Oestrogenic Function in Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Summary. Results are presented of a study of healthy European women who were more than 2 years beyond the menopause. In these subjects, oestrogenic function was assessed by cytological examination of vaginal smears and by estimation of the output of'total oestrogens' in the urine.'Oestrogenic activity', as assessed by maturation and karyopyknotic indices, could be detected in more than 75 % of the women (which correlates with previously recorded data).In all subjects studied, the measured urinary oestrogen excretion was low, levels being well below the range normally encountered in women during their reproductive life. No correlation could be demonstrated between oestrogen excretion and age or cytological indices.

Brain Activation in Response to Visually Evoked Sexual Arousal in Male-to-Female Transsexuals: 3.0 Tesla Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

“…The motivational component relates to direct behavior to a sexual goal and the physiological component regards the autonomic and endocrinological responses associated with sexual arousal (6, 7, 14). As for the physiological component, the levels of sex hormones are particularly important in conjunction with the sexual function and behavior associated with sexual orientation (23). Administration of cross-sex hormones to transsexuals induces distinct changes in brain morphology as well as sexual behavior and cognition (23).…”

“…As for the physiological component, the levels of sex hormones are particularly important in conjunction with the sexual function and behavior associated with sexual orientation (23). Administration of cross-sex hormones to transsexuals induces distinct changes in brain morphology as well as sexual behavior and cognition (23). The physical changes induced by estrogen hormone therapy in MTF transsexuals involve increased breast hemi-circumference and more breast development in proportion to the hormone volume, regardless of the dosage of estrogen (24).…”

“…In addition, although no changes in penis length were observed in patients receiving female hormones, testicular volume was reduced by approximately 50%. Pol et al (23) have assessed the changes in the total brain volume and the hypothalamus volume in young adult transsexuals with cross-sex hormone treatment. They revealed that with administration of estrogens and anti-androgens, the brain size decreased by 31 mL over a four-month period, together with changes in sexual behavior and cognition.…”

Cold Promoted Activation of Factor VII

“…The ovarian production of sex hormones decreases at the menopause [1,8,36]. There is, however, an increased conversion of plasma androstenedione (from the adrenal cortex) to oestrone.…”