S5) Sex Hormones Flashcards
Identify three drug groups of consideration when considering sex hormones
- Sex steroid hormones
- Inhibitors and antagonists
- Mixed agonists / antagonists
What are the major effects of oestradiol?
- Stimulates growth of the endometrium and breast
- Stimulates production of PR
What are the major effects of progesterone?
- Stimulates growth of the endometrium and breast
- Maintains pregnancy
- Inhibits production of ER
What are the major effects of testosterone?
Stimulates male characteristics – hairy body, deep voice, anabolism, aggression
Identify five effects of oestrogen
- Sodium and water retention
- ↑ HDL, ↓ LDL
- Decrease bone resorption
- Impair glucose tolerance
- Increase blood coagulability
Identify five side effects of oestrogen
- Breast tenderness
- Nausea & vomiting
- Water retention
- Increased blood coagulability
- Thromboembolism
Identify five effects of progesterone
- Secretory endometrium
- Increases bone mineral density
- Fluid retention
- Mood changes
- Maintains pregnancy
Identify five side effects of progesterone
- Weight gain
- Fluid retention
- Acne
- Nausea/vomiting
- Irritability
Identify four effects / side effects of testosterone
- Male secondary sex characteristics
- Acne
- Voice changes
- Increases aggression
What are the different routes of administration for sex steroid hormones?
- Oral
- Transdermal patch
- Implants
- Nasal
- Vagina
How are sex steroids transported in the blood?
- Transport bound to SHBG (except progesterone) and albumin
- SHBG production upregulated by oestrogens – protects against hepatic metabolism
Sex steroid hormones are metabolised in the liver.
Explain how this occurs for progesterone
Liver metabolism – progesterone almost totally metabolised in one passage through liver
Storage of sex steroid hormones increases half life.
Describe how they are stored.
- Sex steroids easily stored in fatty tissue (adipocytes and brain) as they are lipophilic
- They complex into the plasma membrane just like cholesterol
How are sex steroid hormones excreted?
Metabolites are excreted in faeces and urine as glucuronides and sulphates, respectively
Sex steroids are effective by binding to nuclear receptors.
Which receptors are used by the following sex steroid hormones:
- Oestrogens
- Progestagens
- Androgens
- Oestrogens – ERα and ERβ
- Progestagens – PR-A and PR-B
- Androgens – AR-1 and AR-2
In the COCP, which oestrogens are prescribed and what are their half lives?
- Ethinylestradiol (T1/2 ~ 15 hours)
- Mestranol (T1/2 8-24 hours)