In Clue, when we refer to “estrogen” we are almost exclusively referring to this type of estrogen.Įstriol (E3): This is the main estrogen of pregnancy. This type of estrogen binds very strongly to estrogen receptors. This is a weak estrogen (6).Įstradiol (E2): This is the most active type of estrogen, which is the type involved in the menstrual cycle (6).

Weak estrogens can bind to estrogen receptors, but their impact on the body is not very dramatic.Įstrone (E1): Produced mostly in body fat, but also in the ovaries and placenta. For example, during pregnancy, different types of estrogen are produced to help support the development of the baby. These types have different functions across the body over different life stages. In women and people who menstruate, there are potentially four major types of estrogen. But that’s not all: estrogen also plays a role in many other functions, from bone health (3) to cognitive function (4,5), and so much more. You might already know that estrogen powers the menstrual cycle and the development of secondary sex characteristics (breast development, pubic hair growth) starting at puberty. In adult men, estrogen is produced in the testes (2). Since these people don’t have ovaries that are actively releasing eggs every month, their estrogen is made in other areas of the body, like in fat tissues, bones, skin, liver, and adrenal gland (1). Men, trans-women, children, and post-menopausal women also have estrogen in their bodies. Think of estrogen as a key, and estrogen receptors as a lock-together they make your body systems work.Įstrogen is not exclusive to women and people who menstruate. Cells that have receptors for estrogen have functions which are activated or deactivated by it.

Hormones facilitate communication between cells around the entire body. It is made from cholesterol (a type of fat molecule) within the body. What is estrogen?Įstrogen is the most famous sex hormone in women and people who menstruate. Here's everything you need to know about estrogen, progesterone, androgens, progestins, synthetic estrogen, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). So we’ve created a guide to aaaall of the hormones. Hormones are so much more interesting than what we’re taught in health class.

Adrenal gland estrogen