Endocrine
Drugs / Online Horror Story Books
Endocrine drugs
correct the overproduction or underproduction of the body's natural hormones.
For example, insulin is a hormone used to treat diabetes. The female sex hormones
estrogen and progesterone are used in birth control pills. To relieve uncomfortable
symptoms of menopause, including sweating, hot flashes, and mood swings, as well
as to delay some long-term consequences of menopause, including osteoporosis and
atherosclerosis, physicians often prescribe the synthetic hormones estrogen, progestin
(a synthetic form of progesterone), and sometimes androgens. This therapeutic
approach is called hormone replacement therapy (HRT). However, recent studies
indicate that HRT may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, heart
attacks, strokes, and blood clots, and it is unclear if the benefits of HRT outweigh
these risks. Each woman and her health-care provider should assess her need for
menopausal symptom control and her potential risks and benefits before starting
HRT. |