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Menopause and Estrogen
Cathy Taylor
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
¨E¨, as it is called in 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. 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.
Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 25 years
experience. She specializes in internet marketing, strategy and
plan development, as well as management of communications and
public relations programs for small business sectors. She can be
reached at Creative Communications: creative--com@cox.net or by
visiting http://www.menopauseinfo.org or
http://www.internet-marketing-small-business.com
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