S131 Estrogen Explained: What Every Woman Should Know About This Powerful Hormone

What if estrogen isn't simply a "female hormone" or something that disappears during menopause?

In this solo episode of 40s Forward, Dr. Betsy Greenleaf continues her Hormones 101 series with a deep dive into estrogen—one of the most misunderstood hormones in the human body.

Estrogen influences far more than reproduction. It plays important roles in the brain, bones, cardiovascular system, skin, sexual health, urinary health, metabolism, immune function, and even the mitochondria that help power your cells.

Dr. Greenleaf explores how estrogen is made, the different types of estrogen, what happens during menopause, bioidentical hormones, estrogen metabolism, hormone replacement therapy, and why decades of fear surrounding estrogen deserve a closer look.

What You'll Learn in This Episode • What estrogen actually does throughout the body

• Why both women AND men need estrogen

• How cholesterol is used to make steroid hormones

• How stress can influence hormone production and reproductive function

• The difference between estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), estriol (E3), and estetrol (E4)

• How testosterone can be converted into estrogen through aromatase

• Why estrogen continues to be produced after menopause

• How body composition can influence estrogen levels