When Hormone Therapy Is Needed



by Adriana Noton


A look at hormone therapy can lead to a better understanding for those about to begin a regime. There are many conditions requiring treatment. The most popular therapies are for menopausal women, and patients with thyroid disease.

Hormone therapy is much more common in treating disease. Diseases such as cancer, anti-aging, hormonal deficiency, and intersex conditions are treated by this therapy. Thousands suffer from these few although there are many.

It has been reported that 1 out of 650 males suffer from XXY Syndrome or Klinefelter Syndrome an intersex condition. This sex chromosome disorder displays conditions brought about by the extra chromosome X. Approximately 1 out of 500 may not display any.

Physical characteristics of the disease are tall slender frame or short torso, minimal or decreased facial hair, and long legs. This includes low fertility. The disease is incurable. However, those who desire to change their appearance are administered testosterone therapy.

Turner Syndrome is another intersex condition affecting females. In this condition there is an absence of all or part of the X chromosome. Physical characteristics are evident in females. They are short in stature, having low ears, low hairlines along with a webbed neck. Because this disease affects the ovaries, females do not menstruate and are sterile. Health concerns include, hypothyroidism, congenital heart disease, diabetes and vision problems. There is no cure but symptoms can be minimized through treatment with growth hormones and estrogen replacement.

Chemotherapy is not the only treatment for cancer. Hormones through the endocrine system can treat Cancer. This therapy involves killing cancer cells or stopping their growth using hormones that can alter the activity and levels of other hormones. Breast, prostate, and endometrium cancer are usually treated by this method.

A deficiency such as growth hormone deficiency is a condition affecting newborns and adults. In infants it manifests as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or micropenis (small penis). The result in later years for children is poor growth. While rare in adults, low body mass and poor bone densities are the most apparent symptoms. Other physical and psychological manifestations include depression, anxiety, and poor memory. Loss of strength, stamina, and musculature are also reported.

Some children are not treated if their levels continue to appear normal yet have not experienced growth. The children treated require daily injections of hormones. To reduce anxiety there are needle free delivery systems available. Routine monitoring of growth and medication adjustments are every 3-6 months for children. For adults a percentage of a child's dose of medication is given once weekly. Adults are monitored routinely also.

The thyroid regulates the way the body uses energy. Hypothyroidism is the inability to do so. An increase in cholesterol levels, heart attack, and stroke are complications if left untreated. Levothyroxine, a thyroid medication is usually the treatment. It is important that patients be monitored routinely for adjustments and level checks.

Hormone deficiencies can be life threatening if left untreated. Treatment requires a level of commitment. Patients must be tested routinely to monitor medication and checking levels. When bhrt hormone therapy is needed, an open discussion with a primary care physician is a good place to begin.




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