There are hormonal preparations containing natural hormones and synthetic ones, which have the same pharmacological action. Hormonal agents influence metabolism by affecting the endocrine system.
Hormonal drugs used in combination with other therapeutic agents and help in the treatment of many diseases.
Anabolic steroids stimulate protein synthesis in the body. Often prescribed for skin diseases to normalize fat and carbon metabolism. Side effects long-term use Such drugs may cause: liver dysfunction, nausea, menstrual irregularities, deepening of the voice, enhanced growth hair.
Anabolic drugs are prohibited for women during pregnancy and lactation, and for liver disease and prostate pathology.
Hormonal preparations of the pituitary gland and adrenal cortex have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body and regulate metabolism.
Adrenonorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is strong remedy in the treatment of psoriasis. Has anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects. This hormone has many side effects: increased swelling, tachycardia, insomnia, depression, diabetes mellitus and increased blood pressure.
Corticosteroids are synthetic analogues of hormones of the adrenal cortex and have anti-inflammatory, anti-shock and antitoxic properties.
Corticosteroid drugs provide only a temporary effect, and in some cases they can even cause an exacerbation of the current disease.
Side effects of using hormonal drugs
The biggest disadvantage of hormones is the development of immunity to other medications. It turns out that hormonal treatment ultimately becomes permanent.
Neuropsychic changes, insomnia, heartburn and other symptoms are also noted, even with short courses.
The consequences of long-term use of hormones in large doses can be catastrophic: obesity, steroid diabetes,
The word “hormones” causes fear in 60% modern women. This fact is not surprising: hormone therapy is indeed quite serious and often not harmless therapeutic event. The dangers of hormonal drugs are often talked about a lot, while their benefits are rarely remembered. But few people think that hormonal therapy can significantly improve a person’s quality of life, and sometimes even support this very life (for diabetes, diseases thyroid gland, bronchial asthma, etc.).
Are hormonal pills harmful?
Just as hormones differ from hormones, hormonal agents differ in the degree of positive and negative influence on the body. The balance of harm and benefit of hormonal drugs is determined by the type of hormone, its concentration, frequency, duration and method of application.
Yes, of course, hormonal drugs cause certain harm to the body. But, as a rule, they do not cause more harm to health than the disease for which this drug is used. Today there are diseases that cannot be treated without hormones.
Why are hormonal drugs harmful?
It is necessary to clearly understand that hormonal drugs of the 21st century cannot be compared with hormonal drugs of the 20th century. If our mothers associated the phrase “hormonal treatment” with overweight, swelling, unnatural hair growth, then in our time such side effects are minimized. But it is important to understand that the harm from using a hormonal drug will be minimal only if it is correct selection.
So, why are hormonal drugs harmful? To answer this question, you just need to read the instructions for use for a specific product. In chapter " Side effect“As a rule, the whole range of possible (but not obligatory) side effects is indicated, among them the classic ones: metabolic disorders, weight gain, excessive hair growth, skin rashes, disruption of the gastrointestinal tract and others.
Harm and benefits of hormonal contraceptives
Hormone therapy in women most often involves treatment with oral contraceptives (OCs), the main purpose of which is contraception, and therapeutic effect achieved as a positive side effect. Discussions about the benefits and harms of hormonal contraceptives have been ongoing for many years.
Some theorists and practitioners of medicine, including alternative medicine, are categorically against the use of medical practice hormonal contraceptives, since they cause irreparable harm to the female body in the form of: suppression of ovarian function, changes in the natural background of a woman, and dangerous side effects.
Another part of the experts claims, and numerous Scientific research confirm that everything written above has nothing to do with modern OK. Huge doses of hormones contained in the first generations of hormonal preparations caused serious harm to the female body. Improved OCs of the new generation are distinguished by a mild effect due to maximum purification and minimal quantitative hormone content. While taking OK:
The benefit-risk ratio when taking hormonal contraceptive pills is clearly positive.
And on frequently asked question women: “Why are they harmful? hormonal pills? we can give the following answer: in the absence of contraindications, subject to the correct diagnosis and correct selection of the drug - practically nothing. During the first three months of use (the period of adaptation to the drug), side effects are possible: nausea, headaches and dizziness, engorgement of the mammary glands, mood swings, decreased sexual desire.
Hormonal drugs are completely synthetic substances that have a stimulating effect on the human body regarding the regenerative functions of tissues. These pharmacological agents are widely used in therapy allergic reactions, bronchial asthma, arthritis, arthrosis, endocrine pathologies, dysfunctions of individual systems and organs. In some cases, hormonal replacement therapy happens to be a vital necessity. This applies to cases of serious damage to the thyroid and pancreas. In particular, constant insulin therapy is required for sick people who suffer from type 1 diabetes. Constant administration of L-thyroxine for hypothyroidism helps maintain mental capacity person. Also, replacement therapy may be justified in cases where it really helps to significantly alleviate the suffering of a sick person or prolong his life by eliminating factors that can cause cardiac arrest and paralysis of the respiratory center. These groups of diseases include bronchial asthma, heart, kidney and liver failure.
At emergency situations, such as painful and cardiogenic shock, an attack of suffocation or vasospasm, anaphylactic shock, intravenous administration steroids help prevent human death. However, there are cases of unjustified use of hormonal drugs at home without a doctor’s prescription.
When are they harmful?
Steroids became a part of human life more than half a century ago. However uncontrolled reception these medicines reached its maximum in the late 70s of the last century. It was at that time that the bodybuilding movement began to actively develop in the West. Young people, in pursuit of beautiful, sculpted muscles and rapid muscle tissue growth, began to use anabolic steroids. Subsequently, these means were improved and led athletes to victories in international competitions. This was the beginning of a new era in world sports, when not only athletes, but also pharmacologists of developed countries competed. Ultimately, all this led to disaster. People involved in professional sports began to suffer from impotence, infertility, and cardiovascular diseases. Many of them died before the age of 40.
This made scientists think about the possible negative consequences of taking anabolic steroids. They were banned. Currently, athletes are disqualified for doping and their results will be nullified. Each athlete undergoes thorough doping control during competitions.
The sale of steroids and anabolic steroids in the pharmacy chain is carried out only with a doctor’s prescription. However, all these measures turned out to be insufficient. This was due to the fact that hormones began to penetrate other areas of human life. Currently, no one is surprised by the advertising of medicines based on them. As they say in commercials, such miraculous remedies have no contraindications and can be used even in infants to relieve itching after insect bites. We do not consider it necessary to name these drugs, but we recommend that you carefully read the annotations for any ointments, especially if you are going to use them for skin rashes and allergies.
What can the use lead to?
Most often, hormonal-based ointments are used in everyday life without medical supervision to remove the consequences sunburn, insect bites, urticaria.
The most common Negative consequences- This:
- addiction;
- epidermal atrophy;
- appearance age spots under the influence of sunlight.
Very often, after just 5 days of using a hormonal-based cream, your symptoms will completely go away. skin manifestations allergic reaction. But immediately after stopping the drug (after 3-5 days), all symptoms return in an intensified form. And they can only be removed with a product with a higher concentration of the steroid component.
The use of anabolic steroids to build muscle mass leads to the development of impotence, damage to the vascular wall, and a deficiency of natural hormones in men, which provokes primary uncompensated infertility.
Treatment with other types of hormones can lead to uncontrolled weight gain, the development of edema, and impaired renal and liver function.
Prescribing hormonal medications often frightens people. There are many myths surrounding hormones. But most of them are completely wrong.
Myth 1: Hormonal drugs are special birth control pills for women.
No. Hormonal drugs are drugs obtained synthetically. They act similar to natural hormones produced in our body. There are many organs in the human body that secrete hormones: female and male genital organs, glands internal secretion, central nervous system and others. Accordingly, hormonal drugs can be different, and they are prescribed for a wide variety of diseases.
Female hormonal preparations (contain female sex hormones) may have both contraceptive effect, never possess it. Sometimes, on the contrary, they normalize hormonal background and promote pregnancy. Preparations containing male sex hormones are prescribed to men when the quality of the ejaculate decreases (that is, sperm motility), hypofunction, or a decrease in the level of male sex hormones.
Myth 2: Hormones are prescribed only for very severe illnesses
No. There are a number of mild diseases for which hormonal drugs are also prescribed. For example, decreased thyroid function (hypofunction). Doctors often prescribe hormones in this case, for example, thyroxine or euthyrox.
Myth 3: If you don’t take a hormonal pill on time, nothing bad will happen
No. Hormonal medications must be taken strictly according to the clock. For example, a hormonal birth control pill is valid for 24 hours. Accordingly, you must drink it once a day. There are medications that you need to take 2 times a day. These are some male sex hormones, as well as corticosteroids (for example, dexamethasone). Moreover, it is recommended to take hormones at the same time of day. If you take hormones irregularly, or forget to drink them altogether, the level of the necessary hormone can drop sharply.
Let's give an example. If a woman forgot to take a hormonal contraceptive pill, the next day she should take the forgotten evening pill in the morning, and the next pill in the evening of the same day. If the interval between doses is more than a day (remember: a hormonal contraceptive pill is valid for 24 hours), then the level of hormones in the blood will decrease very significantly. In response to this, minor bloody issues. In such cases, you can continue taking birth control pills, but use additional protection for the next week. If more than 3 days have already passed, you need to stop taking hormones, use other contraceptives, wait until your menstruation arrives and additionally consult a doctor.
Myth 4: If you take hormones, they accumulate in the body
No. When a hormone enters the body, it immediately breaks down into chemical compounds, which are then excreted from the body. For example, a birth control pill breaks down and leaves the body within 24 hours: that is why it needs to be taken every 24 hours.
However, hormonal drugs continue to “work” after they are no longer taken. But they influence indirectly. For example, a woman takes hormonal pills for several months, then stops taking them, and in the future she has no problems with her cycle.
Why is this happening? Hormonal medications act on different target organs. For example, women's birth control pills affect the ovaries, uterus, mammary glands, and parts of the brain. When the pill “leaves” from the body, the mechanism that it started continues to work.
Need to know: The mechanism of prolonged action of hormones is not associated with their accumulation in the body. This is simply the principle of action of these drugs: to “work” through other structures of the body.
Myth 5: Hormonal medications are not prescribed during pregnancy
Discharged. If before pregnancy a woman had hormonal disorders, then during pregnancy she requires medicinal support so that the production of female and male hormones is normal and the child develops normally.
Or another situation. Before the woman became pregnant, everything was fine, but when she got pregnant, something suddenly went wrong. For example, she suddenly notices that intense hair growth has begun from the navel down and around the nipples. In this case, you should definitely consult a doctor who can prescribe a hormonal examination and, if necessary, prescribe hormones. Not necessarily female sex hormones - these could be, for example, adrenal hormones.
Myth 6: Hormonal drugs have a lot of side effects, primarily weight gain
There are practically no medications without side effects. But it is necessary to distinguish between side effects that do not require discontinuation of the drug. For example, swelling of the mammary glands when taking contraceptive hormones is considered normal. Scanty bleeding in the first or second months of use during the intermenstrual period also has the right to occur. Headache, dizziness, weight fluctuations (plus or minus 2 kg) - all this is not a pathology or a sign of a disease. Hormonal drugs are prescribed for a fairly long period. By the end of the first month, the body adapts and everything returns to normal.
But so that it doesn't really happen serious problems associated, say, with blood vessels, before prescribing a medicine and while taking it, it is imperative to be examined and tested. And only a doctor can prescribe you a specific hormonal drug that will not harm your health.
Myth 7: There is always an alternative to hormones
Not always. There are situations when hormonal drugs are irreplaceable. Let's say a woman under 50 has had her ovaries removed. As a result, she begins to age and lose health very quickly. In this case, her body must be supported with hormone therapy until she is 55-60 years old. Of course, provided that her underlying disease (due to which the ovaries were removed) has no contraindications to such a prescription.
Moreover, for some diseases, even a neuropsychiatrist can strictly recommend female sex hormones. For example, with depression.
Medicines that contain natural or artificial hormones must be taken at various reasons, and more often women do this. We drink them when we are afraid of getting pregnant or, on the contrary, we really want to conceive a child, and the hormones also help cope with menopause, acne and even cancer. However, many ladies are still afraid of this terrible word, depriving themselves of many opportunities. When are hormonal pills appropriate? Let's consider important points.
Effect of hormonal pills
The vast majority of processes occurring in the body in one way or another involve hormones produced by glands and responsible for both metabolism in general and many individual functions, such as growth, reproduction, and the processing of substances. The human body constantly monitors the presence of hormones in the blood and, if there is a lack of them, tries to increase production, which means a change in the function of the gland. With the help of hormonal pills, you can restore balance in the functioning of the systems.
Contraceptive drugs have an effect on the body as a whole. Long-term use of these pills reduces the risk of cancer by about 50 percent. In addition, hormones help make more regular cycle in the female body, and the periods themselves often become less unpleasant. The drugs also help in eliminating acne, which is often a sign hormonal imbalance.
Indications and contraindications
Hormones are prescribed different situations, but the main points are:
- Endocrine diseases.
- Deficiency in the production of hormones by the body (drugs are used for stimulating effects to restore the previous hormonal balance, often this is done to normalize the menstrual cycle in the body and restore the ability to conceive a child).
- Problems with the female reproductive system (hormonal substances normalize menstrual cycle, stop dysfunctional bleeding from the uterus, promote ovulation, bring the body to the level required for conception hormonal balance).
- Mastopathy or fibroids (to reduce the rate of cell division in the mammary glands and uterus).
- Contraception.
- Acne, pimples.
- Menopause (to restore balance in the body and prevent the occurrence of arterial hypertension, osteoporosis and other problems).
Contraindications general plan also available, here they are:
- Smoking.
- Increased clotting blood.
- Cardiovascular diseases.
- Excess weight.
- Hepatic and renal failure.
- Migraines with focal neurological symptoms.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Increased risk thrombosis.
- Hormone-dependent diseases.
- Oncology.
- Vaginal bleeding.
- Diabetes.
- Pancreatitis.
Side effects
Hormones can cause side effects in the body that include unwanted hair growth, skin problems and more. When taking birth control, they can range from unpleasant discharge and swelling of the mammary glands to allergic reactions, you can still gain weight sharply. Immediate withdrawal of the drug often does not have the desired effect, since the effects of hormones can be prolonged and the body will need some time to return to normal. normal condition.
Types of hormonal pills
The drugs are divided into groups of hormones:
- glands of the adrenal cortex, which include glucocorticosteroids, used to combat allergies and inflammation, and also as painkillers.
- The thyroid gland is used if it produces them in small quantities or, conversely, too much.
- sexual, which include androgens, estrogens, gestagens.
- anabolic drugs.
- pituitary gland, such as oxytocin and human chorionic gonadotropin.
- pancreas, one of which is insulin.
Use of hormonal drugs
Hormonal drugs are used in cases where the human body is not able to independently provide itself with the required amount of hormones. This therapy is called replacement therapy, since the patient is forced to resort to it for a long time, which can often extend throughout the remaining years. Medicines containing glucocorticoids are used to combat allergies.
Contraceptives
Contraceptives are one of the most the right ways to avoid unwanted pregnancy. Their method of action is the influence of female hormones on the reproductive system in order to prevent ovulation and conception. The choice of drug should be made by a gynecologist; when using an incorrectly selected contraceptive, many health problems may arise, including liver disease and vein thrombosis. Let's look at which birth control pills are the most popular:
- "Diana is 35." This is an oral contraceptive with a low hormone content. In addition to direct contraception, it is used to treat seborrhea, problems with high level male hormones in the female body, acne and polycystic ovary syndrome. The drug affects ovulation, protecting against unwanted pregnancy. After stopping taking the hormonal drug, the girl can become pregnant again.
- "Lindynet 20". Modern remedy latest generation contraceptives. These tablets contain completely insignificant hormonal doses, which reduces the side effects to nothing. Already after three months of taking the drug, normalization of the cycle is noted, menstruation becomes less unpleasant. The likelihood of endometriosis, uterine or ovarian cancer, and mastopathy is reduced.
- "Jess." Birth control pills are effective means in the fight against acne, oily skin face, because it counteracts male sex hormones. Gynecologists often prescribe Jess contraceptive pills to girls over 14 years of age in order to combat acne and eliminate especially painful menstruation. The peculiarity of the hormonal drug is that it cannot affect weight in any way.
- "Regulon". This drug contains gestagen and ethinyl estradiol, which jointly act on the pituitary gland; the hormones make cervical mucus thicker and ovulation more difficult, which prevents sperm from entering the uterus and fertilization.
- "Janine." Tablets that are monophasic combined contraceptive, contain gestagen and ethinyl estradiol, which thicken cervical mucus and affect ovulation, preventing sperm from fertilization.
- "Midiana". Is oral contraceptive, which is based on drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, which affect the endometrium. Suppresses ovulation and prevents egg fertilization.
Estrogens
The level of estrogen hormones is significantly higher in women. There are three types:
- estrone, produced during menopause;
- estradiol, produced by all women reproductive age;
- estriol, produced by the placenta during pregnancy.
But sometimes the level of estrogen does not correspond to the norm, this happens due to bleeding, problems with bearing a child, infertility, the presence of tumors in the reproductive system and breasts. Estrogens include the following drugs:
- "Dermestril." Contains estradiol and is used during menopause, eliminating hot flashes, postmenopausal osteoporosis, urogenital atrophy, problems with sleep and mood.
- "Divigel". Has as active substance estradiol This drug is distinguished by its beneficial effect on the development of specific female organs, such as the fallopian tubes, ducts of the mammary glands. It has a positive effect on the development of female secondary sexual characteristics and normalizes menstruation. In large doses, the hormone can reduce lactation and produce endometrial hyperplasia.
Thyroid gland
Levothyroxine sodium and triiodothyronine are thyroid hormones. If their level in the body decreases, this leads to consequences such as atherosclerosis, decreased cognitive function, excess weight, anemia. In the absence of diagnosis and treatment, problems with the thyroid gland can arise even in young people and result in dysfunction of other organs, apathy, and loss of strength.
Thyroxine is a synthetic thyroid hormone. After passing through the kidneys and liver, it affects the growth and development of tissues in the body, as well as metabolism in general. Thyroxine affects the metabolism of fats and proteins, increases oxygen consumption, improves cardiovascular and nervous systems. With increased doses and long-term use, it affects the functioning of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
How to take hormonal pills correctly
If the doctor decides to prescribe hormones, do not argue, but listen. He will prescribe a course of examinations to make sure that the hormonal drug can be taken and there will be no harm to the body, and then he will determine the dosage. If you are going to take birth control, then consult a gynecologist. Having done a hormone test and found out which one is missing, the doctor will be able to prescribe a remedy. The gynecologist also examines the breasts for the presence of cancer, since hormonal drugs are not prescribed for tumors.
How to take contraceptives? In a certain order, once a day, for relief, the days of the week are indicated on the blister; it will be difficult to make a mistake or miss a dose. The first tablet should be taken on the 1st day of menstruation or on the 5th, if it was not possible earlier. You shouldn’t do this later, as there will be a risk of getting pregnant. Don't forget or skip your daily intake. One blister is designed for a month, there are tablets for continuous use, and there are tablets for 21 days (with a break of a week).
For breast enlargement
It is considered undeniable that the shape and size of female mammary glands depend on genetic factors. At the same time, we should not forget that female breast influences female hormone estrogen. Some hormonal pills affect its production, which leads to changes in size. This effect is exerted by prolactin, which acts on estrogen receptors in the breast, and progesterone, which promotes the growth of mammary tissue.
Taking hormonal medications requires a careful approach; only your doctor will tell you what dosage you need. So, there are hormones that you can take 4 times a day with an interval of 4 hours. It is worth noting that it would not be superfluous to use a special cream to enlarge the bust; in addition, taking such drugs requires careful attention to the diet. In order not to lead to the production of testosterone, you should forget about sweets and starchy foods, and reduce your protein intake.
For pregnancy
To determine the hormones that can help in conceiving a child, you will have to take urine and blood tests, which will allow you to understand the state of the body. The ovaries produce estradiol, which is involved in preparing the uterus for conception, as well as testosterone, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, responsible for the production of eggs. Male testosterone with him elevated level in the female body makes it difficult to conceive, interfering normal course pregnancy.
Progesterone, sometimes called the maternal hormone, is essential for the development of the baby in the womb. Conception is due normal function thyroid gland and pituitary gland. The latter is responsible for prolactin, which stimulates lactation and ovulation, and for luteotropin, which controls the production of estrogen in the female body. If conception does not occur for a long time, women are sometimes prescribed Femoston: it contains estradiol and dydrogesterone, which normalize and maintain the necessary hormonal level. This drug is a mixture of estrogen and progesterone.
For weight gain
Taking hormonal medications can lead to weight gain. This is used by athletes who want to increase muscle mass, using steroids, which include corticosteroids and sex hormones. They are banned in Russia, which forced them to look for other methods, one of which turned out to be somatostatin, a growth hormone that can increase muscle mass.
However, you should be careful: hormones for weight gain should not be used without medical supervision. The doctor prescribes them for people with anorexia, exhaustion, and excessively thin. The drug “Duphaston” is very common: it was created for women who want to get pregnant, but for those who want to gain weight, it is perfect. Hormonal drugs are prescribed after consultation with an endocrinologist, who determines the dosage of the drug.
For acne
Hormone therapy is effective for acne. Taking hormone-containing medications will prevent excessive sebum production. However, you need to be careful because they can lead to worsening mood, weight gain and headaches as a side effect. At the end of the course, acne may return, and to prevent this from happening, the simultaneous use of antibacterial drugs is necessary, and it is preferable not to antibiotics, but natural substances.
Subcutaneous fat is formed with the participation of androgens, which are most actively produced female body during menstruation. This leads to the appearance of acne on the skin on such days. This phenomenon can be eliminated by using hormonal pills containing progesterone and estrogen, which will help the body maintain the balance of androgens. For this purpose, it is often prescribed birth control contraceptives, such as “Jess”: take them in a course, one tablet a day.
Which drugs to choose
Often, women make decisions about choosing a hormonal contraceptive based on advertising or what their friends say. Such a situation is unacceptable, because only a gynecologist after all necessary tests, examination of the body may recommend any of the remedies. If you decide to choose a hormonal drug on your own, it may not only not have the desired effect, but also cause harm to your health, even death.
Video
In the TV show, an obstetrician-gynecologist will tell you how and at what point they act hormonal contraceptives on the body, why you shouldn’t be afraid to take the drug. The doctor tells why contraceptives good in the fight against acne, how to prevent cancer of the uterus and ovaries, and also explains the benefits of the intrauterine ring and IUD for the treatment of some gynecological diseases, for example, endometriosis.
Contraceptives for acne
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