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Understanding Menopause - Feeling Good in a New Stage of Life Estrogen and Your Health Estrogen is a hormone, a chemical messenger that affects many parts of the body. Estrogen plays a key role in the menstrual cycle. Estrogen also protects your health by reducing the risk of some bone and heart problems. Your ovaries (female organs that make and store eggs) produce varying levels of estrogen throughout your life. Estrogen Affects Your: Menstrual cycle Height Weight Skin tone Muscle strength Digestion Heart rate Circulation Estrogen Helps Control Your Cycle The ovaries produce both estrogen and progesterone, another hormone. Changing levels of these hormones control the menstrual cycle. Ovulation (the release of a ripened egg) is part of that cycle. So is menstruation (shedding of the lining of the uterus). At the Start of Your Cycle Tiny egg sacs (follicles) ripen and produce estrogen. You're likely to have few or no symptoms. In the Middle of Your Cycle Estrogen level increases. The uterine lining thickens. Ovulation occurs. Progesterone is released, further thickening the uterine lining. You may have symptoms. These can include vaginal mucus changes, breast tenderness, mild cramping, or headaches. Toward the End of Your Cycle Progesterone and estrogen levels decrease. If the egg is not fertilized, you do not become pregnant. The uterine lining is shed. You may have bleeding, bloating, tiredness, irritability, cramping, or headaches.

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