Estrogen is a hormone that plays various roles in the body. In females, it helps develop and maintain both the reproductive system and female characteristics.
Estrogen contributes to cognitive health, bone health, the function of the cardiovascular system, and other essential bodily processes.
Compared to other hormones, there are many large and dependable researches of estrogen and its possible effects on the body that have been performed. These researches have presented that estrogen offers many significant benefits. Because of this, many women are recommended to take estrogen to reduce menopause symptoms.
While many women are benefited by estrogen during or after menopause, some are found at greater risk for particular diseases if they take it. As researches give more information about estrogen, it may help pinpoint the reasons should those persons take it or not.
To most women, the helpful effects of estrogen are far more important than the harmful effects it can give. Estrogen helps reduce hot flashes and lessen the threat for osteoporosis. Other researches show that estrogen also lessens the risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart disease.
However, there are also researches, which presents that estrogen has no beneficial effects for heart problems. Others suggest that estrogen can protect a woman from having Alzheimer’s disease, but this is not yet confirmed. Recent clinical tests of estrogen in postmenopausal women with symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease have not presented any effects.
Other beneficial effects of estrogen are:
• Reduce night sweats
• Reduces the risk of colon cancer
• Improves pelvic musculature
• Avoid loss of collagen in the skin
However, besides its promises, estrogen has also increased the number of severe concerns because there are dangerous effects that could possibly happen with some women. For instance, some women take an estrogen with another hormone called progestin. Estrogen may also increase a risk of blood clotting, which can damage the proper circulation in the arteries.
Significant proof suggests that long-term use of estrogen can slowly increase the risk of breast cancer. In addition, researches have also shown that there is a greater risk of breast cancer among women who use both the estrogen and the progestin.
Other possible negative effects of estrogen include:
• Vaginal bleeding or spotting
• Abdominal pains
• Poor sleeping habit
• Skin rashes
• Depression
• Head aches, migraine headaches
• Causes endometrial cancer
Therefore, with both of these positive and negative effects presented, the decision in taking estrogen will not be all “yes”. It depends on the woman if she wants to use it still despite of all the negative effects it could have.
Always remember, even if many years will pass, researchers will continue to find out information about the advantages and disadvantages of estrogen. When these new findings come out, more women and their physicians might reconsider their decisions about taking estrogen.
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