Estrogen
From ChildWiki.com
During pregnancy, estrogen levels reach their peak.
The estrogen is a hormone that is produced by the ovarian follicle. When the levels of estrogen in the blood raise, it plays a role in ovulation. Once the ovarian follicle reaches maturity and it reseases the egg, the remaining sachet will produce estrogen until the next menstrual cycle occurs, or until after conception when the placenta takes his role.
Natural Estrogen - The natural estrogen hormones are three. The first of them is the most active and is called estradiol. Estrogen are generally secreted by the ovaries, alone in the first half of the menstrual cycle and along with progesterone in the second half of the normal cycle. During pregnancy, it is secreted by the placenta. Supra-renal glands and testicles also produce low quantities of estrogen. Estrogen components are responsible of starting puberty and of maintaining feminine physical characteristics. When there is an estrogen unbalance, the woman will start showing masculine characteristics, like growing facial hair. These imbalances are used, for example in sex-changing interventions, when the patient requires them.
Synthetic Estrogen - Synthetic estrogen is used as a therapy, mostly in infertility. In most cases, they are pills that also contain progesterone. Rarely, they are used as injections in severe uterine hemorrhages. Amongst contraindications, some are absolute, as pregnancy, breast cancer or uterine cancer. Some unwanted effects of estrogen are irritability, headaches, heavy feet, swelling of the breasts and abdomen, weigh gain, will disappear when dosage is modified. From these effects, the weight gain is the one that most women experience, because a high estrogen level will also affect the appetite.
At birth, children of both sexes will present high estrogen levels in their blood, and this will make their genitals look bigger and swollen. The effect will pass in a few days.
