Hormone Replacement Therapy Side Effects

Hormones are chemicals released by the glands of the endocrine system which perform particular functions. They are carried to the target organs through the blood stream. These hormones are required and produced in specific amounts. Sometimes, due to certain reasons, there is an increase or decrease in the level of hormones. This leads to a condition known as hormonal imbalance. Menopause in women and andropause in men are the most prominent causes of hormonal imbalance. On the other hand, other causes like stress, improper lifestyle, malfunction of the glands, etc. also contribute in causing hormonal imbalance. There are several ways of treating hormonal imbalance in men as well as women.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
As mentioned above, the HRT is one of the techniques used to treat hormonal imbalance in men as well as women (especially of older age). When women reach the stage of menopause, the level of estrogen (a female hormone) decreases which results in symptoms like vaginal dryness, osteoporosis and hot flashes in women. In some cases, the symptoms subside with time, whereas, sometimes they do not. In the latter case, women consider going for HRT as it helps in increasing the level of estrogen in the body.

On the other hand, the level of testosterone (a male hormone) also decreases with increasing age. This condition, which is similar to the menopause in women, is known as andropause. When a man is suffering from andropause, he may experience several symptoms like lack of sleep, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, weight gain and depression. In this case, the hormone therapy is beneficial in increasing the level of testosterone which consequently helps in overcoming the symptoms and discomfort caused during andropause.

Side Effects

• Increased risk of endometrial cancer
• Increased risk of breast cancer
• Increased risk of gallbladder diseases
• Increased risk of stroke
• Increased risk of ovarian cancer
• Increased risk of heart attack
• Nausea
• Bloating
• Mood swings

It is not proven yet, but, this therapy can cause permanent infertility in men. The following are the potential hormone replacement therapy side effects that are prominently observed in men.

• Increased risk of prostate cancer
• Increased risk of Benign Prostate Hypertrophy (BPH)
• Increased risk of heart attack
• Increase in aggression or depression

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
The BHRT is a newer technique used for treating hormonal imbalance. In this method, synthetic hormones are replaced with bioidentical hormones that are produced in the lab. These hormones are got from soy and other herbs which naturally contain estrogen. Side effects of this therapy are fewer than those compared to the synthetic therapy. However, one cannot say that it is completely safe and reliable.

Although one may/may not experience all these side effects, it is better to have knowledge about it before going for this treatment option. It is also recommended to people having chronic diseases to not to undertake this therapy. It is recommended to consult the doctor before opting for any hormone treatment. Take care!