Estradiol - Rebalance Hormone Health

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Estradiol

Estradiol is a naturally occurring steroid hormone that plays various essential roles in the human female body. Specifically, estradiol is one of the three major estrogen sex hormones produced in the body, along with estrone and estriol.

What does estradiol do?

Estradiol has many critical functions:

• It is the predominant form of estrogen during the reproductive years. Estrogen helps stimulate the development of female secondary sex characteristics during puberty, such as breast development, redistribution of body fat, and other changes.
• Estradiol regulates the menstrual cycle. It thickens the uterine lining during the follicular phase to prepare for potential fertilization. If no fertilization occurs, estradiol levels fall during menstruation causing the uterine lining to shed.
• Estradiol also plays a role in maintaining bone strength and regulating cholesterol levels in women. After menopause, declining estradiol levels are associated with risks like osteoporosis and heart disease.

Where does estradiol come from?

In women who are still menstruating, the majority of estradiol is produced by the granulosa cells in the ovaries. The production occurs as part of the menstrual/estrous cycle under influence of other hormones like follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).

Estradiol can also be produced in smaller amounts by other tissues like the liver, adrenal glands, breasts, and fat cells. After menopause, the main production occurs in adipose tissue.

How do we measure and use estradiol?

Estradiol levels can be measured through blood tests. Levels are typically higher just before ovulation compared to other stages of the menstrual cycle.

Monitoring estradiol levels is useful in tracking fertility and diagnosing certain medical conditions:

• Abnormally low or high levels may signal problems with ovulation, menstruation, or fertility.
• Supplementing estradiol is a main component of hormone therapy used to treat menopause symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, and osteoporosis in older women.
• Estradiol medications can be used as hormonal contraceptives. The delivered estradiol stops ovulation and thickens cervical mucus to prevent pregnancy.

I hope this gives a helpful overview explaining what estradiol is, its major functions, production sources, and some medical applications! Let me know if you have any other questions.