Main estrogen in pregnant women?

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Multiple Choice

Main estrogen in pregnant women?

During pregnancy the placenta becomes the main source of estrogen, and estriol is the dominant form. The fetal-placental unit supplies precursors (such as DHEA-S) from the fetus, which the placenta converts through specific enzymatic steps to estriol. As gestation progresses, estriol levels rise the most and exceed the amounts of the other estrogens, making estriol the principal circulating estrogen in the mother. Estradiol and estrone are still present but in much smaller amounts during pregnancy. Dehydroepiandrosterone is a precursor steroid rather than an estrogen itself, so it is not the main circulating estrogen in pregnancy.

During pregnancy the placenta becomes the main source of estrogen, and estriol is the dominant form. The fetal-placental unit supplies precursors (such as DHEA-S) from the fetus, which the placenta converts through specific enzymatic steps to estriol. As gestation progresses, estriol levels rise the most and exceed the amounts of the other estrogens, making estriol the principal circulating estrogen in the mother. Estradiol and estrone are still present but in much smaller amounts during pregnancy. Dehydroepiandrosterone is a precursor steroid rather than an estrogen itself, so it is not the main circulating estrogen in pregnancy.

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