Why does estrogen eventually stop height growth after puberty?

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In the context of human biology, estrogens play a critical role in regulating skeletal maturation. While these hormones contribute to the adolescent growth spurt, they eventually bring linear growth to a halt by promoting the fusion of the epiphyses—the growth plates located at the ends of long bones.1

As puberty progresses, rising levels of estrogen accelerate the ossification process within these growth centers. Once the epiphyses fuse with the main shaft of the bone, the cartilage that allows for lengthening is replaced by bone, making further linear growth impossible. Consequently, while estrogen initially stimulates development, its long-term effect is the cessation of skeletal growth, leading to the attainment of an adult skeleton.1