Oestrogen vs. Oestradiol

Oestrogen and oestradiol are both associated with female reproductive health, but they are not the same. Let's dive into what makes them different.

Oestrogen

Oestrogen is a category or group of female sex hormones that are responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics.

Types

There are three main types of natural oestrogens in females:

• Oestradiol
• Oestriol
• Oestrone

Role in the body

• Menstrual cycle regulation
• Development of female secondary sexual characteristics
• Maintenance of bone density
• Regulation of cholesterol levels
• Mood and cognitive function

Oestradiol

Oestradiol (often spelt estradiol in American English) is a specific type of oestrogen. It's the most potent and predominant form of oestrogen in pre-menopausal females. It's mainly produced by the ovaries in pre-menopausal women, but also in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands and fat tissues.

Role in the body

As a type of oestrogen, oestradiol shares many of the general roles of oestrogens, such as:

• Initiating the development and maintenance of female secondary sex characteristics
• Regulation of the menstrual cycle
• Preparing the uterine lining for implantation by a fertilized egg
• Bone protection
• Regulation of other metabolic processes, including cholesterol levels

While oestrogen is a broad term encompassing a group of hormones, oestradiol is a specific type within that group, responsible for many of the vital functions associated with female reproductive health.

Academic Research

• Soy isoflavones exert beneficial effects on letrozole-induced rat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) model through anti-androgenic mechanism
• Bioactivity of Isoflavones: Assessment through a Theoretical Model as a Way to Obtain a “Theoretical Efficacy Related to Estradiol (TERE)”