Estrogen
Menopause is the best time in a women’s life if her hormones are balanced!
Synthetic HRT: Other Problems
- It is estimated that one-half of women quit taking their synthetic hormone replacement therapy after one year because they are unable to tolerate the side effects.
- Synthetic hormones waste energy by giving incomplete messages to cells which then fail to produce a balanced hormonal response.
Symptoms of Menopause
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Loss of sexual interest
- Hair growth on face
- Painful intercourse
- Panic attacks
- Weird dreams
- Urinary tract infections
- Vaginal itching
- Lower back pain
- Bloating
- Flatulence
- Indigestion
- Osteoporosis
- Aching ankles, knees, wrists, shoulders, heels
- Hair loss
- Frequent urination
- Snoring
- Sore breasts
- Palpitations
- Varicose veins
- Urinary leakage
- Dizzy spells
- Panic attacks
- Skin feeling crawly
- Migraine headaches
- Memory lapses
- Weight gain
Estrogen has 400 functions in the body including:
- Stimulates the production of choline acetyltransferase, an enzyme which prevents Alzheimer’s disease
- Increases metabolic rate
- Improves insulin sensitivity
- Regulates body temperature
- Helps prevent muscle damage
- Helps maintain muscle
- Improves sleep
- Reduces risk of cataracts
- Helps maintain the elasticity of arteries
- Dilates small arteries
- Increases blood flow
- Inhibits platelet stickiness
- Decreases the accumulation of plaque on arteries
- Enhances magnesium uptake and utilization
- Maintains the amount of collagen in the skin
- Decreases blood pressure
- Decreases LDL and prevents its oxidation
- Helps maintain memory
- Increases reasoning and new ideas
- Helps with fine motor skills
- Increases the water content of skin and is responsible for its thickness and softness
- Enhances the production of nerve-growth factor
- Positive effect on emotions
- Increases HDL by 10 to 15%
- Reduces the overall risk of heart disease by 40 to 50%
- Decreases lipoprotein(a)
- Acts as a natural calcium channel blocker to keep arteries open
- Enhances energy
- Improves mood
- Increases concentration
- Maintains bone density
- Helps prevent glaucoma
- Increases sexual interest
- Reduces homocysteine
- Decreases wrinkles
- Protects against macular degeneration
- Decreases risk of colon cancer
- Helps prevent tooth loss
- Aids in the formation of neurotransmitters in the brain such as serotonin which decreases depression, irritability, anxiety, and pain sensitivity
References:
Graham, B., et al., “Sex hormones are associated with rumination and interact with emotion regulation strategy choice to predict negative affect in women following a sad mood induction,” Front Psychol 2018; 9:937.
Natural Estrogen
- E1 called Estrone
- E2 called Estradiol
- E3 called Estriol
Estrone (E1)
- The main estrogen the body makes postmenopausally
- High levels many researchers believe may increase a women’s risk of breast cancer
Estradiol (E2)
- Increases HDL
- Decreases LDL and total cholesterol
- Decreases triglycerides
- Helps maintain bone structure
- Increases serotonin
- Decreases fatigue
- Works as an antioxidant
- Helps maintain memory
- Helps absorption of calcium, magnesium, zinc
Results of a new trial reveal that estradiol has a direct effect in reducing atherosclerosis by reducing cholesterol accumulation in the arterial wall.
Reference: Karim R, et al. Abstract MP09. Presented at: American Heart Association Epidemiology, Prevention, Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions; March 3-6, 2020; Phoenix.
Estriol (E3)
- Is 80 times weaker than E2 so has a lesser stimulatory effect
- Considerable evidence exists to show that it protects against breast cancer
- Experimentally E3 is being used in breast cancer patients
- It does not have the bone, heart, or brain protection of estradiol.
Functions of E3 in the Body
- Helps maintain pregnancy
- Benefits the vaginal lining
- Blocks E1 by occupying the estrogen receptor sites on the cells of the breasts
- Controls symptoms of menopause
- Deceases LDL
- Increases HDL
- Helps reduce pathogenic bacteria
- Helps restore the proper pH of the vagina, which prevents urinary tract infections
- Helps the GI tract maintain a favorable environment for the growth of lactobacilli
Estrogen and the Brain
- Common comments I hear from patients are the following:
- “I think that I am losing my mind.”
- “I feel like my body is divorcing itself.”
- “I have lost the ability to spell.”
- “I am always losing my keys.”
- “I may be getting Alzheimer’s disease.”
- Increases blood flow
- Increases glucose and oxygen to the neurons
- Protects neurons
- Increases neurotransmitters
- Keeps the blood-brain barrier working
- Increases sensitivity to nerve growth factor
- Decreases neuronal generation of Alzheimer’s beta amyloid peptides
- Is a natural antioxidant
- Increases manual speed and dexterity
- Increases availability of acetylcholine
- Boosts by 30% NMDA receptors to maintain strength and durability of synapse connections involved in creating long-term memories
- Decreases distractibility
- Turns on progesterone receptors
Estrogen Deficiency
- Estrogen deficiency has been suggested to be a state of accelerated aging.
Reference: Birge, S., “The use of estrogen in older women,” Clin Geriatr Med 2003; 19(3):617-27.
Estrogen Replacement
- The method of estrogen delivery is vital in assessing its benefits and uses.
- Always prescribe estrogen transdermally or transvaginally.
- For example, the use of estrogen transdermally, in stark contrast to orally, has been linked to a lower risk of deep vein thrombosis, cholecystitis, osteoporosis, and stroke.
Ref: Valdes, A., et al., “Estrogen therapy,” Stat Pearls (Internet) May 30, 2020.
Estrogen Given by Mouth
- Increases blood pressure
- Increases triglycerides
- Increases estrone
- Causes gallstones
- Elevates liver enzymes
- Increases SHBG (decreases testosterone)
- Interrupts tryptophan metabolism and consequently serotonin metabolism
- Lowers growth hormone
- Increases prothrombic effects
- Increases CRP
- Increases carbohydrate cravings
