Women possess the hormones estrogen, progesterone and even testosterone, which is a male hormone, and men also possess estrogen to a degree. However, an excessive amount of estrogen, which is the definitive female hormone, can have a detrimental and harmful effect on a man's body.
Why Men Need Some Estrogen
Estrogen is produced in small amounts in men. It helps in the body's conversion process of testosterone, the male hormone. In order to have an optimal libido, men need estrogen. Estrogen also helps the mail brain function property, maintains strong bones and regulates the heart rate.
Dangers
When estrogen levels are too high in a man's body, this can cause sexual dysfunction, prostate problems, loss of libido and weight gain. Testosterone actually shuts down operation if estrogen levels become too high in a man's body and that isn't good. Men need testosterone because it enables absorption of vitamin D and calcium into their body and helps with brain function. Men require very little estrogen.
Outcome
High estrogen levels and low testosterone put a man at risk for prostate cancer and brain, liver and heart problems. Too much estrogen can result in breast and bone cancer. Men can get breast cancer, too.
Feminization
Estrogen has feminizing effects and can result in the development of breasts, which is called gynecomastia, shrillness of the voice and mood swings. Gynecomastia means "woman and "breast" or abnormally big breasts on a man. If you take estrogen, expect to experience these female attributes.
Effects
There are several reasons why a man might start producing too much estrogen and not enough testosterone, according to the Mayo Clinic. Medications can be the culprit, as can health conditions as well as a change in natural hormones. Medications that can increase estrogen and result in gynecomastia include anti-androgens that are prescribed to treat cancer, prostate enlargement and other conditions; heart medications and calcium channel blockers; AIDS medications; anti-anxiety drugs, tricyclic antidepressants; ulcer medication and antibiotics. Taking steroids can increase a man's breast size as can amphetamines, heroin, marijuana and alcohol.
Contributing Factors
Health conditions that alter a man's hormonal balance can lead to feminizing characteristics, such as large breasts, include tumors; the act of aging; hypodonadism, which occurs when there is interference in testosterone production; when a man is overweight; kidney failure has occurred or hyperthyroidism is present. Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroxine, which is a hormone.
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