Definition: A steroid sex hormone produced by the ovaries, the placenta, the adreanal glands and, in small amounts, by the male testes. Estrogen causes the development of secondary sexual characteristics (e.g. breasts, larger hips) in adolescent girls, and is involved in rebuilding the uterine lining after menstruation. Estrogen also plays a role in calcium uptake and balance. Decreasing estrogen in post-menopausal women results in demineralization of bones and osteoporosis, as well as other menopausal symptoms.
Pronunciation: ES-truh-jen
Also Known As: estrone, estrodiol, estriol
Alternate Spellings: Oestrogen
Common Misspellings: estragen, estrajen
Examples: She was debating whether to take estrogen after she started having hot flashes.