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Menopause

Purpose of estrogen

06/29/1999

Question:

What is the purpose of estrogen? Without it, will my memory fail? Will I be subject to osteorposis? Will I be mentally imbalanced?

Answer:

Long chapters are written on this subject. In brief, estrogen is responsible for sexual development in the female and along with other hormones maintaining the possibility of reproduction. It affects many functions in the body. With a marked decrease in estrogen, many women experience hot flushes, vaginal dryness and some thinning of the bone. The severity varies from woman to woman. Mental function is primarily age related. Estrogen may play a role in delay of Alzheimer`s disease but it has not yet been proven. Assess your own risk factors and preferences and discuss them with your practitioner.

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Response by:

University of Cincinnati Margery Gass, MD
Formely, Professor, Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati
Margery   Gass, MD