Estrogen is a naturally occurring hormone in female bodies. Estrogen is produced by the ovaries and is very important to the regulation of systems in the body. Some people may need more estrogen if their bodies are not producing it. Estrogen medication may be prescribed by a doctor for certain purposes. It is very common for menopausal women to take estrogen to help ease the effects, and it is also used in oral contraceptives. Many people going through the process of gender reassignment take estrogen to make their bodies more feminine. Estrogen has many uses and can be used to treat many conditions.
Estrogen classed drugs include:
Most uses for estrogen have to do with female reproductive organs. Women going through menopause may need to take it as part of hormone therapy. Taking estrogen can relieve hot flashes, night sweats, and help lower cholesterol levels in menopausal women. If women have had a hysterectomy, taking estrogen is also recommended to provide the body with the hormones that it cannot produce itself anymore.
Estrogen is also used in hormone replacement therapy for transsexual women. Taking it like this changes the fat distribution of the body and produces the growth of breasts. This therapy encourages the body to take a more feminine form, which aids in the gender transition of transsexual women.
Oral contraceptives contain estrogen in combination with another hormone, progesterone. Both do their part in stopping different processes. These hormones can prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation.
Estrogens Side Effects
Taking estrogen and medications that contain estrogen have side effects such as:
- retain more water
- weight gain
- sore or tender breasts
In some cases, pain and discomfort are felt in the genitals. A lot of the time these side effects are only temporary and should go away within a few weeks of regularly taking estrogen. If side effects are very severe and do not go away, you should talk to your doctor.
Estrogen is very easy to take, as it should not cause any interruption in your lifestyle choices. It also does not interact with any food, so there is nothing to avoid. However, consumption of grapefruit is not recommended as it may interact with the medication in a negative way. Drinking alcohol is not recommended when taking estrogen. However, with anything you take, there are a few things to look out for.
You should not take estrogen if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, as it can harm your child. You should also not take estrogen if you are a smoker. Developing high blood pressure is a high possibility when taking estrogen. You should discuss what other medications you are taking with your doctor, as estrogen drugs can interact with them.