What are hormone preparations?
Hormones are messenger substances that control many processes in the body. These include thyroid hormones, sex hormones, stress hormones and many other functional groups. Most of these hormones can be replaced or given additionally as drugs and have very different effects depending on the dosage. Almost all hormone preparations are available only on prescription and can only be bought in pharmacies. Some hormone preparations are used to treat diseases, while others are used for example for contraception.
When are hormone preparations needed?
There are many areas of application for hormone preparations. The most common prescription reasons are found in hormonal contraception and in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Thyroid hormones are also used very frequently, as hypothyroidism is a common disease.
Hormone therapy or blocking the natural hormones in the treatment of some cancers can also be used. The insulin used in diabetes therapy is also a hormone. Sex hormones are also used in transgender patients for conversion.
Growth hormones can be supplemented in children with growth disorders. The list of possible indications for hormone therapy can go on forever. Menopause is the transition at the end of a woman’s fertile period.
During this period, the woman undergoes major hormonal changes. The menstrual bleeding stops and many disturbing symptoms appear. Many women suffer from hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain and sleep disturbances.
These symptoms are caused by the sudden drop of estrogen in the body. This estrogen deficiency can be alleviated by the artificial administration of estrogen. The development of osteoporosis, i.e. bone fragility, can also be reduced by the administration of hormones during the menopause.
However, this does not prevent the menopause, but only alleviates the symptoms. Some forms of breast cancer have certain docking sites for hormones and need these hormones to continue growing. These hormone docking sites can be blocked by certain anti-hormone therapies.
The best known of these drugs is tamoxifen. Without the growth stimulus provided by the estrogen, the tumor cannot grow. After the menopause, aromatase inhibitors can also be given specifically.
These prevent the production of oestrogen and not the docking. Some drugs can also influence the production of precursor hormones so that the ovaries do not receive a signal for estrogen production. These include the GnRH analogues.
In advanced prostate cancer, it is often not the cure that is seen as the goal of therapy, but the delay in growth. The male sex hormone testosterone, similar to estrogen in breast cancer, can be a growth stimulus for the tumor. Docking sites for testosterone are located on the cancer cells.
Hormone withdrawal therapy can be carried out both through regular medication and by removing the testicles, as most testosterone is produced in the testicles. Not all prostate carcinomas are hormone sensitive and can be controlled with hormone therapy. The contraceptive pill is a mixed preparation of an estrogen and a progestin.
This combination simulates pregnancy and prevents ovulation. In addition, the lining of the uterus is built up more weakly and the cervical mucus becomes thicker. There are also so-called minipills, which consist only of a progestin and are designed to make the mucus impermeable to sperm without preventing ovulation.
If the hormone pills are taken exactly, this contraceptive method is considered to be very reliable. Even young girls can already use the pill. The contraceptive pill is one of the most common reasons for hormone therapy.
The thyroid gland is an organ that produces the hormones T3 and T4. In case of hypofunction or after removal of the organ, these hormones have to be replaced. Without hormone therapy, patients have many symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, hair loss and cardiac arrhythmia.
In most cases, hormone therapy is carried out with levothyroxine or similar agents. This is a precursor of the actual hormones and is converted by the body into the actual hormones. If the thyroid gland is overactive, thyrostatics can reduce the production of the hormones and thus control symptoms such as restlessness, sleep disturbances and cardiac arrhythmia.Here you can find out everything about the topic: Symptoms of hypothyroidism
