Here I go again.
I type a word, then delete. I type then delete again. Few minutes ago, I had an idea to start my
blog but then when another idea popped into my mind I changed it again.
‘’Change is inevitable’’- Sir Baroy
It was my
Philosophy class last year that I learned this quote. I strongly agree that is
true; people change, everything’s changed. Even me, I know I changed a lot. I
change the way I think, the way I speak, the way I dress and even my looks.
There was a time
that I am wondering how these things happen, that why do girls experience
menstruation or even why do boys grew taller than before. Luckily, I had a
chance to answer all these questions on my mind.
At the time that
I chose this topic, I know it will help a lot for me, not just to be informed
me but also to be aware about the things that is happening to my body. Maybe
it’s late but I know it help a lot.
Each and
everyone have differences. Girls are different than boys and vice versa. We girls have broader hips than boys, our
breast develops during puberty and unfortunately we experience the unexplained pain during menstruation. Do you know the reason behind
this? Nuh, don’t worry. In this topic I
will give you a glimpse about these changes. Hands up girls, we will start!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
As we all know,
girls have a different sexual characteristics than boys. We possess ovaries to
our reproductive organ that secretes hormones such as progesterone, estrogen
and androgens. But since I was assigned for one topic, I will only discuss
ESTROGEN. I don’t know why I chose this topic but for me, since it is common it
is much interesting than the others.
 |
| Photo credits: http://www.women-health-info.com/images/estrogen-5.jpg |
Estrogens
together with the progesterone are from the follicles of the body. It is a type
of steroid hormone specifically sex hormone that is responsible to the sex
characteristics of female. It is considered as the main hormone of female and
it is involved in menstrual cycle. This hormone is increases during puberty
which started during the 11 and 13 years of age and completed at the age of 16. Actually,
there are two types of sex characteristics in female that this hormone
regulates. (Primary and Secondary).
Primary is involves in the production of oocyte and development or enlargement
of genitalia and Secondary is related to the structural and behavioral changes
of a female.
 |
| Photo credits: http://www.umm.edu/graphics/images/en/10341.jpg |
Is it true that estrogens have different
types?
-Yes, there are different types of
estrogens which are:
1.
Estradiol
2.
Estrone
3.
Estriol
Estradiol plays
an important role in the regulation of menstrual cycle. It is also formed in
the ovary and produced by cyclic fashion throughout the 28 days of menstrual
cycle. According to Calbreath, the main purpose of this type of hormone is to
assist in the regulation of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing
hormone released by the pituitary gland. Another function of this is that it
also helps in the development of endometrium together with the progesterone.
Estrone and
estriol are types of estrogens that are significant during pregnancy. It really
means to say that this two are in high concentration during an individual is
preganant and in low concentration when not. Estriols are produced between the
interaction of the mother and the fetus inside her womb. The purpose of these
two hormones focuses on the fetal growth and development.
Synthesis of Estrogen
Synthesis of Estrogen
According to
Tate (Seeley’s Principle of Anatomy and Physiology), estrogens are produced from the primary molecule which is cholesterol. It is a complete chain of
ring substitution and conversion reaction that leads to the formation of
steroid hormones. Then the formation of
androstenodione occur which is a substance that crosses the basal membrane
into the surrounding granulose cells where it is converted to estrone or
estradiol either immediately or through testosterone and this conversion is by the enzyme aromatase. Levels of estradiol may vary through the menstrual cycle with
levels highest just before ovulation.
Estrogens are
also produced in smaller amount of tissues such as liver, adrenal glands and
the breast. These tissue sources are very important especially when a woman
reaches the time of menopause stage. Also fat cells, this is the reason why
underweight or overweight women are is at high risk of infertility.
Aside from these, there are also
many reasons that may affect the estrogens level such as hypogonadism,
hypopituitarism, pregnancy failure, menopause and perimenopause, polycystic
ovarian syndrome (PCOS), anorexia nervosa (eating disorder) and extreme
exercise or training.
Drugs may
also decrease estrogen level by taking clomiphene also by having breastfeeding.
 |
| Photo credits: http://creationwiki.org/pool/images/9/9d/Estrogen_target_tissues.jpg |
Effects of estrogen to the body
Brain-
it helps to maintain the body temperature, delay memory loss and helps to
prepare the body for sexual and reproductive development.
Breast-
it helps to stimulate the development of the breast at puberty and prepare
glands for future milk production.
Heart
and liver- it helps in the regulation of the liver’s production of cholesterol
and decreasing the build-up of plaque in the coronary arteries.
Reproductive
organs- it stimulates the maturation of the ovaries and stimulates the start of
woman menstrual cycle in which it is an indication that the reproductive organ
is matured enough. It also helps in the maturation of the uterus and vagina.
Bone-
it helps to preserve bone density.
I hope
you enjoyed and learned about this topic. I may not able to discuss details but I am hoping that you got some ideas and points that may also help.
Thank you and Godbless!
References:
Mandal, A., News Medical. What
is Estrogen. Retrieved from World Wide Web: http://women.webmd.com/guide/normal-testosterone-and-estrogen-levels-in-women
Tate, P. Seeley’s
Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. Mc Graw Hill. p. 423
Bishop, M. Clinical
Chemistry Techniques and Principle. 6th Edition. P.481
Calbreath, D. Clinical
Chemistry p. 321
McPherson, R. Pncus, M.
Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods, 22nd
edition. Elsevier Saunders. P. 365
