Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy in nagpur is also referred to as hormone replacement therapy, commonly known as HRT. It is a treatment in which hormones are administered internally to replace those deficient or in a lower quantity to the body. It is used primarily in a gynecological setting for menopause symptoms, menstrual disorders, and other related hormonal imbalances.
Types of hormone therapy:
1. Systemic HRT: is available in pills, patches, rings, or injections, and it impacts the overall system.
Local HRT is the insertion or application at the local site; this is applied topically to the vagina, preferably in the form of creams, rings, or tablets and is the treatment of choice for the vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse.
There are four types of hormone therapy. These include the following:
1. Estrogen Therapy (ET): In hormone therapy, estrogen hormones are used to treat the symptoms of menopause and vaginal dryness.
2. Combined Hormone Therapy (CHT): These include estrogen and progesterone hormones, which work in preventing uterine cancer and generally all symptoms of postmenopause.
3. Local Hormone Therapy: In this type of hormone therapy, estrogen is used right on the vagina to treat vaginal dryness and pain during sexual intercourse.
4. Systemic Hormone Therapy: This is one in which the hormones are utilized orally or applied using a patch to treat the general symptoms of menopause and vaginal dryness.
5. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy: utilizes hormones that are similar in structure to those produced naturally by the human body to treat symptoms of menopause.
Benefits of Hormone Therapy:
1. Helps prevent hot flashes and night sweats
2. Eases vaginal dryness as well as pain during sex
3. Reduces the risk of osteoporosis and fractures
4. Reduces the risk of colon cancer
5. Improves sleep and mood
Risks and Complications:
1. Blood clotting and stroke
2. Breast cancer
3. Endometrial cancer
4. Gallbladder disease
5. High blood pressure
6. High cholesterol
7. Mood shift and depression
Who Should be Treated with Hormone Therapy:
1. Women who show severe symptomatology of menopause
2. Women with dry vagina with painful intercourse
3. Women with osteoporosis or who are prone to fractures
4. Women with early menopause and premature ovarian failure
Who Should Avoid Being Treated with Hormone Therapy:
1. Women with breast cancer or history of breast cancer
2. Women with endometrial cancer or history of endometrial cancer
3. Women with blood clots or history of blood clots
4. Patients with liver or kidney disease
5. Patients with hypertension or hypercholesterolemia
Always first see a doctor for advice on proper treatment plans and also individual needs and personal medical history.
What Is a Hormone therapy?
Hormone therapy, also known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), is a drug where the body uses hormones to replace these hormones which the body is not producing at all or in low levels compared with the normal level. Hormone therapy is used to treat a range of health conditions, including the following:
1. Those symptoms that occur in the postmenopause period (hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood changes)
2. Those conditions that have resulted due to hormonal imbalance (low estrogen, low testosterone)
3. Transgender hormone therapy
4. Hormone deficiency: Growth hormone deficiency and thyroxine deficiency
5. PCOS
6. Endometriosis
7. Fibroids
8. Decreased libido (low libido or sex drive).
Hormone replacement therapy can be made available in many forms:
1. Oral pills or tablets
2. Patches (transdermal patches)
3. Injections
4. Creams or gels (topical hormones)
5. Rings or implants (vaginal rings or implants)
Goals of hormone replacement therapy
Goals are determined by the condition and include:
1. Relief of symptoms
2. Replacement of deficient hormones
3. Hormonal balance
4. Prevention of disease
5. Maintenance of quality of life
Find a health provider to determine whether such a treatment can be applied to your specific needs and health conditions.
Uses of Hormone Therapy
- Menopause Management:
- Estrogen Therapy (ET): Used to relieve menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and mood swings. It may also the help prevent bone loss (osteoporosis).
- Combined Hormone Therapy (CHT): Combines estrogen and progesterone, recommended for women with an intact uterus to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer.
- Cancer Treatment:
- Breast Cancer: Hormone therapy is used to block or lower estrogen levels in women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Common drugs include Tamoxifen or Aromatase inhibitors.
- Prostate Cancer: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) lowers testosterone levels to slow the growth of prostate cancer.
- Hypogonadism and Low Testosterone:
- Men with low testosterone levels due to aging or medical conditions may receive testosterone replacement therapy to restore normal hormone levels and alleviate symptoms like fatigue, depression, and low libido.
- Infertility Treatments:
- Hormone therapy is used in fertility treatments to regulate ovulation and hormone levels to support pregnancy. Treatments may include progesterone, estrogen, or gonadotropins.
- Gender-Affirming Therapy:
- Hormone therapy for transgender individuals involves using testosterone or estrogen to help develop secondary sexual characteristics that align with their gender identity.
Benefits of Hormone Therapy
Menopausal Symptom Relief: Hormone therapy effectively alleviates bothersome symptoms of menopause, improving quality of life.
Bone Health: Estrogen therapy helps in preventing bone loss and reducing the risk of fractures in postmenopausal women.
Cancer Treatment: For hormone-sensitive cancers, hormone therapy can slow the progression of the disease and, in some cases, shrink tumors.
Improved Quality of Life for Men with Low Testosterone: Testosterone therapy can improve energy levels, sexual function, and mood in men with low testosterone.
Gender-Affirming Benefits: For transgender individuals, hormone therapy can help with physical and emotional alignment with their gender identity, promoting well-being.
Risks and Considerations of Hormone Therapy
While hormone therapy can be highly effective, it also carries potential risks that vary depending on the type of therapy, duration, and individual health factors. Some common risks include:
Increased Risk of Blood Clots: Especially with estrogen-based hormone therapy, there may be an elevated risk of blood clots in the veins (venous thromboembolism).
Breast Cancer Risk: Long-term use of combined estrogen-progesterone therapy in a menopausal women is associated with an increased risk of the breast cancer.
Heart Disease and Stroke: Studies suggest hormone therapy may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke in older women, particularly if started late in menopause.
Endometrial Cancer: For women with an intact uterus, taking estrogen without progesterone can increase the risk of endometrial cancer.
Prostate Cancer: In prostate cancer treatment, hormone therapy can lead to side effects like reduced libido, osteoporosis, and increased cardiovascular risk.
Emotional and Mental Effects: Hormone therapy can influence mood and emotional well-being, leading to mood swings or changes in mental health.
Types of Hormone Therapy
- Systemic Hormone Therapy: Hormones are delivered throughout the body via pills, patches, gels, or injections.
- Oral Hormone Therapy: Pills taken orally, commonly used for menopause or testosterone replacement.
- Transdermal Hormone Therapy: Patches or gels applied to the skin for steady hormone release.
- Injections: Hormone injections, often used in cancer treatment or for testosterone replacement.
- Local Hormone Therapy: Targeted delivery of hormones to a specific area of the body.
- Vaginal Estrogen: Creams, rings, or tablets used to treat vaginal dryness and discomfort without systemic effects.
- Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHT): Hormones chemically identical to those the body produces naturally, often marketed as a more “natural” option. BHT can be custom-compounded but lacks the same level of regulation as FDA-approved hormone therapies, leading to some controversy over safety and efficacy.
Who Should Avoid Hormone Therapy?
Hormone therapy may not be appropriate for everyone. It is typically avoided in a individuals with:
- A history of breast or endometrial cancer
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure or heart disease
- A history of blood clots or stroke
- Active liver disease
What procedures Hormone therapy?
Hµrµne thµrapy includes a variety of procedures to deliver hormones, including:
- Oral medications in the form of pills or tablets
- Transdermal patches where hormones are dispensed from patches worn on the skin
- Injections into the muscle and subcutaneous tissue
- Topical creams or gels applied directly to the skin
- Vaginal rings or inserts.
- Implants: This releases the hormones by placing a smaller pellet and implanting it under the skin .
- Infusions: Hormones are infused into you through IV.
- Sublingual tablets: You place tablets under your tongue, where they dissolve and absorb the hormones .
- Troches: It is a sucking of lozenge-like tablet that dissolves in your mouth and allows hormones to be absorbed .
- Pellet therapy: A small pellet is placed under the skin, which has to release hormones.
These procedures are offered in the treatment of various hormone-related issues like menopause, hormonal imbalance, sexual reassignment, and deficiencies of hormones.
Seek advice from a healthcare provider to know the best procedure of choice for determination of your treatment procedure based on needs and health status.
At our Neurosys Multispeciality Center, we perform several key procedures including Craniotomy, which is primarily for the excision of brain tumors; V-P Shunt Surgery for treating hydrocephalus; surgeries for epilepsy; and operations targeting brain stem glioma. Beyond these, we offer a range of other neurosurgical services. If you have any questions that are not answere, please contact us through our Contact Us or Book your Appointment.