Estrogen in Men

Men also produce estrogen in smaller amounts. In order for this process to happen, an enzyme called aromatase converts testosterone into estradiol. Research indicates that certain cells in the testis known as Leydig cells, contain the aromatase enzyme and produce some estrogen. [1]The aromatase enzyme is also abundant in the brain and penis. However, as men age, their aromatase levels can sometimes spike, which causes their testosterone to be converted into excess estradiol. [2] This in turn results in low testosterone while spiking estradiol levels. In some men, their aromatase levels are insufficient and suffer from estrogen deficiency. Other men produce abnormally low levels of testosterone that there isn’t enough to convert into estrogen, thus, causing a deficiency in both testosterone and estradiol.
Just like women, men also need estrogen to perform at optimal levels. Estradiol, the predominant form of estrogen, is thought to play a major role in male sexual function. [3] Estradiol in men modulates libido, erectile function, and production of sperm cells. In the brain, estradiol production is increased in areas that regulate sexual arousal. Moreover, several estrogen receptors are distributed throughout the erectile tissues of the penis (corpus cavernosum) with high concentrations found in the nerves, arteries, veins, and other blood vessels.