Estriol

Estriol is a female sex hormone, which is a metabolic product of estradiol and has much less activity compared to it.

Estriol is produced primarily in the placenta during pregnancy. Together with estradiol and progesterone, it plays an important role in maintaining pregnancy.

Unlike other estrogens, estriol has a weak estrogenic effect. However, its concentration in the blood of pregnant women is much higher than other estrogens. Estriol stimulates the growth of the uterus, the development of the mammary glands and prepares the body for childbirth.

After synthesis in the placenta, estriol enters the mother's bloodstream and is then excreted in the urine. Determining the level of estriol in urine is used to monitor the normal course of pregnancy. Decreased estriol production may indicate pregnancy complications.

Estriol is used to restore hormonal balance in men and women, including pregnant women. It is an analogue of estradiol, the main female hormone.

The main disadvantage of estriol is that its production occurs only in brain cells and the pituitary gland. However, even this amount may not be enough for a woman to synthesize sex hormones in the body. In addition, estrogen (estradiol) cells are more sensitive to estriol than to estrogen.

The indications for prescribing estriol can be listed for a very long time, so I will give just a few examples:

- atrophy of the mucous membrane of the female genital organs; - menopause; - postmenopause and prevention of osteoporosis; - ovarian dysfunction; - sudden postcoital weakness syndrome (a woman’s inability to achieve orgasm after intercourse); - infertility.