Estrogen & Its Importance for Both Women and Men
Estrogen is Complex
There are four main types of estrogen:
Estrone (E1): Weaker; more prevalent after menopause.
Estradiol (E2): Strongest and most prevalent during reproductive years.
Estriol (E3): Mainly produced during pregnancy; weaker.
Estetrol (E4): Only made during pregnancy in small amounts.
“Estrogen Matters”
Dr. Bluming, co-author of Estrogen Matters, is a respected oncologist and hematologist, advocating for reevaluating the fear around estrogen and breast cancer. His stance, based on emerging evidence, is that estrogen isn’t the villain it’s often portrayed to be, especially when considering bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (HRT). One of my first big steps into the world of hormone replacement therapy was when I heard Dr. Avrum Bluming on Dr. Peter Attia’s podcast. Here is a link to the podcast: https://peterattiamd.com/caroltavris-avrumbluming/ I know you can get the book from the library or Amazon, too, if you’re interested. It’s an incredible source of great information.
What to Know About Estrogen and Breast Cancer
The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study caused a lot of fear around hormone replacement with estrogen and breast cancer. Again, we have to remember they were using synthetic progestins for progesterone replacement and pregnant horse urine for estrogen replacement. Today we use bioidentical oral micronized progesterone and 17-beta estradiol, hormones our bodies recognize as the same hormones the ovaries produce. Bioidentical hormones in HRT, may actually help protect against breast cancer. When breast cancer develops in women with natural hormone levels, it happens despite those hormones, not because of them. While estrogen does not cause breast cancer, it can promote the growth of hormone-receptor-positive tumors, which is why caution is exercised after a breast cancer diagnosis. If you have a history of breast cancer that has been effectively treated, along with your oncologist, we can definitely have a discussion about HRT!
Estrogen for Cardiovascular Health
Estrogen is so beneficial for women, and when it disappears with menopause, women are left at risk for heart disease. Less estrogen leads to an increase in belly fat which can make women more susceptible to metabolic syndrome. "In addition, their arteries become more susceptible to disease, growing thicker and less flexible," said El Khoudary, who led the writing committee for the American Heart Association’s 2020 scientific statement on how the menopause transition impacts cardiovascular disease risk. "These changes speed up during menopause."
Estrogen for Brain Health
Estradiol helps regulate areas of the brain linked to reproduction, energy balance, and stress responses, and plays a key role in learning and memory processes in the hippocampus. Additionally, estradiol may offer neuroprotective effects, shielding brain cells from neurotoxic damage.
Estrogen for Bone Health
I think it’s pretty well-known that estradiol helps women protect bone mineral density. Many protocols do not ensure estradiol levels are at least 60 pg/ml for bone protection. So many women think they are receiving adequate HRT, but their estradiol levels are not hitting this threshold for bone protection. This is so important!! According to the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation, “One in two women over age 50 will have a fracture caused by osteoporosis in her remaining lifetime, but our survey found that a majority of postmenopausal women are unaware fracture is a risk factor for osteoporosis.” That’s 50% of women!!!
Wait, Men Benefit from Estrogen, Too?
YES, men benefit, too!! Blocking estrogen in men can be so detrimental. Women and men both need estrogen for bone and cardiovascular health! The metabolic benefits of estrogen in men can’t be overlooked. It helps prevent visceral fat and promotes insulin sensitivity in both men and women. In their paper Estrogen Hormone Biology, the writers state, “We now know estrogen is also involved in male reproduction and in numerous other systems including the neuroendocrine, vascular, skeletal, and immune systems of both males and females.” In their paper about the importance of estrogen for musculoskeletal health, Dr. Vonda Wright and her colleagues wrote: “Estrogen can attenuate fat gain and decrease lean muscle loss, with evidence that estrogen acts and influences adipose tissue through estrogen receptor-α.” This benefit isn’t just for women! Men benefit from estrogen, too!! Just like testosterone isn’t just for men, estrogen isn’t just for women!
Let Me Know If I Can Help!
This is a lot of information and I could go on for days about all the benefits of estrogen, but I want women (and men) to know it’s important and plays a role in so many different body systems. If you have questions or want to know more, send me an email at kami@seaside-med.com.
Or book here and let’s make sure you’re getting all the benefits!
