LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Estrogen
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Estrogen is a group of hormones primarily responsible for the development of female sex organs and secondary sex characteristics. While estrogen is one of the major female sex hormones, small amounts are found in males. In women, follicular stimulating hormone (FSH; produced by the pituitary gland) stimulates cells (follicles) surrounding the eggs in the ovaries, causing them to produce estrogen. When the estrogen levels reach a certain level, the pituitary produces a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH), which eventually causes the release of the egg, beginning the preparation for fertilization.
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Estrogen is a major female sex hormone that is crucial to a woman’s development, ability to bear children and overall health. It is the hormone responsible for monthly menstruation and many changes throughout a woman’s life. Around the age of 50, the level of estrogen and other adrenal hormones such as progesterone begin to decline, and a woman stops menstruating. This time, known as menopause, is marked by a significant decrease in the amount of sex hormones produced by a woman’s body.
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Estrogen has important impact on the immune system and on bone. The effects of estrogen on bone to a large extent are mediated via its action on immune cells. Estrogen has a dichotomous impact on the immune system by downregulation of inflammatory immune responses but simultaneous upregulation of immunoglobulin production. Consequently, immune-mediated diseases in humans and in animal models are modulated by estrogen. Estrogen deficiency after ovariectomy in mice and after menopause in women is associated with significant bone loss. In rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoporosis is frequent, and in patients with postmenopausal RA, the degree of bone loss is dramatically increased.
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Estrogen appears to have a number of potent health benefits, including protection from heart disease and osteoporosis. Thus, when a woman enters menopause, her risk of heart disease begins to climb until it equals that of men. Similarly, she is at increased risk for bone diseases such as osteoporosis and cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
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Estrogen ... acts as a MAO inhibitor by decreasing the production of MAO. The result is that there is less MAO to destroy serotonin and norepinephrine and hence, there is more of these two neurotransmitters available to be released into the synapse and their activity is increased. This action of estrogen is the same as MAO-inhibitors that are used as a therapy for depression. However, ERT alone may not be effective as an antidepressant but may be helpful as part of a larger regimen. The research for ERT as an antidepressant is not yet conclusive.
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Estrogen increases the risk that you will develop endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus [womb]). The longer you take estrogen, the greater the risk that you will develop endometrial cancer. If you have not had a hysterectomy (surgery to remove the uterus), you should be given another medication called a progestin to take with estrogen. This may decrease your risk of developing endometrial cancer, but may increase your risk of developing certain other health problems, including breast cancer. Before you begin taking estrogen, tell your doctor if you have or have ever had cancer and if you have unusual vaginal bleeding. Call your doctor immediately if you have abnormal or unusual vaginal bleeding during your treatment with estrogen.
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Estrogen