Question

While both men and women produce estrogen to regulate various body systems, women experience a profound decrease in estrogen production later in life. The sudden decrease triggers a host of physiological changes that are collectively referred to as menopause.

What organ is responsible for this loss of estrogen in women? What effect does this have on the body? One effect has to do with bone regulation and women can experience osteoporosis. What can be done to minimize the impacts of a sudden reduction in estrogen? What dangers does this therapy involve?

Grading Rubric:

3 points - Identified organ involved and described physiological changes

2 points - Identified therapy used to combat effects of menopause

3 points - Discussed the dangers of possible therapies

Answer 1

Estrogen is a steroid hormone produced primarily in the ovaries of females. Other locations of generation of estrogen are adrenal glands or supra-renal glands and the fat tissue. These tissues do not generate estrogen indefinitely in the body and stop the release after a certain period of time. This induces menopause in women.

Estrogen removal has many effects on the body such as decrease in bone density, increase in body weight, increase in blood pressure, high fatty acid content of the blood, lowered metabolism, cessation of menstruation etc.

Generally, hormone replacement therapy is given in women where estrogen secretion is lowered or stopped before time. Exogenous supply of estrogen in provided in these cases.

As a possible drawback of this therapy, a person can experience following disturbances:

1. Weight gain and metabolic errors
2. Mood-swings and feeling of unhappiness
3. Nauseous feelings and uneasiness
4. Hyper-activation of sweat and oil glands of the body

Hence, hormone replacement therapies must be conducted under expert supervision only.