Difference Between Oestrogen and Progesterone

Oestrogen vs Progesterone

Oestrogen or estrogen belongs to a category of steroid compounds. These categories of steroids are known for the significant role they play in the estrous cycle. Oestrogen basically functions as the chief female sex hormone. The term ‘oestrogen’ comes from the root term ‘oistros’ or ‘estrous’ meaning the fertility span in female mammals and ‘gen’ or ‘gonos’ meaning to generate. On the other hand, progesterone also termed as P4 ,is a particular C-21 hormone of the steroid category. This steroid is also plays a vital role in the female menstrual cycle along with the other processes of pregnancy, supporting the gestational process and the embryo genesis of Homo Sapiens and various other species. P4 stands for pregn-4-ene-3 and 20-dione. This particular hormone is a part of the progestogen class of hormones. In fact it is the most vital organically occurring porgestogen that develops in the human body. Progesterone belongs to a class of hormones called progestogens, and is the major naturally occurring human progestogen.

Oestrogen is most commonly used as an integral component in oral contraceptives for the purpose of oestrogen replacement treatment in women who have had a menopause. It is also used for a hormone replacement treatment for women who have undergone sexual transformation. Just like most of the other steroid hormones, oestrogen manages to instantly disseminate crossing over the cell membrane. As soon as the hormone enters the cell, it starts binding to the oestrogen receptors and gets them activated. This helps in regulation and turning up of the expression in a number of varied genes. Moreover, tests have revealed that oestrogen also helps in the activation of the G-protein coupled receptors. On the other hand, progesterone is commonly manufactured from Dioscorea, which belongs to the yam family. Dioscorea helps in producing huge amounts of diosgenin which is also a steroid that can undergo conversion, producing progesterone in laboratory conditions.

Progesterone is a common hormone that is produced both by women and men. It is a specific molecule produced both by the female ovaries and the male testes. Progesterone refers to a particular hormone. On the other hand, oestrogen is a term not used to refer to any particular hormone. On the contrary there are a number of hormones that fall within this class name, like, estrial, estrone and estradiol. In fact oestrogens are available in 20 to 30 different forms.

Summary:

1) Oestrogen is a class of steroid compounds and functions as chief sex hormones in women, while progesterone is a C-21 hormone involved in pregnancy and embryo genesis.

2) Progesterone is a particular hormone that is produced both by men and women, while oestrogen doesn’t refer to any particular hormone, but is a class of hormones particularly produced by women.

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