Estrogen May Help Protect The Kidneys, Study Suggests.

http://www.medicaldaily.com/sex-differences-menstrual-cycle-kidney-failure-384251 "This result suggests that cyclical changes of female hormones might affect renal cell homeostasis, potentially providing women with an increased resistance against kidney damages,” Lechner said. Homeostasis helps regulate temperature and balance acidity and alkalinity levels. “Thus, recurring changes of sex hormone levels, as brought about by the natural menstrual cycle, might be involved in periodic tissue remodeling not only in reproductive organs, but to a certain extent in the kidneys as well,” she added. Lechner hypothesizes that estrogen might help to replace damaged cells. During cycle phases of high estrogen exposure, kidney cells might be induced to grow, she explained, “while at time points of decreasing estrogen levels damaged or simply older cells might be discarded into the urine.” That said, the study is not saying that estrogen is the sole reason fewer women develop kidney disease and failure. Their enzyme levels match men’s once they go through menopause, which definitely argues for the importance of the female hormones — but this could also be a matter of age.