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Estrogen functions as the primary female sex hormone.

While oestrogens are present in both men and women, they are usually present at significantly higher levels in women of reproductive age. They promote the development of female secondary sexual characteristics, such as breasts, and are also involved in the thickening of the endometrium and other aspects of regulating the menstrual cycle. In males, oestrogen regulates certain functions of thereproductive system important to the maturation of sperm[9][10][11] and may be necessary for a healthy libido.[12][13] Furthermore, there are several other structural changes induced by oestrogen in addition to other functions.

  • Structural
    • promote formation of female secondary sex characteristics
    • accelerate metabolism
    • reduce muscle mass
    • increase fat stores
    • stimulate endometrial growth
    • increase uterine growth
    • increase vaginal lubrication
    • thicken the vaginal wall
    • maintenance of vessel and skin
    • reduce bone resorption, increase bone formation
    • morphic change (endomorphic -> mesomorphic -> ectomorphic)
  • protein synthesis
    • increase hepatic production of binding proteins
  • coagulation
    • increase circulating level of factors 2, 7, 9, 10, plasminogen
    • decrease antithrombin III
    • increase platelet adhesiveness
  • Lipid
    • increase HDL, triglyceride
    • decrease LDL, fat deposition
  • Fluid balance
    • salt (sodium) and water retention
    • increase cortisol, SHBG
  • Gastrointestinal tract
    • reduce bowel motility
    • increase cholesterol in bile
  • Melanin
    • increase pheomelanin, reduce eumelanin
  • Cancer
    • support hormone-sensitive breast cancers
  • Lung function
    • promotes lung function by supporting alveoli (in rodents but probably in humans).
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14y ago

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