Hormone Therapy San Diego can treat menopausal symptoms and protect long-term health. It can be delivered by oral tablet, skin patch, gel, or spray.
Generally, people on hormone therapy have a lower risk of blood clots and heart disease than those who do not take them. However, there are some risks associated with any medication.
Some cancers grow in response to certain hormones and can be treated with hormone therapy. These include some types of breast, uterine, and prostate cancer. Hormone therapy adds, blocks, or removes hormones to slow the growth of cancer cells. It may be used alone as the main treatment or with surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. It also reduces the risk that cancer will come back (recur). Hormone therapy is sometimes called endocrine therapy or hormone-blocking therapy.
Hormones are chemicals that travel in the blood and control how some tissues and organs work and develop. They act as messengers that carry information and instructions from one group of cells to another. Natural hormones are made by glands or organs in the body. They are also available as drugs manufactured in a lab.
When a tumor begins to grow, it releases hormones that encourage other cells i release more hormones, whfurther stimulatinghe tumor to grow. Hormone therapy stops these hormones from releasing or blocking them, which reduces the rate of growth and may cause it to shrink.
The most common type of hormone therapy is tamoxifen, which can be taken as a pill to treat early-stage breast cancer or to help reduce the chance of cancer returning after other treatments (recurrent). It works by blocking the receptors on cancer cells so that estrogen can’t bind with them.
For women who haven’t gone through menopause, hormone therapy can block estrogen production by using medications such as goserelin and leuprolide or by surgically removing the ovaries where most of these hormones are made. Medications known as aromatase inhibitors can also be used in post-menopausal women to lower the levels of estrogen in the body, which deprives the cancer of its fuel and helps it to shrink.
In men, hormone therapy can be given to reduce the chances of prostate cancer coming back after radiation or surgery (recurrent). This is usually done by giving drugs called gonadotropin-releasing agonists such as lupron or leuprolide or through removing the testicles. Medications such as tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors and testosterone lowering agents may be used in combination with surgery or radiation to treat advanced prostate cancer.
Menopause
Menopause occurs when a woman’s ovaries stop producing hormones. The ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone, the two main female hormones that control the reproductive system. At the time of menopause, the ovarian production of these hormones decreases and fluctuates until it stops completely. During this process, a woman may experience hot flashes and vaginal symptoms such as dryness. Symptoms can be eased with hormone therapy, which replaces the missing hormones. Medications containing combinations of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone can be taken in pill form or applied directly to the skin as patches or creams.
In 2022 guidelines published by the North American Menopause Society, doctors recommend using hormone therapy at the lowest dose for the shortest amount of time needed to relieve symptoms. Using a lower dose of hormones reduces the risk of long-term complications, such as cardiovascular disease or osteoporosis. The lowest dose of hormones can be used to treat the most common symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and night sweats, or for vaginal symptoms, such as dryness, itching and pain during sex.
Some women use a type of hormone called bioidentical hormones, which are made in a compounding pharmacy based on the patient’s saliva test results. These preparations are not regulated by the FDA, so the quality and risk can vary. However, there is no scientific evidence that bioidentical hormones are more effective in reducing the symptoms of menopause or are any safer than traditional hormone therapy.
It’s important to talk with your doctor about whether hormone therapy is right for you. Women who begin HT closer to menopause (in their early 50s) are at slightly lower risk of heart disease than those who start after age 60. However, the risks of taking hormones can depend on many factors, including your family history and your health conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
Hormone therapy isn’t recommended for women with certain medical conditions, including a high risk of heart disease or blood clots, or for those who have had breast cancer or gallbladder disease. In addition, women with a history of endometriosis should not take HT. If you’re unsure about whether you should take hormones, Duke Medicine’s certified menopause specialists and obstetrician-gynecologists can help.
Fertility
There are a number of ways to treat fertility issues and improve the chances of getting pregnant. Less invasive treatments include changes in diet and exercise and hormone therapy to help balance hormone levels, which can improve fertility. More invasive treatments can include fertility drugs, in vitro fertilization and surrogate carriers. The type of treatment will depend on your age, how long you’ve been trying to conceive and your goals. We can assess your fertility evaluation results during your consultation and discuss all of your options to determine which is right for you.
Hormones regulate the reproductive process and are vital for reproduction. If your hormones are out of balance, it can cause fertility issues in both men and women. Hormone therapy can help restore your natural hormonal balance and boost a woman’s chances of conceiving, while helping to improve sperm quality in men.
For women, a common fertility treatment is the use of injectable and oral hormones. These hormones are used as part of a treatment known as controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. It is designed to promote egg maturation and ovulation, which increases pregnancy rates. These hormones are usually delivered in the form of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or clomiphene citrate (Clomid).
In men, fertility treatment may involve a testicular ultrasound to identify problems such as varicoceles. In addition, a pelvic exam and a blood test can look for low testosterone and sperm motility. In some cases, your doctor may also want to take a sample of your semen or perform an orchiectomy to test for a blockage in the fallopian tubes.
Depending on your situation, you might be a good candidate for sperm donation or in vitro fertilization. In either case, you’ll need to undergo a thorough evaluation before these treatments can be recommended. The evaluation will include a physical exam, an analysis of your sex drive and sperm count, and a blood test to check for hormone levels and chromosomal abnormalities.
Sexuality
Throughout life, hormonal changes can cause some issues with sexuality. During menopause, for example, many women experience a decrease in sex drive and a lack of pleasure with their partners. Hormone replacement therapy can improve this. However, it’s important to remember that hormones aren’t one-size-fits and, you should discuss your goals with your doctor before beginning treatment.
Some people will have no side effects from their gender affirming hormones, while others may experience hot flushes, weight gain and vaginal discharge. It’s also important to have regular gynaecological check-ups, as there is a small risk of cancer in the lining of the uterus with some anti-oestrogen drugs.
The most common treatment for low libido in men and women is hormone replacement therapy. The decline in hormones that occurs with age, particularly estrogen and testosterone, is often what causes a loss of sexual interest. When this happens, hormone therapy can help restore libido and boost the pleasure of sex. It’s important to remember that hormones aren’t a magic potion, and the change in libido can take time to get into full effect.
It’s also worth noting that a number of factors can affect libido, including stress and other health conditions. For instance, heavy drinking can depress libido, and some medications can also make it harder to reach orgasm, such as blood pressure medication. Similarly, some illnesses can have a direct impact on libido, such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and kidney disease.
For transgender people, it’s a good idea to talk to a therapist or counselor about the emotional and sexual changes they may go through during hormone treatment. It can be helpful to have someone to talk to, especially if your hormone changes result in depression or anxiety symptoms.
In terms of the physical impact, many men and women who go through hormone therapy find that their periods become lighter or shorter in duration. This can be a relief for many. In addition, the treatment can also reduce symptoms such as pain during intercourse and a decrease in sperm count. If these problems are a problem, the doctor can recommend menopausal hormones and vaginal moisturizers or lubricants.