Hormone Treatment

In what circumstances may hormone therapy be indicated?

Abnormalities in the balance of hormones that may respond to treatment with one or a combination of sex hormone treatments include:

precocious (early onset) or delayed puberty (Q5.6).

amenorrhoea (absence of periods (Q6.21).

hirsutism (excess body hair) (hirsutism treatment).

anovulatory (eggs are not being released) infertility (clomiphene citrate ?10.14).

heavy periods (Q 24.16)

premenstrual syndrome (Q 25.6).

They may also be used:

as contraception (Q14.3).

to replace ovarian hormones after the menopause (HRT-hormone-replacement-therapy).

in the treatment of cancer (Q32.33D).

The basic considerations of prescribing in reproductive medicine are presented in Figure 33.1 .

Please click on the required question.

Q33. 1 What might I need to know about drugs frequently used in gynaecology?
Q33. 2 How do hormone treatments work?
Q33. 3 In what situations may hormone treatments be indicated?
Q33. 4 What are the sources of hormone treatments?
Q33. 5 What determines the effect of a hormone treatment?
Q33. 6 When are hormones used in combination?
Q33. 7 Why do hormone treatments sometimes cause side-effects?
Q33. 8 When are oestrogens prescribed?
Q33. 9 What are the possible side effects and risks of oestrogen therapy?
Q33. 10 When are progestogens prescribed?
Q33. 11 What are the possible side effects and risks of progestogen therapy?
Q33. 12 How is the relative potency (strength) of progestogens measured?
Q33. 13 When is danazol prescribed?
Q33. 14 When are androgens prescribed?
Q33. 15 What are the possible side effects of androgens?
Q33. 16 What are gonadotrophin releasing hormone analogues and gonadotrophins?
Q33. 17 When are GnRH analogues prescribed?
Q33. 18 What are anti-hormones?
Q33. 19 By which routes can drugs be given and why are they chosen?
Q33. 20 Why do I seem to be given a medication with a different name but my doctor says it is the same as before?
Q33. 21 I am worried about the possible side-effects of a medication. What should I do?
Q33. 22 How are new treatments developed?
Q33. 23 What is a meta-analysis?
Q33. 24 What is meant by the term 'evidence based medicine?'
Q33. 25 What is a clinical trial?
Q33. 26 What is a placebo?
Q33. 27 What is meant by relative risk?
Q33. 28 What is informed consent?
Q33. 29 What is the current opinion of the medical profession on alternative or complementary medicine?
Q33. 30 Support Groups.

Alternative Medicine

Aspirin

Danazol

Duloxetine

HRT Preparations

Venlafaxine

DISCLAIMER

The aim of this web site is to provide a general guide and it is not intended as a substitute for a consultation with an appropriate specialist in respect of individual care and treatment.
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