Description
The function of estrogen (also known as oestrogen) Estrogen is the female equivalent of testosterone and is produced in the ovaries. This test measures estradiol (E2), which is considered to be the most important and potent of the three estrogen hormones. Estrogen has many significant functions for the body. In addition to its importance for bone mass in women, it also increases the estrogen levels of HDL particles in the blood, which have a protective effect on blood vessels. Estrogen also increases the body’s conversion of omega 3 fats from vegetable sources to the DHA fatty acid which is important for brain function. Estrogen also stimulates growth, especially in the uterus and mammary glands. This means that the hormone can increase the rate of cell division in these tissues, which can thus increase the risk of cancer. The longer you are exposed to estrogen (early menstrual onset and late menopause), the greater the risk of developing cancer. It is also estrogen that controls the typical fat distribution in women with more fat around the hips, breasts and thighs. When you are overweight, the levels of estrogen in the body increase and one reason for this is that testosterone is converted to estrogen in the adipose tissue. The more fat you have, the higher the estrogen content. Estrogen is vital both for the immune system and our memory in both men and women as it counteracts osteoporosis and protects against cardiovascular disease. Like testosterone, estrogen also has fat burning and muscle building effects. Menopausal women with low estrogen levels are at high risk of losing bone mass and suffering from osteoporosis. Estrogen deficiency The amount of estrogen decreases during menopause, but can also decrease due to stress, lack of nutrition and intense training. Estrogen deficiency can affect the body in many ways and the symptoms can be mood swings, dry mucous membranes and weight gain. If you suspect that you are suffering from estrogen deficiency, it is important to find out if it is the estrogen that is low or if your symptoms are due to something else. Common symptoms of hormonal imbalances: Low progesterone Irregular menstrual cycle PMS & tender breasts Infertility Headache / migraine Mood swings / depression Weight gain Endometriosis Low estrogen: Pain during sex Urinary tract infections Fatigue Difficulty concentrating Irregular or absent periods Mood swings / depression Weaker bone structure High estrogen: Swelling Swollen and sore breasts Decreased sex drive Irregular human cycle Hair loss Weight gain PMS Fibrocystic breasts In the case of hormonal imbalances, the symptoms can sometimes be similar to each other so it is good to first measure the hormones so that you can support the body in the right way. When should you collect the sample ? Menstruating women should collect the sample one week after ovulation, which means that in a normal cycle, the sample should be collected between day 19-23. If this happens during a weekend, we ask that you store your test tube with the saliva in the fridge until you send the sample to the lab on a Monday. Women who have reached menopause can collect the sample at any time during the month. Other Saliva tests measure the active hormones that reach the recipient receptors and there are clearer variations when measured in saliva than in blood. The test is suitable for both menstruating women, women who have reached menopause and also men, as men also can be out of balance on these hormones. You get different reference values depending on which category you belong to. Many choose to test estrogen / progesterone in combination with our Cortisol test . Cortisol is the body’s stress hormone and there is a hypothesis that because cortisol is produced from progesterone, a body under stress will prioritise the production of cortisol, whereupon progesterone levels may decrease. We also offer a more comprehensive hormone test: Women’s Hormone Test , which analyses in addition to estrogen, progesterone and the ratio between them DHEA, testosterone and cortisol.
