Estrogen

**__Estrogen __** **__Estrogen definition __** According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, estrogen can be defined as, “Any of various natural steroids that are formed from androgen precursors, that are secreted chiefly by the ovaries, placenta, adipose tissue, and testes, and that stimulate the development of female secondary sex characteristics and promote the growth and maintenance of the female reproductive system” (“Estrogen,” n.d.). This hormone is found in the bloodstream and the levels are highest during ovulation (“Estrogen,” n.d.). **__Estrogen and physical structure __** This hormone influences some of the physical structural differences in males and females bodies. Compared to males, estrogen makes females usually have smaller and shorter bones, a broader pelvis and narrower shoulders. Estrogen also plays a role in the fatty tissue that is found more common on females’ muscles, breasts, buttocks, hips and thighs. One other thing it does differently in females than in males is create a smaller voice box with shorter vocal cords. This is the reason why most females have higher pitched voices than males (“Estrogen,” 2011). **__Estrogen secretion __** After estrogen is synthesized in the body, it is secreted into the blood system. It will then bind to globulin which is a protein that works with other sex hormones in the body. Once bound, it will penetrate its target cells surface and stick to a receptor in the cytoplasm of the cell. With estrogen, there are two types of receptors called estrogen receptor-alpha and estrogen receptor-beta. These to receptors have similar capacities to activate DNA synthesis (“Estrogen,” 2011). **__Effects of estrogen __** Estrogen works in the ovaries, vagina, fallopian tubes, uterus and mammary glands in a female’s body. This hormone stimulates the growth of an egg and also stimulates the brain for the release of an egg. Once released, the egg travels through the fallopian tubes and eventually into a women’s uterus. Here estrogen plays a role in building and maintaining the endometrium which is a membrane lining on the uterus walls that allow ideal conditions for conception. Also, this hormone is related to breast growth during adolescence and the creation and flow of milk after having a child (“Estrogen,” 2011). **__Estrogen and Communication: __** **__Estrogen and Economics __** Estrogen levels peak right at ovulation. This is during a time called estrus, which is a phase in the female reproductive cycle with increased sexual receptivity, proceptiviy, selectivity, and attractiveness (Miller, 2007, p.375). An experiment done by Geoffrey Miller, Joshua M. Tybur and Brent D. Jordan had eighteen exotic dancers record their menstrual periods, work shifts, and tip earnings for 60 days on an online journal. When women use birth control pills it can suppress these peaks of estrogen and thus have a woman pass the estrus phase. According to this study, normally cycling participants, which are those not using birth control pills, earned $335 dollars per five hour shift during estrus and peak estrogen level right before menstruation and $185 during menstruation. This can be compared to the women using the synthetic estrogen for birth control where there was no increase in tips recorded right before menstruation when estrus would be taking place (Miller, 2007, p.375). This is direct evidence that hormones play a role in non-verbal communication. Our hormones communicate things about our body which in this example, when a women was at peak estrogen level and highly fertile, she was coming off to customers at the strip club as more attractive. This is a biological instinct for women to find a mate and reproduce. **__Estrogen and Sexual Desire __** In an article in Time magazine, a women had her ovaries and uterus removed because of fibroid tumors and an ovarian cyst. These are the main organs that produce estrogen in the female body. After this surgery, she described herself as having no sexual desire or sexual interest whatsoever. This means that there is a connection between estrogen and sexual desire and sexual communication. The article states, “No matter how lust is triggered, though, sex, like eating or sleeping, is ultimately biochemical, governed by hormones, neurotransmitters and other substances that interact in complicated ways to create the familiar sensations of desire, arousal, orgasm” (Lemonick, 2004, p.69). This explains that without the hormone estrogen, these things crucial to a normal sex life would be lost. Just a few of the chemicals that work together in our body to create this are testosterone, estrogen, oxytocin and brain chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine (Lemonick, 2004, p.70). It is true that 90% of sex is in the mind and certain parts of the brain are triggered by these hormones and chemicals (Lemonick, 2004, p.70). Without them, the need for sexual desire will be lost. Hormones do not work alone and if the right combination of them is absent, the need for sexual desire and normal functioning of the sexual system will not occur. For example, if women with decreased desire is given estrogen alone it won’t restore the desire. Further, if you give them estrogen and testosterone together, you will have a huge jump in this sexual cycle. This can be explained by research that says that testosterone attaches itself to steroid-binding globulins in the blood that otherwise would attach to estrogen making the hormone not work properly. The testosterone then goes to the liver and the estrogen to the brain creating the feelings of lust (Lemonick, 2004, p.72). Estrogen and other hormones work by stimulating the release of different nerurotransmitters in the brain (Lemonick, 2004, p. 73). Estrogen like other hormones plays a huge role in our ability to feel and communicate sexual desire to potential mates. **__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Estrogen Replacement Therapy __** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">There are many sexual dysfunctions that can take place in women. Many of them are related to sexual desire. Some factors causing these disorders are changes in lifestyle, medication or another medical condition that is causing the lack of desire (Phillips, 2000). Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) can be described as estrogen given to restore the hormone to a normal level in order to have correct physiological functioning (“Hormone replacement theory,” 2011). The relationship between hormones and sexuality are still unclear in research but estrogen replacement theory has shown a positive correlation with an increase in sexual desire (Phillips, 2000). This can include an increase in sexual activity, enjoyment and fantasies. Estrogen is given in combination with testosterone, progesterone and therapy with a counselor to get the maximum effects to help overcome the disorder (Phillips, 2000).

**__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">References __** Estrogen. (n.d.) In //Merriam Webster Dictionary Online//. Retrieved from [] Estrogen. (2011). In //Encyclopædia Britannica//. Retrieved from [] Hormone replacement therapy (HRT). (2011). In //Encyclopædia Britannica//. Retrieved from [] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Lemonick, M.D., & Steptoe, S. (2004). The Chemistry of Desire. (Cover story). //Time,// 163(3), 68-75. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Miller, G., Tybur, J. M., & Jordan, B. D. (2007). Ovulatory cycle effects on tip earnings by lap <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">dancers: economic evidence for human estrus? //Evolution and human behavior, 28//, 375- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">381. Phillips, Nancy A. (2000). Female Sexual Dysfunction: Evaluation and Treatment. //American Family Physician.// Retrieved from []. Wilson, M. E., Westberry, J. M., & Trout, A. L. (2011). Estrogen receptor-alpha gene expression in the cortex: Sex differences during development and in adulthood. //Hormones & Behavior//, 59(3), 353-357. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh