Hormone therapy refers to medical treatment that adjusts hormone levels in your body. It involves taking medications containing female or male hormones to supplement lower hormone levels. Hormone therapy helps relieve symptoms like hot flashes or low libido caused by menopause, hormone deficiencies, or medical conditions. Typically administered for perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal individuals, hormone therapy comes with risks and benefits requiring discussion with your doctor.
What are the different types of hormone therapy?
There are a few main types of hormone therapy:
- Estrogen therapy supplements lower estrogen levels using pills, patches, gels, sprays, or vaginal rings. It relieves hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
- Progestin therapy adds progestin alone or with estrogen, often for women who had hysterectomies.
- Testosterone therapy boosts low testosterone levels in both women and men via gels, injections, patches, or tablets. It helps symptoms like low sex drive and muscle loss.
- Bioidentical hormone therapy uses hormones structurally identical to those your body makes naturally. It claims to have fewer risks than synthetic versions.
What are the risks and side effects?
Potential side effects and health risks depend on your age, health status, dosage, and therapy duration. Some risks include blood clots, strokes, heart disease, breast and endometrial cancers. Common side effects involve fluid retention,
mood changes, nausea, breast tenderness, weight changes, or hair growth. Staying on the lowest effective doses under a doctor’s supervision minimizes risks.
How is the therapy administered?
The route of administration varies by hormone, dose, and patient factors:
- Oral forms like pills, liquids, or sublingual tablets get absorbed through blood vessels under the tongue.
- Transdermal methods like gels, creams, sprays, patches, sticks, or implants go through the skin into the bloodstream.
- Vaginal rings, tablets, or creams introduce hormones directly to vaginal tissues.
- Injections like pellets or shots deliver measured doses via needle into fat, muscle, or right under skin.
Follow your doctor’s exact instructions on usage to maximize benefits and minimize possible absorption issues.
Who should consider hormone therapy?
Perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal individuals with moderate to severe symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, or disrupted sleep could benefit from hormone therapy. It also helps transgender patients align secondary sex characteristics with gender identity. Discuss your health history thoroughly with your doctor first to confirm if hormone therapy aligns with your needs and goals. Consider participating in clinical studies related to hormone therapy as well.
