Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Sex Hormones in Women with MS

Estrogens
Estrogen hormones affect female sexual development and function.  Both men and women produce estrogen at varying amounts.  The most important types of estrogen hormones include estradiol, estriol, and estrone.  Estrogen hormones are produced in the ovaries and in the placenta during pregnancy.  Just like testosterone, small amounts are produced by the adrenal glands in both genders.

Estradiol is the most commonly measured type of estrogen for non-pregnant women, according to WebMD.  Levels vary during the menstrual cycle and drop to a very low level after menopause.  Estriol is produced in large amounts by the placenta during pregnancy and can be detected in the blood and urine.  Estrone can be used to measure estrogen levels in women who have gone through menopause.

Just as in men, sex hormones can provide neuroprotective effects in women who have MS.

Read this post in its entirety:

MS in Men and Women: The Role of Sex Hormones in Women

1 comment:

  1. I am on the Estradiol patch since I had a hysterectomy. All the other HRT treatments gave me migraines.

    I won't give it up without a fight! =)

    ReplyDelete