Role of Estrogen - In Male Reproductive Physiology

Introduction:

Estrogen helps regulate growth and develop the physiology of the human reproductive system. It affects the skeletal, cardiovascular, bone, and nervous systems. It is a sex hormone secreted mainly by ovaries in women and by testes in men. Androgen and estrogen hormones help regulate reproductive organs in males.

What Is Estrogen?

Its group of hormones plays a vital role in the human reproductive system. There are three types of estrogen: Estradiol, estriol, and estrone. Estrogen helps control many body processes, like lipid metabolism, brain function, bone health, sexual desire, erectile function, and skin health. Ovaries, adrenal glands, and adipose tissues secrete it. It is present in both males and females. Men have less estrogen. The male reproductive system consists of the testes, epididymis, vas deferens, prostate, scrotum, and penis. These secrete androgens and mainly testosterone. Testosterone gets converted to estradiol by adipose tissue. This estradiol gets converted to estrogen peripherally. Estrogen plays an important role in bone resorption, epiphyseal (mark end of the closure of a particular bone), gynecomastia (increase in the breast size in males), and vascular effects and has an inhibitory effect on the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary like-testosterone. The estrogen receptor is essential for male fertility. Its activity is responsible for maintaining epithelial cytoarchitecture in efferent ductules and fluid reabsorption for concentrating sperm in the head of the epididymis.

What Does Estradiol Do in Men?

Estradiol helps maintain bone health, nitric oxide production, and brain function well in men. Though the requirement of estradiol is less among men, it is essential to function well. Estradiol is needed to regulate libido, erectile function, and spermatogenesis.

What Happens if Estradiol Levels Vary in Men?

When estradiol levels vary, the following changes can be seen:

Men may develop female characteristics, loss of sexual function, or muscle tone. Impaired bone development, osteoporosis among adults, and mood swings may also be noticed.

When estrogen level decrease, the following effects can be seen in males:

• Excess belly fat.

• Low sexual desire.

When estrogen levels increase, symptoms that can be observed in men are

• Enlarged breasts (gynecomastia).

• Infertility.

• Poor erections.

• Loss of sex drive.

• Erectile dysfunction.

• Dry skin.

• Risk of getting prostate cancer.

• Stroke.

• Coronary artery disease.

An optimal level of estradiol is needed for the functioning of various body organs and systems. However, any variation leads to complications.

In men, the enzyme aromatase is necessary to convert testosterone into estradiol. Therefore, an abnormality in the level of the aromatase enzyme can lead to various symptoms related to decreased or increased testosterone.

Obesity and diabetes show increased estrogen.

How Does Estradiol Work in Men?

Brain: Estrogen receptors in the preoptic area and anterior hypothalamus have more aromatase. The aromatase converts testosterone into estrogen with the help of neurons from the central nervous system and astrocytes.

Testes: Leydig cells, Sertoli, and germ cells produce estrogen leading to testosterone modulation. An abnormal increase in testosterone leads to a decreased size of the testes and sperm count.

Penis: The penile vasculature and urothelium are lined with estrogen receptors. Estradiol modulates testosterone, with the overall effect being adverse to erectile function.

A low testosterone level results in decreased libido. In such cases, the administration of estradiol showed an increase in libido. One study observed that estrogen is essential in sexual desire in low testosterone conditions.

What Happens When There Is a Fetal Exposure?

Male offspring of women treated with synthetic estrogen diethylstilbesterol (DES) during their pregnancy had congenital disabilities of the reproductive tracts. As a result, their testes remained in the abdomen and they later developed infertility.

Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome (TDS): Exposure to excess estrogen during fetal development causes TDS involving penis malformation, testes remaining undescended in the abdomen, and low sperm count.

What Are Environmental Estrogen?

Compounds used in pesticides and plastics are similar to estrogen hormones and are known as environmental estrogens or endocrine disruptors. A study showed that these harmful compounds might damage fertility. Such compounds are pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, liquid resins, and glues. By taking precautions from exposure to such substances and limiting their use, one can protect oneself from getting affected.

What Are the Ways to Keep Hormones in Balance?

To keep hormones in balance, we should follow certain steps:

1. Resveratrol supplements can be given.

2. Broccoli, cruciferous vegetables, soy protein, berries, seeds and grains, nuts, fruit, and wine are to be used in food. Increased vitamin B consumption and flaxseeds help.

3. Lifestyle modification is needed to have balance in hormones.

4. Avoid excessive intake of alcohol.

5. Avoid chemicals in plastics.

6. Maintaining an ideal weight helps in keeping hormones in balance.

7. Some supplements like soy isoflavones, black cohosh, and red clover, which contain phytoestrogens, can be used.

8. Estrogen products like synthetic estrogen, bioidentical estrogen, and Premarin are given.

What Is the Normal Concentration of Estrogen in Men?

The concentration of estrogen

• Varies from one person to person. The average estrogen in men is 10 to 40 picograms for every milliliter of blood.

• Testosterone ranges from 260 to 1000 nanograms for every deciliter of blood.

• A blood test may help to know the level of testosterone and estrogen.

What Happens to Estrogen as Age Increases in Men?

Testosterone drops as men age. After 30 years of age, testosterone drops about one percent annually, leading to andropause (male menopause). When estrogen levels increase, health starts to deteriorate.

Conclusion:

The balance of hormones testosterone and estrogen is essential for the normal functioning of the reproductive system, bone health, cardiovascular system, and prostate gland. Awareness about the condition helps identify diseases at the earliest and helps in seeking solutions from the physician. Hormonal disorders are challenging, but excessive estrogen in men can be corrected and reversed if the patient consults his doctor at the earliest.