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Estrogen and Progesterone
Estrogen and progesterone are the two main hormones in females and these are closely related to each other in function. A fine balance has to be maintained between these two for the normal functioning of the female reproductive system.There are times when the levels of estrogen increase; the reason for this estrogen dominance is the presence of excess level of this hormone in respect to progesterone and usually comes from xeno- or chemical estrogens in the form of drugs and dietary antagonists. But sometimes the hormonal balance between estrogen and progesterone is also disturbed when the amount of natural progesterone made by the ovaries is decreased due to some medical condition. Another function of this female hormone is to inhibit cell growth and promote maturation of the egg after ovulation. Estrogen is responsible for cell proliferation after which progesterone takes over to stop this process; an imbalance in this can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and result in endometrial cancer. Thus progesterone is very important as a protective mechanism against endometrial cancer in women. The concept of estrogen dominance was first recorded by Dr. Lee and is a condition in which the female body produces low levels or no progesterone at all to balance out the effect of estrogen in the body thus making it the dominant female sex hormone. This hormonal imbalance between estrogen and progesterone is seen in many medical disorders like autoimmune diseases, endometrial cancer, breast cancer, cervical dysplasia, infertility, polycystic ovaries, pre menopausal syndrome, uterine cancer and uterine fibroids to name a few. Estrogen and progesterone are also found in birth control medications which are available as oral pills, injections, patches and also slow release systems like skin implants and vaginal rings. The estrogen and progesterone dose in each type of birth control pill varies and hence you must take one only on the advice of a doctor for long term use. It is best to choose a drug which provides effective menstrual cycle control and also has lesser side effects. Low estrogen birth control pills are often recommended by gynecologists to minimize the surge in the estrogen levels in the body. Some of the estrogen containing birth control medications are Ethinyl estradiol and Mestranol while those with progesterone are Norethindrone, Desogestrel, Norgestrel and Levonorgestrel. Birth control pills can help prevent pregnancy in many ways like blocking ovulation, thickening the cervical mucus, altering the fallopian tubes and also by changing the uterine lining so that a fertilized egg cannot be supported. These drugs are not to be taken by women who have a history of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, breast cancer, uterine cancer or abnormal bleeding from the uterus. Both estrogen and progesterone play an extremely important role in pregnancy especially during the first and second trimester. Estrogen is produced by both the ovaries and the placenta and aids in uterine development, boost blood circulation and also regulates the levels of other hormones like FSH and LH. This hormone is also responsible for breast development during this period and also for the milk-making machinery after delivery. Estrogen’s duties are not just confined to the mother alone; in the baby, this hormone is responsible for the growth and development of the various organs and also for regulation of bone density. Progesterone is also produced by the ovaries and placenta but only by the second trimester. Its main duty is to make sure that the placenta functions normally along with maintaining the uterine lining. The natural contractions of the uterus prior to delivery are also kept in check which allows the baby to grow in your ever expanding womb. This may bring about a bit of discomfort for the mother in the form of increased bowel gases resulting in an even more bloated belly and also causes all the cartilages in the body to soften. To summarize, estrogen and progesterone levels in a woman’s body has to be maintained naturally at all times for optimal health. A fall in the level of progesterone can often lead to problems in your menstrual cycle and can also affect reproduction. Both these hormones are produced by the ovaries but progesterone is also released by the adrenal gland. The level of these hormones decrease with advancing age and hence women begin to experience irregular menstrual cycles, ovulation problems and also release of fewer eggs; this continues until the ovaries shut down completely and menopause is reached. | |
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Please note that all advice on this website is just our opinion and it should not be considered medical fact.
For further reading on the subject of Infertility we absolutely recommend that you visit www.nlm.nih.gov