Estrogen is the name given to a family of ovarian hormones which all have similar characteristics. Estrogen hormones are sometimes mistakenly referred to as exclusively female hormones when in fact both men and women produce them. In order to understand the important role estrogens play, it is important to know something about hormones in general.

Often referred to as "chemical messengers", hormones carry information and instructions from one group of cells to another. In the human body, hormones influence almost every cell, organ and function. They regulate our growth, development, tissue function, the way our bodies use food, sexual function, the reaction of our bodies to emergencies and even our moods.

Read about the Effects of Estrogen to see how important estrogen hormones for a woman really are and what happens if estrogen fluctuates.