The Effects of Sex Steroid Hormones on Cardiovascular Physiology in Females

There are fundamental sex-specific differences in cardiovascular (CV) physiology and cardiovascular disease (CVD) pathophysiology. Estrogen, a sex steroid hormone (SSH), has three receptors through which it enacts genomic and non-genomic actions. Estrogen has direct and indirect physiological effects on CV function. The roles of progesterone and testosterone on CV function are less understood, but both exert vasodilatory actions. This chapter will explore the relationship between CV physiology and the SSHs, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone in females.