What is Estrogen and what its purpose?

Right, let's chat about oestrogen – that rather important hormone that seems to get blamed for everything that goes wrong during menopause, but actually deserves a bit more credit than it gets.

Dr. Swapna Kollikonda from the Cleveland Clinic explains that oestrogen isn't just about your reproductive system (though that's certainly its main job). This clever little hormone is actually looking after nearly every system in your body, which explains why you feel like you're falling apart when levels start dropping.

During your reproductive years, oestrogen has been quietly working behind the scenes, regulating your monthly cycle and keeping things ticking along nicely. As you hit puberty, levels rise, and each month they surge to prep your uterine lining for potential fertilisation. When levels drop, your period starts. It's quite an elegant system, really.

But here's what makes oestrogen rather remarkable: it's not just about reproduction. Your heart benefits enormously from it – oestrogen keeps your cardiovascular tissue healthy, helps maintain stable blood pressure, and works wonders with your cholesterol. When oestrogen levels are adequate, it keeps the nasty LDL cholesterol low and boosts the good HDL cholesterol. Rather handy, that.

Your brain is another big beneficiary. Oestrogen maintains proper blood flow to your noggin, protects against inflammation, and helps with memory and fine motor skills. That brain fog you've been experiencing? Low oestrogen levels are likely the culprit. The good news is that research shows brain fog typically lifts after menopause, though we're not entirely sure if that's directly related to oestrogen levels stabilising.

Then there are your bones and muscles. Oestrogen plays a vital role in bone growth and muscle mass, protecting against osteoporosis. During menopause, bone mass decreases as oestrogen drop, making bones weak and more likely to fracture. It's why so many of us suddenly start worrying about hip replacements.

Your mood gets a look-in too. Those pre-period mood swings? That's shifting oestrogen levels messing with your serotonin (your feel-good hormones) and endorphins. When oestrogen is stable, it helps keep your mood more even-keeled.

And let's not forget your sex life. Oestrogen keeps your vagina lubricated and comfortable. When levels drop, vaginal walls thin out and produce less lubrication, making intimacy rather uncomfortable. Dr. Kollikonda notes that during menopause, vaginal elasticity decreases, and sex can become painful, though vaginal creams and lotions can help significantly.

The key takeaway? While concerns about hormone replacement therapy have dominated headlines for years, current research suggests that oestrogen can be highly beneficial if hormone replacement therapy is started sooner rather than later. There's something called "timing theory" – if you start hormone therapy as soon as you're in menopause, the benefits generally outweigh the risks. Wait 10 years, however, and the risk-benefit equation shifts unfavourably.

As Dr. Kollikonda puts it, "If you're having symptoms and your quality of life is decreased, it's better to take estrogen. There's no need to suffer."

Just a friendly reminder: I'm sharing what I've learned, not prescribing what you should do. Always chat with your GP about what's right for your unique situation!

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