Estrone is the estrogen of menopause, but because it produces a number of undesirable side effects, there is controversy over whether or not to replace estrione. One drug, Triest, is a combination of 80% estriol, 10% estradiol and 10% estrione. However, few anti-aging doctors prescribe this combination of estrogens when treating menopause.

Estradiol is the most abundant estrogen during the reproductive years. In the brain, it affects serotonin levels, pain threshold and fine motor coordination. It also affects your ability to learn and multitask.

Estradiol also has a number of desirable affects on the heart. Transdermal estradiol reduces CRP, an inflammatory marker associated with heart disease. In many studies, it has been shown to be cardio protective, improving the elasticity of your arteries and decreasing the accumulation of plaque. Estradiol is also important for your skin and hair, your bones, energy production, and over all well-being.

Estradiol has a profound effect on a woman’s sexuality. It maintains the integrity of the vaginal wall and the cells lining the vagina. Without estradiol, the cells become thin, and the vaginal lining dries out. Obviously, this diminishes sexual pleasure by making certain activities uncomfortable and even painful.

Most important, without estradiol, the body is thrown into accelerated aging.

Estriol is the weakest of all three estrogens. Found in the placenta, Estriol appears to protect against breast cancer.