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Health & Sexuality Info

estrogen

Estrogen is one of the main female sex hormones. It is needed for puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, bone strength and other functions of the body.

Estrogen levels vary throughout the menstrual cycle and fall after menopause. Having too much estrogen can increase your risk of blood clots and stroke. Having too little estrogen can increase your risk of weak bones and menopause symptoms.

Some medicines contain estrogen, such as the combined oral contraceptive pill, some types of menopause treatment, and some types of gender-affirming care.

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Resources

Air Pollution and Menopause Symptoms

An older woman stands in a circle of smoke in a city

Researchers find that air pollutants can worsen menopause symptoms by causing estrogen to decline faster.

Resources

How to Detect Menopause Misinformation

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Dr. Nanette Santoro provides tips for navigating online information (and misinformation) about menopause symptoms and treatments.

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The Problem of Low Menstrual Health Literacy

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Textbooks still don't accurately describe why we menstruate, focusing only on hormonal shifts while ignoring period pain and blood loss.

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Contraception and Depression

The back of a woman sitting on a bed in front of a window

How might hormonal contraception affect our mental health? Can it contribute to anxiety and depression?

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Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy and Cardiovascular Disease Risk

A photo of a white doctor with a stethoscope around their neck holding a heart with a trans flag

Does gender-affirming hormone therapy affect the risk of cardiovascular disease in transgender people? Our Bodies Ourselves reviews the most recent research.

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The Difference Between Combined Oral Contraceptives (COCs) and Progestin-only Pills (POPs)

A pink background with a blue pack of white birth control pills

This fact sheet from Free the Pill explains the differences between the two types of birth control pills (COCs and POPs).

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Contraceptives for People with Rheumatic or Musculoskeletal Disease

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Some kinds of birth control are riskier and less effective when we have rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions. This article explains why.

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The Menopause Morass: Media, Marketing, Misinformation

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Health care journalist Gary Schwitzer critiques recent media messages around menopause. He integrates his perspective with that of researchers and experts, including OBOS co-founder Judy Norsigian and OBOS partner Nina Coslov.

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Using Birth Control as a Trans or Nonbinary Person

A blue table with a stack on birth control items including internal and external condoms, the implant, a copper IUD, the ring, a vial for injection, and different pills

Suzannah Weiss, a certified sex educator and sex/love coach, offers facts and advice for trans and nonbinary people about using birth control.

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Menopause Effects on the Brain

A screenshot of the brain before and after menopause from the presentation

Neuroscientist Lisa Mosconi discusses how the hormones associated with menopause affect women's brains, especially in relation to Alzheimer's Disease.

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Understanding Bioidentical and Compounded Hormones

A white background. A hand with a pink glove holding a vial and needle with the female symbol.

A three-part series on menopause hormone therapy (MHT) that examines the similarities and differences between bioidentical, FDA-approved, and compounded hormones.

Resources

Estrogen and Progesterone 101

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What is a hormone? How do estrogen, progesterone, FSH, and LH govern the menstrual cycle? What else do hormones do?