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Loss of Estrogen Can Cause Menopause and Its Symptoms
As we age, is the loss of estrogens what causes the onset of
peri-menopause and finally, menopause? For women, menopause is a
direct result of the loss of estrogens in the female anatomy. The
medical circles, is a group of female
hormones produced in the ovaries. These female hormones are
responsible for regulating the function of reproduction in the
female body.
Estrogens determine a woman's body shape by distributing fat to
different areas of the body, aid in the development of the uterus,
and construct tissues in the brain and bones. Safe levels of
estrogens in the body help maintain proper blood flow, control
cholesterol levels, and act as an antioxidant filtering harmful
chemicals from the body.
Menopause is known as the final phase of menstruation. As a result
of aging, fewer eggs are produced. When menopause arrives, the
ovaries stop producing estrogen altogether. Instead they produce
minute amounts of testosterone (a male hormone) which is stored in
body fat. A loss of estrogen contributes to stopping the female
anatomy's daily routine of maintaining homeostasis (holistic balance
in the body) and has effects on the brain as well. S
Studies have shown that estrogen helps improve blood flow to the
brain and prevents Alzheimer disease by blocking the production of
chemicals contributing to it. It also increases the level of
serotonin - a chemical in the brain known to improve mood. As you
can see, losing estrogen can have a profound effect to a woman's
mental and, as a result, emotional balance.
Estrogen is not the name of one hormone, but the name of three
special female hormones that unite to form one. They are known as
E1, E2 and E3. E1, the first set of estrogen hormones in the series,
is also known as estrone and is the primary source of estrogen in
the body. E2 (or
estradiol) is the most important estrogen developed
by the ovaries and E3 (estriol) are special estrogens that are
produced during
pregnancy when high levels are present.
During menopause, E1, E2, and E3 are all affected, and after its
aftermath, low levels of estrone is the only source of estrogen
remaining in the female body. It is important to note that this
female hormone serves a helping function as well, transporting vital
enzymes throughout the system, maintaining positive levels of
cholesterol, and sparking calcium activity.
Post menopause brings even lower levels of estrogen in the body.
This officially marks the end of monthly periods, the malfunctioning
of ovaries, and the ability to reproduce. Since the ovaries stop
producing estrogen and
progesterone at the same levels it used to,
having a child is nearly impossible.
During this full transition, periods can also be affected. This loss
of estrogen can cause irregular periods for some women, often with a
lighter flow. It can also causes emotional problems like
depression
and aggression toward people for no 'apparent' reason. As stated
before, a lack of this hormone means you lose "balance".
In retrospect, estrogen loss is directly responsible for the on-set
of menopause. When the woman has her last menstrual cycle, it is a
marker for a new chapter in her life. She learns to accept that
child bearing is no longer an option, although possible in extreme
cases as some women continue to ovulate during this transition In
time, we come to understand how this change is a necessary part of
life and how we can renew ourselves and begin our new phase.
The
information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not
intended as medical advice.
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