Types of hormonal drugs for women and their effect on the body

Our life is filled with hormones of happiness, pleasure, stress, fear. They are the ones who cause these emotions. Hormones help us in various situations and rule our body in the most literal sense. For a long time, people have learned to use them in medicine for various pathologies and reduced activity of the endocrine glands. Only many people are wary of taking such drugs. Let's understand what hormonal medications are and what they are used for.

Hormonal drugs are medications containing hormones or their artificial substitutes.

Classification of hormonal drugs by origin:

• natural hormones that are secreted from the endocrine glands of slaughter cattle, blood and urine of animals and humans;
• artificial hormonal agents and their derivatives;
• chemical analogues of hormones, differing in structure from natural hormones, but endowed with similar properties.

Hormone therapy is necessary for:

• prevention of unwanted pregnancy;
• women during menopause;
• treatment of inflammatory and allergic diseases;
• treatment of hormonal deficiency and cancer;

There are a huge number of hormonal drugs in the world. Let's consider hormonal drugs for contraception and women's health, which are widely used in gynecology. A complete list of names and prices can be seen at the end of the article.

Hormonal contraceptives are:

• combined (estrogen-progestogen);
• non-combined (mini-pill);
• emergency medications.

How to choose the best hormonal pills? The answer is simple: contact a competent gynecologist-endocrinologist. He will help you decide on the drug you need, depending on the indications, the presence or absence of concomitant diseases and the risk of complications. The doctor will also tell you how to take hormones correctly, in what mode and dose. In such matters, independence can become fatal and instead of benefit, you will get harm to the body, which will have to be compensated for a long time and with difficulty.

It is common to talk more often about hormonal drugs for women for the purpose of contraception or menopause therapy. But you need to know that female hormonal drugs for men are also used in practice, although not as widely. Normally, the male body produces both male and female hormones, so if they are imbalanced, therapy, including estrogen, is sometimes required.

More often, of course, hyperestrogenism and associated problems are observed: swelling of the mammary glands, female obesity, etc. However, the opposite situation also occurs when too little estrogen is produced in the male body and correction of hormonal levels is required. Clinically, this manifests itself as unstable blood pressure, decreased memory and attention, decreased body weight, as well as impaired self-control and excessive emotionality.

General mechanism of their action

The physical and emotional state of a person is influenced by hormonal levels. They take part in almost all vital processes. The body monitors their quantity, and if there is a deficiency or excess, it sends signals about the imbalance of hormones. To restore balance, special medications are prescribed.

There are various reasons why women are prescribed hormonal pills. But to do this, she needs to undergo certain tests to determine the exact ratio of hormones. Then these drugs will benefit her body and restore hormonal levels.

Indications for use

There are a number of indications when these medications would be appropriate:

• endocrine diseases;
• deficiency of hormones produced;
• disorders in the female reproductive system;
• mastopathy/fibroids;
• contraception;
• acne;
• menopause

In any case, before using them, a woman should consult a doctor. He will be able to accurately determine which hormone deficiency is observed in the body. The doctor will determine the reason, because there are pills for each of the listed indications.

Contraindications

Like any medical drug, hormonal drugs have contraindications for use:

• bad habits (smoking, alcohol and drug addiction);
• increased blood clotting;
• disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
• excess body weight;
• liver and kidney failure;
• migraine;
• pregnancy and lactation;
• high risk of blood clots;
• diseases associated with hormonal levels;
• oncological diseases;
• diabetes;
• pancreatitis.

For the listed contraindications, a person is prescribed a specific treatment. And the medications he takes may be incompatible with hormonal pills. Therefore, you cannot buy them yourself without medical advice.

What are progestin oral contraceptives?

These are alternative drugs (mini-pills) that contain exclusively gestagens. Hormones from this group are needed in the following cases:

• older women;
• during lactation;
• those who smoke;
• those for whom COCs are contraindicated;
• patients with hypertension.

Progestin contraceptives have a higher Pearl index. It can reach 4%, which is a negative point for the contraceptive process. Representatives: Levonorgestrel, Charozetta, Ovret, Micronor.

Side effects

Despite many positive reviews, hormonal drugs have side effects. But this does not mean that they will manifest themselves in everyone - everything is individual. The likelihood of their appearance increases if a woman chose them herself.

Side effects include unwanted hair growth, the appearance of acne, pimples, deterioration of hair condition, etc. When taking hormonal contraceptives, there may be pain or pulling sensations in the mammary glands, allergic reactions. The most common side effect is problems with weight, most often weight gain.

If you abruptly discontinue the drug, you should not immediately expect results. Especially if the exposure to hormones was long-term. The body will need time to restore balance, and in some cases you will have to consult a doctor for treatment.

Prevalence of estrogens

This type includes women with short and medium height and a high pitch of voice. The breasts are most often large.

They often have the following problems:

• dry skin;
• hair fragility;

  

• heavy and painful menstruation.

Representatives of the fairer sex of this group look very feminine. Before the onset of critical days, nervousness and irritability appear. Preparations with high and medium hormone content are recommended.

Varieties

The drugs are divided into groups of hormones:

1. Glands of the adrenal cortex - they are used to combat allergic reactions and inflammatory processes. They also act as a pain reliever.
2. Thyroid gland - with a deficiency or excess of hormones.
3. Sexual ones, which include androgens, estrogens and gestagens.
4. Medicines with an anabolic effect.
5. Pituitary gland.
6. Pancreas, which includes insulin.

Tablets are selected based on the results of the analysis to restore hormonal balance.

Balanced type

Representatives of the balanced type are often short in stature and have fairly well-developed breasts. They do not have premenstrual symptoms, since the number of female and male sex hormonal cells is the same. It is advisable for such women to take 2nd generation drugs, low-dose COCs. Prevalence of androgens/gestagens

Women in this group can be characterized as follows:

• high growth;
• appearance is unfeminine;
• there is a problem of hair and skin;
• are depressed during menstruation, which lasts no more than 6 days with pain in the abdomen and lower back.

This group of patients is prescribed contraceptive drugs with antiandrogenic effects.

The selection of medications is always individual and depends on the phenotype of the fairer sex.

Features of application

Therapy that is based on taking hormonal drugs is called replacement therapy. The patient has to take such medications for a long time to make up for the deficiency or excess. Each group of hormones has a specific mechanism of action that must be taken into account.

Contraceptives

Hormonal contraceptive pills are classified as oral contraceptives. And they are one of the popular ways to protect against unplanned pregnancy. The mechanism of their action is based on the influence of female hormones on the reproductive system. Tablets are prescribed only by a gynecologist to avoid negative effects on the body.

Estrogens

Their levels are higher in women than in men. There are three subtypes of this hormone:

• estrone, which appears with the onset of menopause;
• estradiol, which is present in all women of reproductive age;
• estriol is produced by the placenta during pregnancy.

But sometimes the concentration of estrogen is not normal. The reasons for this may be bleeding, difficulties with bearing a child, problems with the reproductive system and mammary glands. These drugs are prescribed by a gynecologist.

Drugs in this group can be prescribed to women who want to increase breast size. Of course, genetic factors also influence this, but the amount of tarragon also plays a role. There are hormonal pills that cause size changes. This effect is due to the influence of prolactin and progesterone.

Therefore, if a lady’s goal is to increase her bust, it would be useful to use a special cream and monitor her diet. But no one guarantees that a woman will experience a significant increase in breast size.

Also, estrogen hormones affect the process of conceiving a child. Therefore, a woman needs to undergo tests to determine the ratio of hormones in the reproductive system. If there are difficulties in conceiving, the gynecologist will prescribe medications containing estrogen and progesterone.

Thyroid gland

Thyroid hormone deficiency leads to:

• atherosclerosis;
• decreased cognitive activity;
• completeness;
• anemia.

Thyroid problems can occur even in young people. Signs may include constant loss of strength, apathy, and disruption of the functioning of other organs.

For weight gain and acne control

Hormonal pills can lead to weight gain. Therefore, they are prescribed to patients with anorexia or who are too thin. But this property is abused by athletes who want to build muscle mass in a short time. However, corticosteroids and sex hormones are prohibited in Russia, so they use somatostatin.

An endocrinologist can prescribe such drugs. He will select the optimal dosage so that weight gain occurs gradually.

Some people also rely on hormonal pills to combat acne. They normalize sebum production, which helps effectively fight acne. But this therapy has side effects:

• sudden mood swings;
• weight gain;
• the appearance of a headache.

After completing a course of hormonal therapy, acne may return. Therefore, in parallel, you need to take antibacterial drugs, preferably not antibiotics. The endocrinologist prescribes pills that contain the hormones progesterone and estrogen. They help maintain normal levels of androgens, which affect the production of subcutaneous sebum.

What are they used for?

Due to the widespread use of hormonal drugs in gynecology, the range of their use is constantly growing.

Currently, the appointment is based on the main goal of both the woman and the specialist:

• Oral contraceptives, which have different compositions, can be used primarily to prevent unwanted pregnancy . And besides, depending on their type, the range of applications expands. This may be the elimination of hyperandrogenism, expressed as a cosmetic defect, in addition, it is a violation of the menstrual cycle, treatment of ovarian diseases, such as polycystic, multifollicular and other types. In addition, in some cases, the prescription of oral contraceptives is necessary to manage the menstrual cycle, reduce the severity of pain, as well as the volume of blood lost.
• In the case of hormone replacement therapy, the main goal is to prevent the development of complications associated with the onset of menopause. Among them are the prevention of atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, arterial hypertension, as well as reducing the severity of other pathological manifestations.
• Phytohormones can be prescribed to reduce the severity of clinical manifestations associated with menopausal syndrome.

Popular drugs

Each group has a number of popular drugs that have many positive reviews and are highly effective. However, you cannot prescribe them yourself, because you need to know the exact ratio of hormones in the body.

Contraceptives

This is one of the popular contraceptive options. Many women choose pills on their own, based on advertising and reviews. Therefore, side effects are often observed - weight gain, unstable emotional background, etc. But if they are prescribed by a specialist, then the risk of their occurrence is minimized.

1. "Diana 35" contains a small concentration of hormones. In addition to contraception, it helps to cope with the problem of seborrhea, reduce the amount of male hormones in the female body, and normalizes the production of sebum. Upon completion of the course, the woman can become pregnant.
2. Lindinet 20 is one of the new oral contraceptives. It contains very small amounts of hormones, which minimizes the occurrence of side effects. Normalizes the menstrual cycle and is a preventive measure against the occurrence of diseases of the reproductive system.
3. "Jess" is not only a contraceptive, but also an effective way to combat acne. Its main advantage is that there is no risk of weight gain.

There are other tablets with similar effects. They are prescribed by a gynecologist after the woman has passed all the necessary tests to choose the appropriate remedy.

Estrogen drugs

Therapy with their use is prescribed if a woman has problems with the reproductive system or during menopause. They help not only normalize its functioning, but also have a beneficial effect on the emotional state.

1. "Dermestril" contains estradiol, it is prescribed during menopause. It not only helps normalize hormonal levels, but also helps cope with sleep disorders and sudden mood swings.
2. "Divigel" has a beneficial effect on specific female organs. It also has a positive effect on the development of secondary female sexual characteristics and normalizes the menstrual cycle.

The modern pharmaceutical market offers a large selection of hormonal drugs. But only a doctor can prescribe them, and he also determines their dosage and course duration.

Other hormonal methods of contraception

A relatively new drug stands apart among hormonal contraceptives. This is the NuvaRing hormonal ring. Manufacturer: Swiss company Merck.

This drug is a silicone ring that is inserted into the vagina on the first day of the menstrual cycle and releases the hormones ethinyl estradiol and etonogestrel for three weeks. On day 21, the ring is removed and withdrawal bleeding occurs. Then, a week later, the next ring is inserted at the same time.

The advantages of this method are obvious:

• you don’t have to wonder if you took your pills today;
• much lower hormone content compared to oral medications, which ensures fewer side effects and their low severity;
• does not cause discomfort, including during sexual intercourse.

Of course, there are also disadvantages. The main one is the increased risk of infection due to violation of the hygienic aspects of using the ring and the individual characteristics of the woman’s microflora. Other side effects are less common and coincide with the effects of other hormonal drugs.

Emergency medications

Emergency (postcoital) contraception is carried out after unprotected sexual intercourse, or if protection methods have failed, within 1-3 days to stop an unwanted pregnancy. It is important to know that these female hormonal pills should be used as rarely as possible, because... can cause irreparable damage to the body.

• Escapelle (postinor)

They inhibit ovulation, which stops the fertilization process. Prevent implantation, i.e. penetration and fixation of the embryo in the wall of the uterus. They will not work if the implementation has already occurred. You should start taking it as soon as possible (no later than 72 hours) after unprotected sex. The longer the period of time between unprotected intercourse and taking the drug, the higher the likelihood of pregnancy. Can be used at any time of the cycle.

• Genale

Slows down ovulation and prevents the attachment of a fertilized egg. Used 2 hours before or 2 hours after meals (within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse), regardless of the phase of the menstrual cycle.

Note! These hormonal pills for women should not be taken together with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (painkillers, antipyretics, for example, ibuprofen) for a week after taking the drug.

Where to buy hormonal drugs in Moscow with delivery

Online shopping is becoming increasingly popular. They allow you to save time on purchasing goods and purchase them at competitive prices. A wide range of hormonal tablets is presented in “Your Pharmacy No. 1”.

The network of this online pharmacy offers customers medications that meet all high healthcare standards. You can view the product in the online catalog, where all medications are divided into categories, which saves your time.

“Your Pharmacy No. 1” has 34 branches in Moscow, and any of them will be able to deliver your online order. Home delivery of medications is prohibited, so arrange for delivery to one of the branches closest to you. You can find out about their operating hours on the “Your Pharmacy No. 1” website and place an order at a time convenient for you.