Fatty tissue as well as muscles can convert the androgens to a form of oestrogen
called oestrone by a process called «aromatisation».
Oestradiol is the most abundant oestrogen, and its
friend oestrone breaks down in one of two different directions.
When a PCOD woman has excess bodyweight to the point of being obese, her increased fat has a greatly increased capacity to enhance this process, and too
much oestrone is produced which leads to chronically high levels of oestrogen.
DHEA is converted in the body to either testosterone or a weak form of oestrogen
called oestrone.
Proposed mechanisms include an increased rate of aromatization of testosterone or a decreased rate of oxidation of oestradiol to
oestrone.
Alcohol consumption was associated with a rise in the levels of plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate during the follicular phase; plasma
oestrone, oestradiol and urinary oestradiol in the peri-ovulatory phase and urinary oestrone, oestradiol and oestriol in the luteal phase.