Hormonal pills, the name and properties of which are described below, are used to treat the pathology of the female genital area and to correct diseases associated with the thyroid gland. Medicines are analogues of hormones produced by the body. Their use is advisable in case of insufficient synthesis of hormonal substances by the endocrine glands, as well as to achieve the goals of regulating certain body functions, as is the case with contraceptives.
Types of hormones used in medicine
According to the method of obtaining hormonal drugs are distinguished into:
- Hormones derived from animal glands.
- Artificially synthesized identical hormones.
- Synthetic almost identical analogues.
- Plant hormones.
By the organ in which the synthesis of the hormone occurs:
- Pituitary hormones.
- The substances produced by the cells of the pancreas.
- Adrenal hormones.
- Hormonal substances of the genital area.
- Thyroid hormones.
- Hormonal substances from the parathyroid glands.
Indications for the appointment of tablet forms of hormones
Acute and chronic diseases of various body systems are treated with hormonal pills, which is an effective way to combat the disease, but should be strictly used under the supervision of a doctor. All medicines in this group have indications and contraindications.
The use of hormone-based drugs:
- Diseases with decreased thyroid function (hypothyroidism).
- Gynecological sphere (menstrual irregularities, menopause, endometriosis, problems with conception, contraceptives, birth control).
- Removal of inflammatory, allergic, edematous symptoms in general practice.
- Treatment of systemic autoimmune diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis).
- With violations of protein metabolism, cachexia and muscle wasting.
Hormone treatment of thyroid pathology
"L-thyroxine" is a drug for the treatment of thyroid pathology. The medicine is a synthetic isomer of the hormone T 4 , which normally should be formed by the thyroid gland. This is the name of hormonal tablets with the active substance levothyroxine sodium, which performs the same functions in the body that T 4 should perform. These include the growth and reproduction of tissue cells, the maintenance of metabolism, the effect on the nervous, cardiovascular system and genital area.
It is prescribed by endocrinologists with hypothyroidism (a decrease in thyroxine below normal), as a means of replacing T 4 when removing the thyroid gland due to the occurrence of goiter, cancer.
Available in tablets of 50, 75, 100 and 150 mcg. The dosage of the drug is selected individually under the control of blood counts. Reception is always carried out on an empty stomach in the morning. Since the drug is a vital component, its administration continues even during pregnancy.
“L-thyroxine” is contraindicated in case of increased thyroid function, acute heart attack, myocarditis, adrenal insufficiency, intolerance to the main substance of sodium levothyroxine or auxiliary components.
With the right dosage, the drug is well tolerated without undesirable effects and reactions that can occur only with a significant overdose (heart palpitations, arrhythmia, insomnia, sweating, diarrhea, tremor).
List of hormonal birth control pills
The use of contraceptives for planning pregnancy is a means not only to reduce the number of abortions, but also to combat some pathologies of the female genital area. These include restoration of the menstrual cycle with irregular periods, their expressed pain, help with severe premenstrual syndrome, treatment of acne (acne).
Birth control hormone pills for women are divided into several generations:
- The first generation contains in its composition estrogens in an amount of 0.1-0.05 mg and is not used in modern gynecology.
- The second generation contains ethinyl estradiol in a dose of 0.03-0.035 mg and progestogens (levonorgestrel, norethisterol, norgestrel).
- The third generation contains ethinyl estradiol 0.02-0.03 mg and progestogens (desogestrel, gestodene, norgestimate).
Third-generation contraceptives are best tolerated by women. Less often than second-generation drugs cause weight gain due to large doses of hormones.
By types of hormonal drugs are divided into monophasic, biphasic and three-phase. The difference lies in the amount of the progestogen component, which is contained in the same amount in single-phase preparations in all tablets. In two-phase contraceptives, the amount of gestagens changes in the second phase of the cycle, and in three-phase contractions, they occur more physiologically (in three stages).
Monophasic contraceptives are indicated for patients with painful unstable menstruation, severe premenstrual syndrome, difficult to tolerate ovulation, breast mastopathy, functional ovarian cysts. It is advisable to use monophasic hormonal tablets for acne on the face, combining contraception with acne treatment.
Monophasic drugs include: Novinet, Logest, Silest, Regulon, Mercilon, Jes, Diane 35, Lindinet, Janine, Yarina, Rigevidon "," Microgynon. "
Thanks to the combined composition, Novinet hormone tablets suppress ovulation due to the effect on the pituitary gonadotropic hormones, as well as increase the viscosity of the mucus of the cervical canal and change the endometrium, which prevents the sperm from passing into the cervix and the egg to attach to its wall. The drug positively affects lipid metabolism and cleansing the skin of acne.
The drug "Jess" contains a progestogen component that exceeds that of Novinet. We use a contraceptive for severe premenstrual syndrome, acne. Hess hormone pills, according to reviews, fight acne better than Novinet.
Two-phase contraceptives include: "Anteovin", "Minisiston", "Bifazil."
The list of three-phase hormonal tablets: Triquilar, Tri-regol, Tri-Mercy, Triziston, Milan.
Risks and contraindications for the use of contraceptives
Hormones should be prescribed strictly according to indications, taking into account age, concomitant pathology, hormonal levels, body mass index. Independently, given only the name you like, hormonal pills can not be used, since you can harm your reproductive system and the whole body as a whole.
Three months after the start of contraceptives, you should undergo a gynecological examination, which must be repeated subsequently at least once a year.
According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, birth control pills are prescribed depending on the degree of risk:
- The first degree has no restrictions on the use of contraceptives. This group includes:
- women under 40 with retained menstruation;
- obese women;
- ectopic pregnancy in the past;
- condition after abortion;
- more than three weeks after birth (non-lactating women);
- the presence of inflammatory diseases of the genital area;
- breast mastopathy and fibroadenoma;
- erosion or ectopia of the cervix;
- cancer of the uterus or ovaries;
- trophoblastic disease;
- past gestational diabetes;
- thyroid disease;
- epilepsy;
- Iron-deficiency anemia;
- tuberculosis;
- parasitic diseases;
- inactive form of hepatitis.
2. The second degree means that the advantage of taking the drug exceeds the risk (provided that the medication is selected correctly). The conditions of this group:
- age over 40;
- smoking up to 35 years;
- headaches, migraine (without focal symptoms);
- lactation half a year after birth;
- jaundice during a previous pregnancy;
- cancer and precancer of the cervix;
- thrombophlebitis of superficial veins;
- heart valve disease without complications;
- thalassemia;
- sickle cell anemia;
- compensated diabetes mellitus;
- gallbladder disease without clinical manifestations and after surgery to remove it;
3. The third degree is characterized by the predominance of risk over profit. It is undesirable to use contraceptives if there is:
- smoking up to 20 cigarettes per day after 35 years;
- lactation from 6 weeks to 6 months;
- condition up to three weeks after birth in the absence of the fact of breastfeeding;
- breast cancer in the past;
- vaginal bleeding unidentified;
- arterial hypertension (up to 160/100 mm Hg);
- hyperlipidemia;
- pathology of the gallbladder;
- jaundice due to hormonal contraceptives;
- joint use of certain antibiotics, sleeping pills and anticonvulsants.
4. The fourth degree is an unacceptable risk. Application is strictly contraindicated:
- smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day after 35 years;
- migraine with focal symptoms;
- pregnancy;
- lactation up to 6 weeks after birth;
- breast cancer
- arterial hypertension with indicators of pressure more than 160/100 mm Hg;
- thromboembolism;
- coronary heart disease;
- complicated heart valve disease;
- diabetes mellitus with vascular complications, as well as lasting more than 20 years;
- acute hepatitis;
- severe cirrhosis;
- tumors of the liver.
The concept of menopause and menopause
Menopausal manifestations can reduce the standard of living of women for years. Aging of the reproductive system occurs in several stages: premenopause, menopause (50 ± 5 years) and postmenopause (up to 65-69 years). The secretion of estrogen in the ovaries begins to decline on average five years before the end of menstruation. Menopausal symptoms at different intensities affect up to 80% of women.
Early menopause develops with the cessation of menstruation up to 40-44 years. Premature menopause - 37-39 years. The sooner the extinction of sexual function begins, the faster the body begins to age. Osteoporosis, heart disease, and depression develop.
Menopausal manifestations include flushing, tachycardia, sweating, mood swings, memory impairment, insomnia, anxiety, atrophy of the genital mucosa, urethritis, increased bone fractures, periodontal disease, high risk of degeneration of retinal tissues, risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Hormonal pills for menopause
Prevention of severe climacteric manifestations is the use of monophasic microdosed contraceptives in premenopause.
Hormone replacement therapy is used in menopause and postmenopause up to 65 years. Its duration depends on the symptoms, concomitant diseases of the woman, tolerance to hormonal tablets with menopause.
Monopreparations of estrogens are prescribed for hormone replacement therapy, but it is more physiological to use combined agents containing progestogens in addition to estrogen in various combinations of dosage regimens.
Hormonal tablets "Femoston" contain estradiol and dydrogesterone, which are analogues of female sex hormones. The first 14 days, the intake is a pill of the same type containing only estradiol, and the next two weeks, a combination of two hormones is taken for a more physiological cycle. This combination effectively fights the autonomic, emotional, vascular, skin manifestations of menopause, as well as osteoporosis, reduces the level of bad cholesterol, the risk of developing oncology of the uterine lining. Improvement is observed by the end of the first month of admission, and persistent positive dynamics by the end of the third month. Tablets are used without interruption.
Divina tablets consist of estradiol and medroxyprogesterone acetate, which alleviate the symptoms of menopause, prolong the youth and health of the woman's reproductive system. The combination of hormones mimics a woman’s natural menstrual cycle. The first 11 days, pure estradiol is taken, then 10 days in combination with a progestogen. Menstrual bleeding occurs within a week after 21 tablets. After regular intake during the year, hot flashes and sweating disappear completely.
Hormone medications for the treatment of endometriosis
Endometriosis is a multifactorial disease, which is characterized by the proliferation of endometrial tissue (the inner layer of the uterus) in the surrounding tissues, affecting all layers of the uterus, ovaries, cervical canal, cervix. Clinically often manifested by pain, increasing with the progression of the process.
Hormonal pills for endometriosis are used to alleviate the symptoms of the disease. For this, gestagen-containing preparations are used. These include Duphaston, which includes dydrogesterone in an amount of 10 mg, which is an analogue of progesterone. The effect of the drug is based on the ability to suppress the growth and development of the endometrium, preventing cancer processes. It does not affect blood coagulation and liver function, does not have a contraceptive effect, and is not contraindicated during pregnancy.
An individual dosage regimen is recommended, which is selected by the attending gynecologist. The drug is usually well tolerated. Side effects include headache, nausea, blood clotting, heaviness in the mammary glands, and stool disorders. Duphaston is contraindicated in case of severe liver pathology, individual intolerance, lactation.
Hormone treatment for infertility
Hormonal pills in order to get pregnant should be taken only under the strict supervision of a doctor, so they are selected after a careful study of the hormonal background of a woman and the identification of deviations in it that interfere with the conception and bearing of a child.
To establish the fact of infertility for a hormonal reason, it is necessary to donate blood for hormones twice, comparing the obtained indicators. With regular menstruation, the amount of prolactin, testosterone, cortisol, thyroid hormones on the 5-7th day of the cycle is studied. The level of progesterone is monitored on the 20th-22nd day of the cycle in order to assess the full functioning of the corpus luteum, which indirectly indicates past ovulation. In meager and irregular periods, the pituitary hormones responsible for the synthesis of sex hormones, as well as estrogens, hormones of the adrenal glands and thyroid gland, are determined.
Infertility treatment will depend on deviations in blood counts for hormones. If the cause of infertility is hypothyroidism, then “L-thyroxine” and its analogues are prescribed to fill the function.
With an increase in the level of follicle-stimulating hormone produced by the pituitary gland, estrogen levels decrease according to the feedback principle, which leads to amenorrhea and infertility. Treatment is carried out using drugs containing sex hormones (two- and three-phase oral contraceptives), which are used to restore the level of sex hormones.
With a reduced amount of pituitary hormones, hypogonadotropic amenorrhea occurs, which often occurs with anorexia. Hormone replacement therapy is carried out by "Femoston" in a continuous mode. After the restoration of the cycle, ovulation is stimulated using drugs containing luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones, both in combination and separately (Follitrop, Pergoveris, Lutropin alpha, Pergonal).
An increase in the male sex hormones of the adrenal glands (dehydroepiandrosterone) is often combined with obesity, diabetes mellitus and sclerotic pathology of the ovaries. Treatment should cover all pathologies, including normalization of body weight, blood glucose and removal of existing tumor lesions of the ovaries. With a high level of luteinizing hormone, it is advisable to prescribe combined oral contraceptives with a high content of female sex hormones ("Diane-35").
Reviews
The name of hormone pills appears in many forums and portals about women's health. After studying the statistics, according to reviews of women taking hormonal contraceptives, you can design a rating of the funds that have the greatest number of positive responses:
- The first place according to reviews is taken by the three-phase contraceptive Triquilar, which is physiologically as close as possible to the female function of hormone formation (85%).
- The second position is shared by the single-phase preparations Logest and Mercilon, which have a minimal effect on the weight of patients (80%).
- In third place is the monophasic agent Microgenon, which restores menstrual function well (78%).
- Rigevidon, which helps to combat premenstrual syndrome (76%), is in the fourth position in women's responses.
- Fifth place is held by Lindinet, which is a low-dose monophasic drug for contraception (75.5%).
- The sixth place is shared by the three-phase contraceptives “Tri-Merci” and “Milan” (74%).
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- «-35» «», , (71 %).
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