Estrogen isn't a molecule. It's a class of feminizing hormones, the most prominent of which is estradiol. Others include estrone and estriol. Collectively, these are called estrogens.

The masculinizing analog for estrogen is androgen (a word you practically never hear*), which also refers to a class of hormones. In addition to being the most well-known of the androgens, testosterone might be the most famous hormone in the whole body**. Dihydrotestosterone is actually the most potent androgen. Androsterone and Androstenedione are (relatively weak) others.

*e.g. It's such an androgen fest!

**Adrenaline is the only competitor that comes to mind.

This moment of pedantry was brought to you by TankieTanuki. the-more-you-know

  • Hexboare [they/them]
    ·
    2 months ago

    Ever think it's weird that the class of female sex hormones is named after a biological process that doesn't actually occur in humans

    Humans don't go into heat with an estrous cycle, they have a menstrual cycle

    • axont [she/her, comrade/them]
      ·
      2 months ago

      I mean one of the important proteins for embryos to develop symmetry is named after sonic the hedgehog

    • TankieTanuki [he/him]
      ·
      2 months ago

      TIL

      That reminds me of the word "vitamin". It's short for "vital amines", because scientists believed that they were all amines (nitrogen-containing organic molecules). They are not.