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Functional Estrogen Resistance

Meaning

A clinical condition where specific target tissues exhibit a reduced or impaired biological response to circulating estrogen, despite the presence of normal or even elevated serum estrogen levels. This state is functionally equivalent to a hormonal deficiency, as the cellular machinery required for estrogen action is compromised. It can manifest with symptoms typically associated with low estrogen, such as bone density loss, vasomotor symptoms, or mood disturbances. This condition highlights a critical failure at the receptor or post-receptor signaling level, not a lack of the hormone itself.