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Estradiol Aromatization

Meaning

The critical, irreversible biochemical process in which androgen steroid hormones, such as testosterone and androstenedione, are converted into estrogen hormones, primarily estradiol, through the action of the enzyme aromatase. This metabolic pathway is essential for maintaining the sex hormone balance in both men and women, occurring significantly in peripheral tissues including adipose tissue, muscle, and the liver, in addition to the gonads. Dysregulation of this conversion is a key factor in various endocrine disorders, including estrogen-dependent cancers and hypogonadism. This process is a major site of hormonal crosstalk and therapeutic intervention.