The most common estrogen side effects
Estrogens are naturally occurring bodily substances. They have a very important role in the human body, and they are produced by both men and women. However, they are much more important in women’s body, since they maintain the female reproductive system and determine the women’s sex characteristics (promoting the development of female reproductive system and breasts, preparing the uterus for pregnancy and causing the pelvis’s widening).
In a woman’s body, there are six different estrogenic compounds, but the most important and more present ones are estrone, estradiol, and estriol. When taken as a medicine, all of these estrogens produce equal major effects and side effects if the dosages are equal, taking their different potencies into account.
Why would you need estrogens therapy?
Well, there are lots of reasons and health problems that will require for a woman to start estrogen therapy. And these reasons and problems are: the prevention of menopause symptoms and postmenopausal osteoporosis, ovarian failure, breast cancer (in both women and men), abnormal bleeding of the uterus, advanced cancer of the prostate, female castration, vaginal irritation or Tumers syndrome. Also, estrogens are usually prescribed as a method of birth control.
Now that we have found out what estrogens are and how they can be used as therapy for many health problems, let’s have a look and see what problems these compounds may cause.
Results of different studies have shown that estrogens may increase the risk of endometrial cancer, especially in women who have overcame menopause. The results have shown an increase of 4.5 to 14 times in post-menopausal women taking estrogens for a long period of time. When prescribed to reduce menopausal symptoms, estrogen treatments have to be taken cyclical, just like birth control pills. When following an estrogen treatment, women have to see their doctor at least twice a year.
Also, post menopausal women taking estrogen treatments need to be aware of the risk of developing a gallbladder heath issue. In case you are taking estrogens and you are experiencing vaginal bleedings, immediately contact your doctor!
Studies on animals have shown that increased and prolonged administration of estrogen may encourage the apparition of certain cancers (breast, vagina, cervix, liver and kidney) in the animals under observation. However, there is proof estrogens can increase the risk of cancers in humans too. Women with certain family history of breast cancer and those already having breast nodules or abnormal mammograms should not start an estrogen therapy.
Women taking estrogens for a long period of time might later encounter health problems such as blood-clotting disorders, high blood pressure and liver cancer, glucose intolerance, unusual sun sensitivity, and increased levels of calcium in the bloodstream. Vaginal estrogen creams may cause bleeding of the uterus, breast tenderness, vaginal discharge and withdrawal bleeding.
Other common side effects of estrogens include enlargement or tenderness of the breasts, inflammation of ankles, loss of appetite, weight swings, water retention, nausea, abdominal cramps, and bloatedness. The estrogen patch can cause skin rash, irritation, and redness at the patch site.
Less common side effects are bleeding gums, breakthrough vaginal bleeding, vaginal spotting, changes in menstrual flow, painful menstruation. pre-menstrual syndrome, no menstrual period during and after estrogen use, enlargement of uterine fibroids, vaginal infection with Candida, a cystitis-like syndrome, mild diarrhea, jaundice or yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, rash, loss of scalp hair, and development of new hairy areas.
Rare side effects include stroke, blood-clot formation, dribbling or sudden passage of urine, loss of coordination, chest pains, leg pains, difficulty breathing, slurred speech, and vision changes. Men who receive large estrogen doses as part of the treatment for prostate cancer are at a greater risk for heart attack, phlebitis, and blood clots in the lungs.
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