During this series, we will discuss the different types of Estrogen! Fibroidology will blog about different types of estrogen with Synthetic Estrogen being the subject of the hour. Estrogen is a hormone produced in humans assigned female at birth, produced by the ovaries that play an essential role in sexual and reproductive health as well as regulates important processes in your skeletal, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems. What do you think of when you hear the word synthetic? I’ll wait……
When I hear the word synthetic, I think plastic, fake, made up or even cheap. Did I wear synthetic hair or like fake things growing up? Of course, I did, but is it better worn as a hairstyle or nails versus being ingested right?!? Synthetic estrogen is an estrogen made outside of the body, produced for medicinal use. But if the body produces estrogen naturally, why is a synthetic form needed? Estrogen that naturally occurs in the body is known as endogenous estrogen. While a synthetic estrogen is derived from the urine of a pregnant Mare or female horse. Yes, you read that right!!! This process is completed by synthesizing and manufacturing their estrogen and progesterone. Synthetic hormones do not naturally occur in the body and are made in a lab. Although these hormones can mimic natural hormones and can have a positive effect on our body, it could come at a cost. Synthetic estrogen can occupy estrogen receptors (sometimes they occupy the receptors too long) in the body, absorb, metabolize, and excrete differently in the body. Synthetic Estrogen include the following ethinyl estradiol, estradiol valerate, estropipate, conjugate esterified estrogen, and quinestrol. Don’t stress out about the names or how to pronounce these types of estrogen, I just wanted to mention them so that you can recognize them in passing or while doing your research.
So why do some women choose to take synthetic estrogen? Some women want to prevent or postpone pregnancy via oral contraceptives (ethinyl estradiol) by preventing ovulation. While other women rely on synthetic hormones to help reduce symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, moodiness and even hair loss. Synthetic Hormones can be consumed via oral meds, patches, or gels. Despite the choice to introduce synthetic estrogen into any women’s lifestyle, there are positive and negative results to its use(s). Estrogen has positive effects on 1-cardiovascular tissue and health, 2-improves muscle mass and bone density, 3-boost mood, 4-improves sex and 5-protects the brain by maintaining proper blood flow along with the benefits mentioned before. The negative side effects include: 1- Breast tenderness, 2-bloating, 3-hair loss, 4- weight gain, 5- Breast cancer, 6-heart disease, 7- stroke, 8-gallbladder disease and 9- birth control specifically is a group 1 carcinogen.
Synthetic estrogen may yield quicker results of what each individual is wanting to achieve, but there are some natural ways to increase estrogen. Legumes, dark chocolate, flaxseed, garlic, DHEA, vitamin D, dong qui and red clover are dietary additions that can be added to naturally increase estrogen.
When deciding to consider taking synthetic estrogen for whatever reasons, consult your physician, do your own research, weigh the pros and cons and discuss your goals for this form of hormone therapy.
I hope you found this blog informative. Like I stated in the opening, we will discuss several types of synthetic estrogen, with our next discussions being, Xenoestrogen and Phytoestrogen, both also made outside of the body.
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