Did You Know There Are Various Estrogens?

Did you know there are various estrogens in our body? The two that I believe are the most important and ALWAYS tested on ALL my patients are estrone (E1) and estradiol (E2). Both play crucial roles in regulating our menstrual cycles, fertility, and overall well-being.

Estrone is the primary estrogen produced by the ovaries, adrenal glands, and fat tissue after menopause, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have estrone while you are still menstruating.

Meanwhile, estradiol is the most potent and biologically active form of estrogen, essential for reproductive function.

The reason it’s so important to test levels of both E1 and E2 is that an imbalance between the two can indicate underlying health issues. For example, high estrone relative to estradiol may signal excess estrogen dominance, which is linked to conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, and even certain cancers. My goal when I see these on labs is to have estrone less than than estradiol.

Monitoring these hormones through simple blood, saliva or urine tests can provide valuable insights into your hormonal health.

Have you had both of these estrogens tested?