ESTROGEN

Estrogen
The Three Estrogens
NHRT - The Estrogen Compounds
Estrogen and Menopause
Synthetic Estrogen
Possible Side effects of Synthetic Estrogen

Estrogen

Estrogen is the major female hormone. It helps to regulate a woman's passage through menstruation, fertility and menopause. Estrogen is what makes a woman a woman, giving the softness, curves and breasts associated with femininity. It is also one of the more powerful hormones produced by the human body.

Approximately 300 different tissues are equipped with estrogen receptors, meaning that it affects a wide range of tissues and organs, including the brain, liver, bones and skin. The breasts, uterus, urinary tract, skin and blood vessels all depend on estrogen to remain toned and flexible. The ovaries secrete most of a woman’s estrogens.

The Three Estrogens

Estrone (approx 10-20% of circulating estrogens) = E1
Estradiol (approx 10-20% of circulating estrogens) = E2
Estriol (approx 60-80% of circulating estrogens) = E3: thought to be anti-carcinogenic, and is the most protective estrogen ever tested against breast cancer.

All estrogen hormones occupy the same receptor sites (the gateways within the body that accept estrogen). Estradiol is the most potent and the most effective in protecting the heart, brain and bones.

This family of estrogens works together to nourish and support the regeneration of female reproductive tissues, as well as give and maintain female characteristics.

Estriol

Estriol is produced in large quantities (along with progesterone) during pregnancy, and is most beneficial to the vaginal and cervical tissue. It is also the most protective of the three, and has not been implicated in preventing cancer.

Estrone

Estrone is weaker than estradiol and not necessary to replace to control symptoms of menopause.  Some estradiol will be converted to Estrone.

Estradiol

Estradiol is the most important in the family of estrogens. It is responsible for the maturation of long bones, development of breasts and reproductive organs, as well as secondary feminine characteristics. It is mainly produced in the ovaries, but also in the adrenal glands and converted from precursors in fatty tissue.Estrogen deficiency cause the “vasomotor” symptoms of menopause including hot flashes and night sweats.

BHRT - The Estrogen Compounds

Biest

Biest is a combination of Estriol and Estradiol, in the ratio of 80:20 respectively. This combination allows for the protective properties of Estriol, while providing the cardiovascular and osteoporosis benefits, as well as symptom relief of Estradiol.

Estrogen and Menopause

Menopause is characterized by a significant drop and imbalance of hormones - predominantly estrogen. It is this sudden decline that can lead to hot flashes, higher risk of heart disease, and bone loss. Estrogen replacement has been shown to enhance mood, revive libido, improve memory and relieve hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and incontinence. Symptoms of a lack of estrogen include:

• Hot Flashes
• Sleeplessness
• Night Sweats
• Mood swings
• Vaginal dryness and shrinkage
• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Memory Loss
• Depression
• Heart Palpitations
• Yeast Infection
• Painful intercourse
• Lack of menstruation
• Shortness of breath

Synthetic Estrogen

Synthetic estrogens from made from horse urine have been used for hormone replacement.  Names for synthetic estrogens include Premarin and Conjugated Equine Estrogen or CEE. 

The adverse effects seen in the Women’s Health Initiiate study were from Premarin and an artifical progesterone called Provera. Unfortunately horse urine does not replace the hormones that are missing in menopause.  This synthetic estrogen does not contain enough estradiol and contains several horse estrogens like Equilin which are not found tn the human female.

"Human estrogen consists of estrone (10-20%), estradiol (10-20%), and estriol (60-80%) whereas conjugated estrogen contains estrone (75-80%), equilin (6-15%), plus estradiol and other substances (5-19%). Equilin (a true horse estrogen) produces estrogenic effects that are much more potent and longer lasting than those produced by human estrogen. It's been estimated that 'horse estrogen' is as much as eight times more potent than human estrogen in the human body." [Ibid., pp. 49, 25, 57.]

These horse-derivatives are designed for a horse's physiology, and are thus a foreign substance to a woman.

Possible Side effects of Synthetic Estrogen

• Breast Tenderness
• Headaches
• Fluid Retention
• Leg cramps
• Vaginal Bleeding
• High Blood pressure
• Blood Clots
• Increased risk of Breast Cancer
• Nausea and vomiting
• Worsened uterine fibroids and endometriosis