Estrogen(Archived)

Excerpt

Estrogen is a steroid hormone associated with the female reproductive organs and is responsible for developing female sexual characteristics. Estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3) are the three primary endogenous estrogens. Of the previously mentioned forms of estrogen, estradiol is the most common form of estrogen for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the treatment of symptoms of menopause. Estrogen for hormone replacement therapy has been heavily researched in medicine and remains a controversial topic. According to early studies, estrogen as hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal women showed promising benefits of decreased risk of osteoporosis, coronary arterial disease, and mortality. Later studies conducted by the Women's Health Initiative concluded that the risk was greater than the benefit of hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women.