings
- Brain fog
- Vaginal dryness
- Depression
- Difficulty getting pregnant
- Symptoms of menopause
Contact one of our EvexiPEL providers— they will help you determine the root cause of the problem and automize a treatment made just for you!
We Can Help
We’re prepared to “attack” on all cylinders. At EvexiPEL, we don’t just stick a pellet in your body and move on!
Our providers spend as much time as necessary, talking with their patients. This means they will not stop until they have uncovered the root cause (or causes) of the issues their patients are having.
This could require:
- Several tests and follow-up tests
- Multiple conversations
- Open communication
Whatever you need, our providers will be there for you. Once our providers uncover the root issue, they will work with you to devise a unique and effective treatment plan.
With issues such as menopause, this treatment plan will often involve what is sometimes thought of as unconventional treatment methods. This could mean seeking counseling detoxifying your environment or emotional well-being, nutritional supplementation, adjusting nutrition and exercise regimens, and more.
Either way, we’re here to work from the bottom up, not just to put a band-aid on your problems.