Queen Estrogen š The Hormone That Rules the Female Body From Birth to Menopause
- Dr. Ban Al-Karaghouli,

- 5 days ago
- 5 min read

šø Welcome to the Royal Hormone Kingdom š
Where your hormones stop being confusing and start making sense.
Here, we donāt blame your body.
We donāt dismiss your symptoms.
And we definitely donāt call major hormonal shifts ājust part of aging.ā Instead, we understand hormones as a living system, a kingdom of rulers, messengers, alliances, and transitions all working together to shape how you feel in your body.
So before we begin, take a breath.
Youāre not broken.
You're not imagining things.
And youāre not alone.
Now letās step into todayās story.
If hormones ran a kingdom, Queen EstrogenĀ would be the ruler everyone knows by name even if most women donāt fully understand her power until she starts changing her schedule.
Sheās often labeled a āreproductive hormone,ā which is like calling Taylor Swift justĀ a singer. Technically true. Wildly incomplete.
Estrogen influences nearly every system in the female body, brain, bones, heart, skin, joints, mood, metabolism, libido, and yes, periods.
And her story doesnāt begin at puberty or end at menopause.
Queen Estrogen has been part of your kingdom since the very beginning.
Letās tell her full story from birth to menopause so her exit makes sense instead of feeling like betrayal.
The Birth of a Queen: Estrogenās Earliest Appearance
Believe it or not, Queen Estrogen enters the kingdom before you ever take your first breath.
During pregnancy, a baby girl is exposed to her motherās estrogen. After birth, some newborn girls even show tiny signs of estrogen influence:
temporary breast buds
a little vaginal discharge
(Which has terrified generations of parents and is completely normal.)
This early estrogen exposure helps program estrogen receptors throughout the body. Think of it as setting up the throne rooms, communication systems, and royal messengers long before the Queen officially rules.
The Queen was present ā quietly ā laying the foundation.

Childhood: The Queen Behind the Curtain
During childhood, estrogen levels are low, but they are not zero.
Queen Estrogen works subtly in the background, supporting:
brain development
bone growth
immune regulation
Sheās not hosting balls or issuing decrees yet,
Estrogen at this young age is more like observing, learning the kingdom, preparing for her coronation.
This is why estrogen matters long before periods ever arrive.

Puberty: The Coronation š
Then comes puberty aka The Queen Takes the Throne.
Estrogen levels rise dramatically, triggering:
breast development
growth spurts
widening hips
changes in body fat distribution
emotional intensity
This is not teenage drama.
This is a hormonal monarchy coming online.
Mood swings, sensitivity, big feelings , these arenāt flaws.
Theyāre the nervous system adapting to estrogenās powerful effects on the brain.
Puberty isnāt chaos.
It's a coronation.
The Reproductive Years: Queen Estrogen in Her Prime
During the reproductive years, Queen Estrogen rules with confidence and rhythm.
She works in a monthly cycle, rising and falling gracefully, coordinating with King ProgesteroneĀ to maintain balance.
In her prime, estrogen supports:
mood stability
mental clarity
healthy metabolism
skin collagen and hydration
joint lubrication
bone strength
libido and vaginal health
cardiovascular protection
This is when many women feel most recognizably themselves ā even if theyāre exhausted, busy, and doing everything for everyone else.
The Queen is steady.The kingdom hums.
Perimenopause: The Queen Becomes Unpredictable
Hereās where the plot twist begins.
Perimenopause usually starts in the early to mid-40s, and this is where women feel blindsided ā because no one explained this part properly.
Estrogen doesnāt simply decline at first.She fluctuates.
Some days sheās dramatic and overstays her welcome.Other days she disappears without warning.
This causes:
hot flashes and night sweats
mood swings and anxiety
brain fog
weight changes
sleep disruption
cycle irregularity
Labs may come back ānormal,ā yet women feel completely unlike themselves.
Thatās because the Queen is still ruling ā just without a predictable schedule.
The kingdom isnāt broken.
Itās adjusting to inconsistency at the top.
Menopause: When the Queen Steps Back From the Throne
Menopause marks the official moment when ovarian estrogen production significantly declines.
This doesnāt mean estrogen is gone forever ā but it does mean her reign changes.
Estrogen receptors still exist everywhere:
brain
bones
skin
heart
vagina
bladder
joints
So when estrogen levels drop, symptoms appear across the entire kingdom:
hot flashes
vaginal dryness
joint pain
sleep issues
mood changes
memory concerns
These symptoms arenāt random.They reflect what happens when a Queen who once governed daily now steps back.
This is not failure.
Itās a leadership transition.
Life After the Crown: The Kingdom Still Matters
Even after menopause, Queen Estrogen doesnāt vanish into myth.
Small amounts are still produced in:
fat tissue
adrenal glands
And because estrogen receptors remain, how you support your body now matters deeply.
This is where lifestyle support ā and sometimes medical support ā enters the story.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): When the Queen Receives Support š
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is not about recreating youth or pretending menopause didnāt happen.
Itās about supporting a body that was designed to function with estrogenĀ and is now adapting to a new reality.
Think of HRT not as replacing the Queen, but as bringing in trusted advisorsĀ to help the kingdom function well during a major transition.
Who HRT Is Often Helpful For
HRT may be a good option for women who:
are in perimenopause or early menopause
have moderate to severe symptoms affecting quality of life
Including:
frequent hot flashes or night sweats
persistent sleep disruption
mood changes or anxiety that feel unlike you
brain fog
vaginal dryness or painful sex
rapid bone loss
Many women benefit most when HRT is started within 10 years of menopause or before age 60.
Who Should Not Use Systemic HRT or Needs Caution
Systemic HRT is not appropriate for everyone, especially women with:
estrogen-sensitive cancers
unexplained vaginal bleeding
a history of blood clots
active liver disease
certain cardiovascular conditions
Uncontrolled blood pressure or blood sugar
Importantly, local vaginal estrogenĀ is often safe even when systemic HRT is not and it can dramatically improve vaginal and urinary symptoms.
HRT is a tool not a mandate.
Some women thrive with it.
Some thrive without it.
Most thrive when they are informed, supported, and not shamed.
āBut If Menopause Is Natural⦠Should We Even Use HRT?ā
This is the question women ask quietly and deserve an honest answer to.
Menopause is natural.
So is declining vision.
So is joint degeneration.
So is childbirth pain.
We donāt refuse glasses because eyesight changes naturally.
We donāt refuse insulin because aging pancreases are āsupposedā to struggle.
Natural does not mean untouchable.
Evolution designed menopause for a world where women lived shorter lives.
Modern women now live decadesĀ after estrogen declines with estrogen receptors still everywhere.
Using medical support thoughtfully isnāt rebellion.
Itās stewardship.
God designed the body with intention and wisdom,and also gave us the knowledge to support it as it changes.
These truths donāt cancel each other out, they coexist beautifully.
The Truth Women Were Never Told

Estrogen didnāt betray you.Your body didnāt fail you. You didnāt suddenly become ātoo sensitive,ā ātoo tired,ā or ātoo much.ā
You are a kingdom entering a new era.
Same woman.
New rhythm.
New crown.
And when women understand Queen Estrogenās full story ā from birth to menopause ā fear exits the room, and confidence quietly takes its place.
At Flourish and Bloom, I help women understand their hormones as a systemĀ so they can feel strong, clear, and like themselves again.
Because when you understand your body,you stop fighting itand start working withĀ it.
If youāre ready to understand your own kingdom,Iād be honored to guide you.
You can meet with me through telemedicineĀ or hormone coaching where we look at yourĀ body, yourĀ season of life, and yourĀ goals with clarity, compassion, and science.
This isnāt about fixing you. It's about helping you feel like yourself again.
⨠Letās Flourish and Bloom together.Ā āØšø


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