Hormones

 

Hormones are chemical messengers secreted into the bloodstream from endocrine glands after receiving a signal from the brain. Though many cells come into contact with it, only specific target cells are affected by its presence. Hormones are involved in growth and development, metabolism, mood, homeostasis and reproduction. Hormone deficiency syndromes such as hypothyroidism can be treated with synthetic hormone replacement therapy. Hormones have also been used in the treatment of cancer and menopause and sex reassignment therapy.

 

HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY FOR MENOPAUSE

Hormone replacement therapy used to be a widespread treatment for menopause. Drugs containing female hormones are administered in order to replace those that are no longer being produced. The hormones are given either systematically or topically. Systematic hormones enter the bloodstream and circulate around the entire body. They are typically taken as pills or used in patches. Topical hormones are applied to the area near the place where treatment is needed. They rarely enter the bloodstream if doses are kept small.

 

Estrogen alone is given to women who have had a hysterectomy, while women who still have a uterus receive combined estrogen and progestin therapy. Estrogen-progestin therapy (EPT) can be administered in two ways: continuous EPT or sequential EPT. In continuous EPT, the same dose of both hormones is taken every day. Sequential EPT refers to the process of taking different amounts of the hormone on certain days to mimic the natural menstrual cycle. However, it was later discovered that this type of therapy posed more health risks than benefits. It doubles one’s chances of getting deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in veins of legs) and pulmonary embolus (blood clots in the lung). The administration of estrogen alone has been linked to endometrial cancer, so estrogen-only hormone therapy is restricted to women who have had hysterectomies as they would not be affected. Hormone therapies also slightly increased chances of getting breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke in those who have used the therapy for over five years.