Hormonal therapy is a treatment method used to treat medical conditions related to hormonal disorders, ranging from easing menopausal symptoms to increasing fertility.
The human body consists of various hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, growth hormone, thyroid hormone, and luteinizing hormone (LH). Hormonal therapy is usually used to maintain hormonal balance and help overcome diseases due to hormonal disorders in the body.
Various Uses of Hormonal Therapy
Some of the uses of hormonal therapy that you need to know, namely:
1. Relieve menopause symptoms
When entering menopause, the hormones estrogen and progesterone in a woman's body will decrease, resulting in the emergence of various symptoms, such as feeling hot or stifling.hot flashes), vaginal dryness, and decreased sex drive.
In order to reduce the discomfort, hormonal therapy can be an option. Types of hormonal therapy that can be used are estrogen therapy and combination therapy (a combination of estrogen and progesterone).
2. Overcoming fertility disorders (infertility)
Hormonal therapy can also be used to treat fertility problems. Fertility disorders usually occur when the body does not produce luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is sufficient to carry out the ovulation process.
Usually, the hormonal therapy given will stimulate the growth and development of the egg. This hormone can be given in the form of pills or injections.
3. Treating growth disorders in children
Impaired growth can occur due to a child's body lack of growth hormone.human growth hormone). Low levels of these hormones can be caused by certain medical conditions or diseases, such as low birth weight, Turner syndrome, or Prader-Willi syndrome.
Hormonal therapy can be used to treat growth disorders caused by growth hormone deficiency, for example synthetic HGH hormone therapy to increase growth hormone.
4. Control blood sugar levels
Insulin is a hormone that is used to convert sugar into energy. However, if insulin production in the body is inadequate or the body cannot use insulin properly, blood sugar levels will increase. This situation occurs in people with diabetes, and hormonal therapy may be a treatment option.
In people with type 1 diabetes, this hormonal therapy is carried out for life because the body cannot produce the hormone insulin in sufficient quantities. While in people with type 2 diabetes, hormonal therapy is not always necessary and is often combined with other treatments, such as antidiabetic drugs and special diets.
5. Treating cancer
Hormonal therapy can be an option for cancer treatment. Some types of cancer that can be treated with hormonal therapy are prostate cancer, breast cancer, uterine cancer, and ovarian cancer.
Hormonal therapy in this type of cancer is used to block the endocrine glands from producing hormones that affect the growth of cancer cells.
Despite having many uses, hormonal therapy should not be used haphazardly. Close supervision is needed from doctors to assess the patient's body response to the hormones given and be aware of the emergence of side effects due to this therapy.
