Male Organ Health Matters: The Impact of Estrogen in Men Most men know about androgen, which is often called the “male hormone,” largely because of the role it plays in male organ health and because the word has become associated with a kind of aggressive masculinity. Many men have also heard of estrogen, often referred to as the “female hormone.” In fact, both genders carry both androgen and estrogen, so the nicknames are a bit misleading. And because estrogen is more popularly associated with women, many males are not aware of the role that estrogen in men plays with respect to their health and wellbeing. Estrogen As mentioned, estrogen is a hormone, but what exactly is a hormone? According to the Hormone Health Network, hormones are: …the body’s chemical messengers and are part of the endocrine system. Endocrine glands make hormones, which travel through the bloodstream to tissues and organs, and control most of our body’s major systems. The endocrine system regulates our heart rate, metabolism – how the body gets energy from the foods we eat – appetite, mood, [reproductive] function …. growth and development, sleep cycles, and more. For women, estrogen is of crucial importance. It promotes the growth of breasts and pubic hair and starts and controls the menstrual cycle, among other functions. In men In women, estrogen is produced in the ovaries. Clearly, that’s not the case in men. Instead, in men an enzyme called aromatase takes androgen and converts some of it into estrogen. Since men don’t get pregnant or breastfeed, why do they need estrogen? Because, as with most things, it’s important to have the right balance of www.man1health.com