Estradiol is the most active of the estrogens. It is mainly produced by the ovaries. Estrone, another of the estrogens, is the one most commonly found in increased amounts in postmenopausal women. It is usually not necessary to replace Estrone, as the body naturally produces it through the metabolism of Estradiol. The body derives it from the hormones that are stored in your body fat.
Estrone does the same work that estradiol does, but it is considered weaker in it s effects.
Estriol, the weakest of the estrogens, is produced in large amounts in pregnant women. Women who are not pregnant have small amounts of estriol in their bodies. For many years, scientists have known that estrogens are powerful and important for health and in the aging process, but as research continues, more and more benefits of estrogen are coming to light all the time. For example, researchers recently discovered that estrogen is a powerful antioxidant, able to protect the body from damage by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable compounds that can attack and damage healthy cells and tissues.