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Medical Specializations


Surgery => Hysterectomy => Estrogen


Estrogen


Estrogen, any of a group of female sex hormones that stimulate the appearance of secondary female sex characteristics in girls at puberty. Estrogens control growth of the lining of the uterus during the first part of the menstrual cycle, cause changes in the breast during pregnancy, and regulate various metabolic processes. Among the better known estrogens are estrone, ethynyl estradiol, and estriol, all produced primarily in the ovaries. Stilbestrol and ethynyl estradiol, two synthetic estrogens, are respectively five and ten times as potent as estrone; their activity is similar to that of natural estrogens. They are used to treat various conditions, including estrogen deficiencies in women (most commonly after menopause) and inflammation of the vagina. They may be used to stimulate lactation following childbirth and in the treatment, but not cure, of advanced and even disseminated cancer of the prostate gland in men.

Research has shown that when estrogen is administered as a post-menopausal hormone-replacement therapy, recipients experience a significant decrease in bone fractures. However, questions remain regarding the safety of estrogen in hormone-replacement therapy. Possible risks include breast or uterine cancer or cardiovascular disease. When estrogen is used in combination with progestin, another hormone, the risk of uterine cancer and heart disease decreases significantly.

Recent research indicates that unlike earlier types of synthetic estrogen, some of the newer forms may not carry increased risk of breast and uterine cancer. Popularly known as designer estrogens, these drugs have shown considerable promise in the treatment of many disorders, including some forms of cancer. Tamoxifen, a type of designer estrogen used to treat breast cancer, has been shown to prevent breast cancer in some women. Raloxifene, a designer estrogen approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1997 for the treatment of osteoporosis, is also being investigated as an anticancer drug. Other studies indicate that some designer estrogens may slow the brain deterioration associated with Alzheimer's disease. The apparent benefits of designer estrogens, particularly their effect on breast cancer, have raised considerable interest in the medical and scientific communities, and this promises to be an active area of research in the coming years.

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