Injectable hormones have been a mainstay in hormone replacement therapy for decades. They are a popular choice because they can be injected into muscle tissue, which helps to reduce the risk of estrogen-related problems such as stroke and blood clots. But does this mean that injectable hormones are always safe? This blog will answer if injectable hormone therapy is safe and can be used as the first line of treatment.
1.Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy can be used to help relieve symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes and insomnia while restoring the balance of hormones in the body. The most common forms of hormone replacement therapy are pills and patches that contain estrogen and progesterone. These types of hormone replacement therapy deliver hormones directly into the bloodstream for maximum effectiveness. However, some women prefer injections instead because they are more convenient.
2. Safety Issues
Injectable hormones pose a bit of a problem because they contain synthetic, hormone-like chemicals and can be absorbed into the body and harm internal organs and tissues. Hormone replacement therapy can pose risks, including cancer, blood clots, gallbladder disease, and nerve damage.
3. Side Effects
One of the biggest concerns women have with hormone replacement therapy is side effects. Various hormone replacement therapy side effects result from the hormones floating around your body for an extended period. Some of these side effects include weight gain, mood swings, and breast tenderness. However, many women aren’t even aware of the risks associated with hormone replacement therapy.
4. Discolored Skin
While many women are resistant to taking hormone replacement therapy to prevent menopause symptoms, they don’t realize that it can potentially cause serious damage to your body. One of the lesser-known risks is that injectable hormonal treatments can cause discoloration of the skin on your face and arms. This effect is called rosacea and can range on the severity of the discoloration.
Although hormone replacement therapy can potentially cause serious side effects, this does not mean that it cannot be used safely. The FDA notes that there are countless benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy and therefore decides which type of estrogen therapy to use a personal choice for each individual.
5. Who Should Use It?
Hormone replacement therapy should be reserved for the high-risk, high-dosage group of women that need it to treat serious medical conditions like cancer and other health issues triggered by menopause. This group of women includes women with a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer and women who have undergone hysterectomies. These women experience a greater risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood clots.
6. First-Line Treatment
Hormone replacement therapy can be used in the same way as birth control pills. However, hormone replacement therapy should be used in conjunction with other medical treatments, such as hormone-depleting surgical procedures. For example, hysterectomies and hysterectomizing procedures can affect your body’s balance of hormones and therefore need to be followed by hormone replacement therapy.
7. Daily Therapy
Furthermore, hormone replacement therapy should be taken daily and not used to solve long-term problems. Daily treatment is essential in the case of menopause and, therefore, should be considered for this condition. However, this treatment should only be used for the short term because it requires a series of medications that can have dangerous side effects.
8. Long Term Use
Hormone replacement therapy can be used in the long term if you do not suffer from menopause but instead suffer from primary ovarian failure, premature ovarian failure, or familial estrone sulfatase deficiency. In these cases, hormone replacement therapy can be especially beneficial. Many women swear by hormone replacement therapy and use it for the long term to help treat menopause symptoms. However, you should consider using hormone replacement therapy in the long term if you have a history of cancer or a family history of ovarian cancer.
9. Fertility
Hormone replacement therapy is not intended to help you become pregnant. Instead, it is intended to help you return to your normal level of functioning and should be used as such. If you want to get pregnant after taking hormone replacement therapy, don’t start working on pregnancy right away because it can take a few months for the hormones to leave your body
Call to Action
At the end of the day, it is important to understand that injectable hormone replacement therapy is not for everyone. There are many different estrogen replacement hormone therapies, and each has its own set of risks and benefits. call now 205-352-9141 for more inquiries
