Oestrogen vs Progesterone: Difference and Comparison

Oestrogen and Progesterone refer to the two hormones present in the female body. Hormones are the chemical signals that are secreted into the blood and further carried out to different organs for their respective functioning.

Oestrogen and Progesterone are the two hormones that help to regulate a women’s menstrual cycle. It also plays a chief role in pregnancy or getting pregnant.

Hence, these two hormones play a crucial role in the reproductive system.

In other words, Oestrogen and Progesterone play an important role during the whole childbearing stage, that is, from the start of the menstrual cycle till menopause.

These two hormones are secreted by the ovarian gland during different periods.

Key Takeaways

  1. Oestrogen and progesterone are female sex hormones that play vital roles in the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and overall reproductive health.
  2. Oestrogen is responsible for the development of female secondary sexual characteristics and for regulating the menstrual cycle.
  3. Progesterone prepares the uterus for pregnancy, supports fetal development, and helps maintain pregnancy.

Oestrogen vs Progesterone

Estrogen is a group of female hormones that are produced primarily in the ovaries but also in small amounts in the adrenal glands and fat cells. It plays a key role in the development of female sexual characteristics. Progesterone is a hormone that is produced primarily in the ovaries after ovulation. Its main function is to prepare the uterus for pregnancy by thickening the lining.

Oestrogen vs Progesterone

Oestrogen or also known as Estrogen, is one of the female hormones. Its main job is to manage the menstrual cycle of a woman.

The Estrogen hormone is secreted before the process of ovulation by the ovaries. Also, the secretion of this hormone is dependent upon the Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH).

On the other hand, Progesterone is the other hormone that is present in the female body. This hormone helps in pregnancy or during pregnancy.

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Progesterone hormone is secreted after the process of ovulation by the ovaries. Also, the secretion of this hormone is dependent upon the Luteinizing Hormone (LH).

Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonOestrogenProgesterone
DefinitionOestrogen or Estrogen refers to the hormone that manages the whole menstrual cycle or the reproductive system.Progesterone refers to the hormone that helps in pregnancy or during pregnancy.
Hormones that Control the SecretionThe secretion of Oestrogen is controlled by the Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH).The secretion of Progesterone is controlled by the Luteinizing Hormone (LH).
FunctionManages the menstrual cycle or reproductive cycle.Helps during pregnancy.
Function During PregnancyOestrogen helps in the enlargement of the breast, regulates breast tenderness and enlargement of the uterus during pregnancy.Progesterone helps in restoring the mammary glands.
Blood ClottingOestrogen increases the rate of blood clotting.Progesterone decreases the rate of blood clotting.
Breast Cancer Oestrogen increases the level of blood cancer. Progesterone decreases the level of blood cancer.
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What is Oestrogen?

Oestrogen or also known as Estrogen, is one of the female hormones. Its main job is to manage the menstrual cycle of a woman.

An average menstrual cycle is of 28 days to 45 days, depending on the woman. Oestrogen hormone is secreted from the ovaries.

Oestrogen hormone has secreted before the process of ovulation. Ovulation is the process of fertilizing the egg from the ovaries.

The secretion of the hormone also depends upon some kind of hormone known as Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH).

During pregnancy, a woman goes through a lot of changes, both physically and mentally. The Oestrogen Hormone is responsible for physical changes like the enlargement of the breasts, breast tenderness, and enlargement of the uterus.

Oestrogen has other functions like secondary sex characteristics, like the development of the breast, hair growth in different parts, widening of the hip region, ability to nurse children, menstrual cycle, etc.

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Oestrogen has other features as well. The Oestrogen hormone increases the rate of blood clotting.

Also, it increases the level of breast cancer. Proper food and nutrition are required during the menstrual cycle and before the cycle.

The required nutrients control the level of Oestrogen and hence, decrease the level of blood clotting and breast cancer. Also, physical exercise is one of the important aspects of controlling hormones.

What is Progesterone?

Progesterone is also one of the female hormones. There are two types of hormones.

The main job of Progesterone is to help in pregnancy and during pregnancy. During pregnancy, a woman has to take a lot of care, especially of the Progesterone hormone, as it can lead to miscarriages.

Actually, not only during pregnancy but also Progesterone is also responsible for getting pregnant. Progesterone hormone is also secreted from the ovaries.

Also, the secretion of this hormone is dependent upon the Luteinizing Hormone (LH).

During pregnancy, the Progesterone hormone helps in restoring the mammary glands. The mammary gland is present in the breasts of females.

It helps in the production of milk to feed the child. There are a total of two complex mammary glands in each breast and 10-20 simple mammary glands.

Progesterone decreases the rate of blood clotting. Also, it reduces the chances of breast cancer.

Some other benefits of Progesterone are it reduces hot flashes and vaginal dryness, fightbacks fatigue, and it also improves mood and sleep, fights weight gain, alleviates skin dryness and wrinkling, etc.

Main Differences Between Oestrogen and Progesterone

  1. Oestrogen or Estrogen refers to the hormone that manages the whole menstrual cycle or the reproductive system. On the other hand, Progesterone refers to the hormone that helps in pregnancy or during pregnancy.
  2. The secretion of Oestrogen is controlled by the Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). On the other hand, the secretion of Progesterone is controlled by Luteinizing Hormone (LH).
  3. The function of Oestrogen is to manage the menstrual cycle or the reproductive system. On the other hand, the function of Progesterone is to help in pregnancy or during pregnancy.
  4. Oestrogen helps in the enlargement of the breast and regulates the breast tenderness and enlargement of the uterus during pregnancy. On the other hand, Progesterone helps in restoring the mammary glands during pregnancy.
  5. Oestrogen increases the role of blood clotting. On the other hand, Progesterone decreases the rate of blood clotting.
  6. Oestrogen increases the level of breast cancer. On the other hand, Progesterone decreases the level of breast cancer.
Difference Between Oestrogen and Progesterone
References
  1. https://breast-cancer-research.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/bcr452.pdf
  2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096007601000004X

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About Author

Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.