The History of Estrogen

The story of the history of estrogen illustrates the historical progression of medical knowledge, from laboratory and clinical observation, through basic and clinical experimentation, to current successful medical management, an interesting marriage of empiricism and technology.

Our bodies efficiently make our natural hormones. Cholesterol from our diet is converted into a family of progesterones, which then become our androgens, such as testosterone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Androgens are important since they are the substrate for all of the estrogens in our body. The ovaries alone convert testosterone to estradiol (E2), the most powerful of the estrogens. Fat cells can convert androstenedione to other weaker estrogens, including estrone (E1), only 40% as active as estradiol, and estriol (E3), only 10% as active as estradiol. Since menopausal symptoms seem to arise with falling estrogen levels, estrogen has been sought as treatment of these symptoms.

Is All Breast Cancer The Same? A Paradox: Estrogen's Relationship to Breast Cancer

Most women are aware of a link between estrogen and breast cancer. Yet, there are three types of breast cancer: ductal (80%), lobular (10%), and inflammatory (1% to 5%), all of which have different receptor characteristics that guide treatment. Approximately 75% of breast cancer is estrogen-receptor (ER) positive. However, there are conditions in which estrogen both fuels and, at other times, kills ER-positive breast cancer cells.  One type of breast cancer does not even recognize estrogen at all. It is estimated that in 2015, there will be 231,840 new cases of breast cancer and 60,290 cases of breast carcinoma in situ. And it is predicted that 40,290 women will die of this disease (cancer.org). Understanding the types of breast cancer offers promise for improved surveillance, prevention, and more effective treatments.

Does Estrogen Help Age Skin Better?

Our skin is not only our largest organ but also our protective shield and our most visible self. When Nora Ephron wrote I Feel Bad About My Neck And Other Thoughts About Being A Woman (2008), she was highlighting with humor, but compassion, the challenges women face as they age. And skin becomes a very visible part of that conversation. Why does our skin thin, and what causes wrinkles?

Moods And Menopause

There is definitely a hormonal component to our moods.  This should not surprise any woman who is entering or is in menopause. The menopause transition is characterized by an initial fluctuation of estradiol production by the ovaries, evidenced by irregular menstrual cycles, but followed by a sustained estradiol decline resulting in the end of menses.

Estrogen and Breast Cancer: A Love-Hate Relationship

What do the dates 1896 and 1935 have to do with breast cancer? They mark critical moments in clarifying the complex relationship between estrogen and breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States and Canada. Understanding its relationship to estrogen is critical for attributing cause and planning future therapies.