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Medically Reviewed by Dr. George Touliatos
There are two hormones that play a critical role at nearly every stage of a human being’s life, from birth, through childhood and adolescence to old age. These hormones are estrogen and testosterone and in this article we’re going to take a deep dive into what each does and why.
Estrogen and testosterone are a class of hormones used by the body for a wide variety of functions.
Testosterone is the sex hormone that’s primarily found in males, although is also produced by females in small amounts. Studies show that males produce nearly 7 to 8 times more testosterone than women. In men, the testicles and adrenal glands produce testosterone, while in women, the ovaries are the ones that pump minute amounts into the body.
Estrogen is best known as the female sex hormone. However, there are actually 3 major endogenous types of estrogen: estriol, estradiol, and estrone. These hormones are produced by both the ovaries and fat tissue. Estrogen–primarily estradiol–also has a complex relationship with the male body. Estrogen receptors in men suggest that the female sex hormone also plays a role in sustaining libido and regulating sperm production, although the exact relationship remains unclear.
Estrone is the weakest and least understood hormone, present in higher amounts in postmenopausal women, and is thought to serve as “back-up” hormones that converts to more powerful types of estrogen.
Estriol is produced by a woman’s placenta in high amounts during pregnancy but is otherwise undetectable in the body. Studies have been looking into the hormone for relieving pre-menopausal discomfort.
Estradiol is the main female hormone that’s responsible for a plethora of important functions such as triggering puberty and the development of secondary sex characteristics, regulating the reproductive cycle, and supporting bone health.
As the major male growth and development hormone for males, testosterone is responsible for a long list of bodily functions:
Low levels of estrogen are often caused by diseases that damage or impede the normal function of ovaries, such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Menopause also causes estrogen levels to rapidly decline, which is why many women find the experience as uncomfortable.
Estrogen is the principal hormone that regulates a woman’s menstruation. Dysfunctional levels of the hormone often lead to wildly irregular periods–with some women skipping months at a time.
Estradiol, in particular, is crucial for conception. The body uses high levels of the hormone to trigger the ovary to release an egg. Obviously, low estradiol means no ovulation, and no ovulation means no chance of getting pregnant.
A decrease in estrogen levels can make your vaginal tissues drier, which leads to pain, itching, and irritation during intercourse. Falling estrogen levels can also cause lower sexual desire.
Sex hormones play an important role in distributing fat and metabolism, especially in women. An imbalance in estrogen levels can lead to weight gain and obesity, studies suggest. Menopausal women have been shown to store more fat in the abdominal area, where it is less likely to be utilised effectively by the body. Fat in this area has been correlated with higher blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and insulin resistance.
Estrogen has been tied by research to many heart-related functions. The hormone has been observed to decrease levels of harmful LDL cholesterol and dilate blood vessels to increase blood flow. Menopausal women are at a higher risk for cardiovascular issues, although other age-related factors may play a role along with decreasing levels of estrogen.
Testosterone is a hormone that has its fingers dipped in many bodily functions, from sexual to mental. That’s why significantly low levels of testosterone, known as hypogonadism, can trigger a domino effect of negative effects on the body.
Low levels of testosterone can impede mental processes, specifically memory and recall. Men with increased levels of testosterone have better working memory. In studies, the same improvement was not seen with women who were supplemented with estrogen.
The link between depression and testosterone is a bridge that’s been crossed and examined multiple times. While the specifics are still hazy, higher rates of depression or depressive symptoms are observed in men with lower-than-average levels of testosterone.
Conversely, supplementing with testosterone has also been found to effectively alleviate depressive symptoms such as lack of appetite and chronic fatigue.
Testosterone levels normally go down with age, albeit rather slowly. This is why men with normal levels of the hormone don’t usually feel the bone-degrading effects of having low testosterone, even well past middle age. However, hypogonadal individuals appear to be at an increased risk for degenerative bone diseases like osteopenia and osteoporosis as early as 50 years old.
The relationship between testosterone and bone health seems to grind down to bone formation. Our bones go through a complicated cycle of getting broken down and reformed by special teams of cells. These cells are sensitive to hormones. Low testosterone levels can lead to bone breaking down faster than our bodies can build it, thus reducing bone density.
Lower testosterone levels are linked to low sex drive and poor libido. The deficit can even translate to physical symptoms such as the inability to sustain or get an erection, also known as erectile dysfunction. It can also cause less sperm production–which doesn’t make conception impossible but considerably more difficult.
Testosterone boosting has become an industry in itself. You only need to search for “testosterone booster” to be bombarded by millions of results for testosterone capsules, powders, and supplements.
However, studies caution against just grabbing a bottle off the shelf. Possibly only as few as 25% of sellers have actual data to back up their hormone-boosting claims, found a study from the University of Southern California.
Currently, there are only two verifiable ways to kick your testosterone production into higher gear: good food and testosterone replacement theory. A handful of foods and minerals have been directly linked to higher or deficit T-levels like ginger, zinc, and pomegranate.
Individuals with more acute testosterone deficiency may want a more direct approach. This usually means getting some form of Testosterone Replacement Treatment (TRT). TRT has been used to treat hypogonadism, help young boys properly develop secondary sex characteristics, and alleviate the symptoms of low testosterone levels.
There are far fewer estrogen supplements on the market. Part of the reason is that estrogen, when taken by itself only, is linked to small increases in risk for certain cancers, heart disease, and blood clotting. Introducing estrogen into the body is a more delicate balancing act than taking unregulated testosterone.
Still, doctors haven’t dismissed the potential of estrogen therapy entirely. Menopausal women can still benefit from short-term treatment to alleviate hot flushes, vaginal dryness, and prevent bone loss from low estrogen levels. Younger women can also pair estrogen with progestin to reduce the risk of uterine cancer. If you’re interested in Estrogen Therapy, don’t hesitate to click the button above and get in contact with us today where we can discuss your options.
This article has been researched and written based on scientific evidence and fact sheets that have then been crossed checked by our team of doctors and subject matter experts.
References, sources and studies used alongside our own in-house research have been cited below, most of which contain external clickable links to reviewed scientific paper that contain date stamped evidence.
Our team of healthcare experts and GMC registered doctors are licensed to UK GMC standards. We strive to provide you with the latest evidence based, researched articles that are unbiased, honest and provide you with accurate insights, statistics and helpful information on the discussed topic to ensure you gain a better understanding of the subject.
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If you know your total testosterone reading from a previous blood test input the results to the left above to see if your testosterone levels are normal.
You may have low testosterone depending on the symptoms you have, please contact us to find out how we can help.
The Total Testosterone Level You Entered Is Incorrect. Figure Must be in nmol/L you can use our converter here.
Your testosterone levels appear to be in the normal range.
You must be over 38, have had your ovaries removed or have suffered with premature menopause to warrant further hormone tests.
Please contact us to discuss your hormones, we need your total testosterone levels to validate your hormone deficiency. You can order a blood test here.
You may have low testosterone depending on the symptoms you have, please contact us to find out how we can help.
You appear to have higher than normal testosterone levels, please contact us for further investigation.
You appear to have normal testosterone levels. Contact us if you have any concerns.
Mike Kocsis has an MBA with a focus on healthcare administration and is an entrepreneur and medical case manager for Balance My Hormones Ltd which offers medical services in the UK and Europe. Mike has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector, much of that working with people who have hormone imbalances. Mike has appeared on podcasts and radio and is an expert speaker on the subject of hormone imbalance. He specialises in Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and has helped thousands of people suffering from hormone imbalances recover and regain control of their lives. You can follow him on LinkedIn and on the Balance My Hormones YouTube Channel.
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