Estrogen

Estrogens are a family of related molecules that stimulate the development and maintenance of female characteristics and sexual reproduction.

What is Estrogen?

Estrogens (also called Oestrogens) are steroid compounds that are important for development and functioning of females of the species. They are named so because they play an important role in the estrous cycle. Their name comes from estrus/oistros (period of fertility for female mammals) + gen/gonos = to generate.

Estrogen in Medicine

The Role of Estrogen in Men’s Health

Estrogen Types

Estrogen Function

Estradiol and Estrogen Levels

Estrogen in Cosmetics

Latest Estrogen News and Research

HHS eliminates CDC staff who made sure birth control is safe for women at risk

For Brianna Henderson, birth control isn’t just about preventing pregnancy.

1 Jul 2025

Study links hormone therapy to breast cancer risk in younger women

Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have found that two common types of hormone therapy may alter breast cancer risk in women before age 55.

1 Jul 2025

Vegetables and dairy may lower endometriosis risk

A major umbrella review shows that higher intake of vegetables and dairy products is linked to a lower risk of endometriosis, while butter and high caffeine intake appear to increase risk. However, the evidence remains weak due to limitations in existing observational studies.

30 Jun 2025

Regular sexual activity can reduce problematic menopause symptoms, study suggests

It's no secret that women often become less interested in sex with age. However, orgasm and satisfaction have been shown to not decline significantly with age.

25 Jun 2025

Scientists discover on/off gene switches that could revolutionize personalized medicine

Scientists identified 473 human genes that act as genetic “on/off switches,” shaping disease risk through tissue-specific or universal patterns regulated by DNA changes and hormones. These findings could pave the way for more precise diagnostics and personalized therapies across cancers, immune, skin, and metabolic diseases.

22 Jun 2025

Men lose more weight than women on the keto diet, new study reveals why

Men lose more weight than women on a ketogenic diet, according to a comprehensive review in Frontiers in Nutrition. Sex differences in hormones, metabolism, and fat distribution influence the effectiveness of the ketogenic diet for obesity.

22 Jun 2025

Body composition associated with pelvic floor disorder symptoms in middle-aged women

According to a recent study conducted at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, body composition is associated with symptoms of pelvic floor disorders in middle-aged women.

19 Jun 2025

Chemical pairing of BPA and retinoic acid disrupts brain development

Synthetic chemicals and plastics are useful and indispensable in our lives. On the other hand, the world is grappling with plastic pollution-clogging oceans, threatening wildlife, and leaching into ecosystems.

19 Jun 2025

Estrogen-responsive cells found to heighten gut pain in females

Researchers uncovered how estrogen heightens gut sensitivity in females by activating PYY-secreting L-cells, which stimulate serotonin release from EC cells. This paracrine circuit intensifies pain signaling and may explain the sex bias in conditions like IBS.

16 Jun 2025

Mycotoxin exposure during pregnancy linked to lower birthweight

Exposure to mycotoxins – a broad group of harmful substances produced by mold – during pregnancy may impact placental function, which could result in lower birthweight in humans, according to Rutgers Health researchers.

16 Jun 2025

Statins could reduce breast cancer mortality by a fifth

Research indicates statins could enhance breast cancer prognosis, with lipophilic statins showing greater protective effects against mortality and recurrence.

16 Jun 2025

Nearly half of breast cancer patients continue hormone therapy beyond five years

As recommendations suggest extending hormone-based breast cancer treatment to 10 years for some patients, a new study sheds light on whether patients are opting for it.

9 Jun 2025

Early camizestrant therapy keeps advanced breast cancer in check

Switching to camizestrant, a next-generation oral SERD, significantly prolongs progression-free survival and maintains quality of life in patients with ESR1-mutated, hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer. The proactive, biomarker-guided approach allows earlier intervention and may redefine standard care.

3 Jun 2025

THP regimen achieves high response rates in HER2 positive breast cancer patients

Patients with Stage II and III (early-stage) HER2+ breast cancer usually undergo pre-operative therapy with multi-agent chemotherapy in combination with anti-HER2 antibodies, followed by surgery.

2 Jun 2025

Treatment switching guided by liquid biopsy results improves outcomes in advanced breast cancer

A large prospective, randomized clinical trial in patients with advanced breast cancer has found that the use of liquid biopsy blood tests for early detection of a treatment-resistance mutation, followed by a switch to a new type of treatment, substantially extends the period of tumor control compared to standard care.

1 Jun 2025

Higher BMI, not menopause age, increases hypothyroidism risk

Researchers analyzed over 15,000 postmenopausal Canadian women to investigate whether age at natural menopause influences the risk of developing overt hypothyroidism. The study found no association, but higher BMI was linked to increased hypothyroidism risk.

29 May 2025

Global study shows air pollution could triple heart disease cases by 2045

The study highlights air pollution's role in escalating heart disease, showing increased mortality and disability rates, especially among women and older adults.

28 May 2025

Tufts researchers develop dental floss sensor for real time stress monitoring

Chronic stress can lead to increased blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, decreased immune function, depression, and anxiety.

23 May 2025

Endurance training leads to significant drops in vascular resistance and diastolic blood pressure

Eight months of supervised marathon training in Finnish adults led to moderate reductions in peripheral diastolic blood pressure, systemic vascular resistance, and extracellular water volume. Central (aortic) blood pressure showed a non-significant decline, highlighting the specific impact of exercise on vascular health.

22 May 2025

Combined oral contraceptive use associated with threefold increase in stroke risk in young women

New research presented today at the European Stroke Organisation Conference (ESOC) 2025 revealed that the use of combined oral contraceptives (OCs) is associated with a threefold increase in the risk of cryptogenic ischaemic stroke (CIS) in young women.

20 May 2025