Hormones are messenger chemicals produced by glands and released into the bloodstream. They affect activity in cells throughout the body, signaling to each other and to other tissues to form a range of functions. The levels of each hormone in the body are tightly regulated, and low or high hormone levels can lead to unpleasant symptoms and disease. Hormone replacement therapies seek to supplement the levels of various hormones to alleviate the unpleasant symptoms of low hormone levels.
Alleviate Symptoms of Menopause
Hormone therapy can supplement the decrease in female hormones that occurs with menopause. Normally, the ovaries produce a number of female hormones, such as estrogen, which help regulate the menstrual cycle and fertility. When a woman enters menopause, the ovaries begin to shut down and stop producing estrogen, causing overall estrogen levels to fall. The loss of estrogen can lead to a decrease in bone density, mood swings, hot flashes and other side effects. Hormone therapy levels off female hormones, and can reduce the risk of developing conditions like osteoporosis, reports MayoClinic.com; however, long-term hormone therapy for the prevention of postmenopausal conditions is no longer routinely recommended as it has been linked to health risks. But short-term hormone therapy for the symptoms of menopause still has benefits.
Compensate for Hormone Gland Damage
Another benefit of hormone replacement is the ability to correct hormone imbalances. A number of diseases can be caused by insufficient hormone production in the body, which can lead to uncomfortable or even life-threatening conditions. Supplementing low hormone levels can alleviate the symptoms of hormonal imbalances. An example of a hormone disorder caused by low hormone levels is Addison's disease, a condition associated with low cortisol levels. The low cortisol levels are caused by damage to the adrenal gland, a cortisol-secreting gland that sits on top of the kidneys. Patients with Addison's experience hypertension, skin hyperpigmentation and life-threatening conditions such as adrenal gland failure and cardiovascular collapse, reports Merck. The symptoms of Addison's can be treated with cortisol supplements.
Treat Inherited Hormone-Related Disorders
In some cases, patients may have developmental disorders that lead to abnormal hormone levels. Genetic abnormalities may affect sexual maturity and gonad development, and in turn lead to low sex hormone levels. This occurs in Klinefelter syndrome, a disease that occurs when boys inherit two copies of the X chromosome instead of one. Patients with Klinefelter's have underdeveloped testes so they are unable to produce the levels of testosterone required for development at puberty. As a result, patients with Klinfelter's often fail to develop secondary sexual characteristics, such as facial hair or a deep voice. Hormone replacement therapy works to supplement testosterone levels and allow for proper development of sex characteristics, reports the University of Utah.
