How does estriol relate to testosterone and how do they protect women?
Estriol is a forgotten estrogen. We mostly think of estrogen as estradiol. But there are 60 different estrogen-acting molecules in the female body. One is estriol. And it protects women. It is a tumor suppressor agent. It is also an anti-inflammatory agent. Women produce large amounts of estriol when they are pregnant. It protects a soon to be mother’s body from the potential inflammation of now growing a new being. Many women with inflammatory diseases like inflammatory gut issues or joint issues, have these go into remission when pregnant, due to the high amounts of estriol. It is very protective against breast cancer and other hormonal cancers.
Estriol is called “forgotten” in that most commercial hormone replacement only addresses estradiol, and forgets estriol.
A metabolite of the male hormone, testosterone, nicknamed 3Beta-diol, up-regulates (turns on) estriol. So in a true biologic sense: “maleness” protects “femaleness.” This metabolites long name is 5alpha-Androstane-3beta,17beta-diol, so you can see why it has a nickname.
Thus, testosterone in women, protects against hormonal cancers.
For this and other reasons, a safe hormone replacement therapy should consider adding testosterone to the mix. In days past, testosterone was actually used to treat breast cancer. But synthetic testosterone, which promotes breast cancer, wrongly gave this male hormone, for women, a falsely bad name.
Mother Nature is so cool. Men and women protect each other! The female hormone estrogen helps initially masculinize a male’s brain in the womb and continues to help it act intelligently and safely throughout life.
God is good and we need each other!