Sunday, July 17, 2011

When Hormone Therapy Is Needed

By Adriana Noton


When hormone therapy is needed it is best to be well informed. This treatment is not solely for women over 50 who are menopausal or patients suffering from thyroid disorders. Many conditions may require this treatment.

Actually hormone therapy is much broader. It treats diseases such as intersex conditions, cancer, hormonal deficiency, and anti-aging. Although there are more, thousands of people suffer with these few conditions.

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.

The disease is irreversible. Decreased facial hair, a tall slender frame, or slender torso is the physical manifestation of the disorder. Patients also experience a reduction in fertility. For individuals desiring treatment, testosterone is administered. This creates more masculine features.

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.

As for treatment, if a child shows normal levels yet appears to show no growth treatment is not an option. When treatment is required, daily injections is standard. Needle free systems are available if keeping stress levels down is necessary. Routine testing is 3-6 months as a precaution and medication adjustment. Adult treatment requires smaller dosages than children. Dosages are administered weekly.

When the thyroid gland does not produce enough of its hormone to govern the body's use of energy it is called hypothyroidism. Left untreated, cholesterol levels can increase along with the risks for heart attack or stroke. Treatment requires synthetic thyroid medication usually Levothyroxine. Patients are monitored closely for proper dosage and level maintenance.

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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