What is hormone therapy?
Hormone therapy is a treatment that is used to supplement the body with either estrogen alone or estrogen and progesterone in combination. Estrogen and progesterone are hormones that are produced by a woman’s ovaries. When the ovaries no longer produce adequate amounts of these hormones (as in menopause), HT can be given to supplement the body with adequate levels of estrogen and progesterone. Why does the body need estrogen and progesterone? Estrogen and progesterone together thicken the lining of the uterus, preparing it for the possible implantation of a fertilized egg. Estrogen also influences how the body uses calcium, an important mineral in the building of bones, and helps maintain healthy levels of cholesterol in the blood. Estrogen also keeps the vagina healthy. As menopause nears, the ovaries reduce most of their production of these hormones. Lowered or fluctuating estrogen levels may cause menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, and medical conditions such as osteoporosis. H
The goal of hormone therapy is to lower the level of male hormones in the body, particularly testosterone. Hormone therapy does not cure the cancer, and is often used to treat persons whose cancer has spread or recurred after treatment. Produced mainly in the testicles, testosterone causes prostate cancer cells to grow. Thus, reduced testosterone levels can make the prostate cancer shrink and become less active. Most studies show that hormone therapy works better if it is started early. What are the types of hormone therapy? There are several types of hormone therapy, including the following: • orchiectomy – the surgical removal of the testicles to prevent male hormones from stimulating further growth of the prostate cancer. • LHRH (luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone) analogs – drugs to decrease the amount of testosterone produced by a man’s body. • anti-androgens – substances to block the body’s ability to use testosterone, because even after orchiectomy or LHRH-analog treatment, a
Hormone therapy (HT) is a treatment program in which a woman who has a uterus takes estrogen and progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone) to relieve menopause symptoms and to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, which becomes more common after menopause. Studies are being done to determine how long a woman needs to take HT to reduce these risks. Research has shown that estrogen replacement may increase a woman’s life span. The majority of the benefits of HT appear to be linked with estrogen. Many women who have had hysterectomies (removal of the uterus through surgery) can take estrogen alone. Estrogen is available in these forms: pills (taken by mouth), rings, skin patches, or vaginal creams or tablets. Progestin is usually taken in pill form but is also available in skin patch and vaginal gel form.
