18
men, most of the estrogen circulating in the blood circulation comes from alteration
of adrenal, ovarian, and testes androgens. Transformation happens in surrounding
tissues, mainly adipose tissue and skin. Principally estrogens are responsible for
keeping harmonization between the normal development and function of female
breasts and genitals. Estrogen promotes growth of vagina, uterus, and breasts during
puberty. They also regulate fat distribution and deposition patterns throughout body
that lead to typical female body types; control puberty climax and stop growth after
adulthood; and control development of secondary sexual features [29]. In young
females, the main roles of estrogen comprise regulating the menstrual cycle, promoting hormone regulation of pregnancy and breastfeeding, and maintaining female
sexual desire. The production of estrogen in the ovaries stops during menopause.
Reduced levels of estrogen cause symptoms such as sweating, hot flashes, palpitations, elevated irritability, depression, anxiety, and bone fragility (i.e., osteoporosis). Administration of estrogen (i.e., hormone replacement therapy; HRT) in
postmenopausal women can lessen these signs and decrease the danger of coronary
heart disease as well as osteoporosis. However, hormone replacement therapy may
enhance the chances of developing particular kinds of cancer such as uterine (endometrial) cancer and breast cancer [30].
Progestogens
The ovaries produce progesterone at some stage of the menstrual cycle and in most
of the pregnant placenta. Progesterone causes alterations in the endometrium to
prepare for pregnancy, and along with estrogen stimulates mammary glands for
lactation. The main progestogen is progesterone [31].
Androgen
Testosterone is main androgenic steroid that is mainly discharged from the testes,
but it is released from adrenal glands in both male and female as well and in small
amounts from ovaries. Key function of testosterone is to trigger growth and development of reproductive tract in men. Additionally, testosterone has a strong effect
on protein anabolic activity. Thus, it encourages formation of protein resulting in
augmented muscles mass. Certain roles of testosterone differ at diverse phases of
development, as follows:
• During fetal stage, testosterone principally makes sure the development of internal as well as external male genitalia.
• At puberty, this hormone triggers growth of sexual organs in men and is responsible for additional developmental features of males like puberty spurts and
eventually cessation in adult height development; deeper voice; axillary, pubic,
body, and facial hair growth; and increased muscle and strength.
A. Ahsan et al.
men, most of the estrogen circulating in the blood circulation comes from alteration
of adrenal, ovarian, and testes androgens. Transformation happens in surrounding
tissues, mainly adipose tissue and skin. Principally estrogens are responsible for
keeping harmonization between the normal development and function of female
breasts and genitals. Estrogen promotes growth of vagina, uterus, and breasts during
puberty. They also regulate fat distribution and deposition patterns throughout body
that lead to typical female body types; control puberty climax and stop growth after
adulthood; and control development of secondary sexual features [29]. In young
females, the main roles of estrogen comprise regulating the menstrual cycle, promoting hormone regulation of pregnancy and breastfeeding, and maintaining female
sexual desire. The production of estrogen in the ovaries stops during menopause.
Reduced levels of estrogen cause symptoms such as sweating, hot flashes, palpitations, elevated irritability, depression, anxiety, and bone fragility (i.e., osteoporosis). Administration of estrogen (i.e., hormone replacement therapy; HRT) in
postmenopausal women can lessen these signs and decrease the danger of coronary
heart disease as well as osteoporosis. However, hormone replacement therapy may
enhance the chances of developing particular kinds of cancer such as uterine (endometrial) cancer and breast cancer [30].
Progestogens
The ovaries produce progesterone at some stage of the menstrual cycle and in most
of the pregnant placenta. Progesterone causes alterations in the endometrium to
prepare for pregnancy, and along with estrogen stimulates mammary glands for
lactation. The main progestogen is progesterone [31].
Androgen
Testosterone is main androgenic steroid that is mainly discharged from the testes,
but it is released from adrenal glands in both male and female as well and in small
amounts from ovaries. Key function of testosterone is to trigger growth and development of reproductive tract in men. Additionally, testosterone has a strong effect
on protein anabolic activity. Thus, it encourages formation of protein resulting in
augmented muscles mass. Certain roles of testosterone differ at diverse phases of
development, as follows:
• During fetal stage, testosterone principally makes sure the development of internal as well as external male genitalia.
• At puberty, this hormone triggers growth of sexual organs in men and is responsible for additional developmental features of males like puberty spurts and
eventually cessation in adult height development; deeper voice; axillary, pubic,
body, and facial hair growth; and increased muscle and strength.
A. Ahsan et al.