Sex hormones Flashcards
If long-term oestrogen therapy is required in women with a uterus, what other hormone should normally be added?
Progestogen
Reduce the risk of cystic hyperplasia of the endometrium and possible transformation to cancer
Why should a progestogen be added for women taking long-term oestrogen therapy who have a uterus?
Reduce the risk of cystic hyperplasia of the endometrium and possible transformation to cancer
Why are oestrogens NO LONGER used to suppress lactation?
Association with thromboembolism
What preparation can be used for menopausal atrophic vaginitis?
Topical vaginal oestrogen
Used for a few weeks and repeated if necessary
HRT may be used in women with early natural or surgical since they are at high risk of (?)
Osteoporosis
Early menopause is before age 45 years
If HRT is given to women for early menopause, at what age should they stop taking HRT?
Approximate age of natural menopause (i.e. until age 50 years)
What drug can be used in women who have vasomotor symptoms of menopause but cannot take an oestrogen?
Clonidine hydrochloride
What 5 conditions does HRT increase the risk of?
Venous thromboembolism Stroke Endometrial cancer (reduced by a progestogen) Breast cancer Ovarian cancer
If a women starts the combined HRT more than 10 years after menopause, what disease are she at increased risk of?
Coronary heart disease
All types of systemic (oral or transdermal) HRT treatment increase the risk of breast cancer after (?) year(s) of use
1 year
Which HRT preparation has a higher risk of breast cancer:
Combined oestrogen-progestogen HRT
OR
Oestrogen-only HRT?
Combined oestrogen-progestogen HRT
Particularly continuous HRT preparations where both oestrogen and progestogen are taken throughout each month
Which of the following factors increase the risk of breast cancer in women taking HRT:
Age at which HRT is started
OR
Duration of HRT use?
Duration of HRT use
Longer duration of HRT use (but not age at which HRT is started) further increases risk
After a woman stops using HRT, how long does the increased risk of breast cancer continue?
More than 10 years
Although the risk of breast cancer is lower after stopping HRT than it is during current use, the excess risk persists for more than 10 years after stopping compared with women who have never used HRT.
Do vaginal preparations of HRT increase the risk of breast cancer?
NO
Vaginal preparations containing low doses of oestrogen to treat local symptoms are not thought to be associated with an effect on breast cancer risk.
Why is radiological detection of breast cancer harder in women who take HRT (especially oestrogen-progestogen combined HRT)?
Mammographic density can increase
BUT not the case with tibolone
Which HRT does NOT increase mammographic denisity, and therefore, does NOT make radiological detection of breast cancer more difficult?
Tibolone
Tibolone has also been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer during treatment, although the extent of risk and its persistence after stopping is currently inconclusive.
Which preparation of HRT increases the risk of endometrial cancer in women with a uterus?
Oestrogen-only HRT
In women with a uterus, the addition of a progestogen cyclically (for at least 10 days per 28-day cycle) reduces the additional risk of endometrial cancer; this additional risk is eliminated if a progestogen is given continuously.
Which cancers are associated with an increased risk in women taking HRT? (3)
- Breast cancer
- Endometrial cancer (oestrogen-only HRT)
- Ovarian cancer
Women using combined or oestrogen-only HRT are at an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis and of pulmonary embolism especially in the (?) of use.
first year
Which conditions does HRT increase the risk of? (6)
- Breast cancer
- Endometrial cancer (oestrogen-only HRT)
- Ovarian cancer
- DVT/PE
- Stroke
- Coronary heart disease (in women who start HRT > 10 years after menopause)
How long before major surgery under general anaesthesia (including orthopaedic and vascular leg surgery), should HRT be stopped?
4-6 weeks before surgery
Restart only after full mobilisation
If HRT cannot be stopped - prophylaxis with unfractionated or LMWH and graduated compression hosiery is advised
You stopped a patients HRT 4-6 weeks prior to major surgery, how long after the surgery can they restart the HRT?
Only after full mobilisation
If HRT cannot be stopped - prophylaxis with unfractionated or LMWH and graduated compression hosiery is advised
What are the reasons to stop HRT? (9)
- Sudden severe chest pain
- Sudden breathlessness (or cough with blood stained sputum)
- Unexplained swelling or severe pain in calf of one leg
- Severe stomach pain
- Serious neurological effects (e.g. severe, prolonged headache, vision loss, hearing loss, dysphasia, bad fainting attack, collapse, seizure, weakness, motor disturbance, numbness)
- Hepatitis, jaundice, liver enlargement
- BP: systolic > 160, diastolic > 95
- Prolonged immobility after surgery or leg injury
- Detection of a risk factor which contraindicated treatment
Which drug is licensed for short-term treatment of symptoms of oestrogen deficiency?
Ethinylestradiol
- Oral: 10-50 micrograms daily for 21 days, can be repeated after 7 day tablet free period
What must be given to women with a uterus if they take ethinylestradiol for short-term treatment of symptoms of oestrogen deficiency?
Progestogen for 12-14 days per cycle
What are the indications for the use of ethinylestradiol? (5 + one rare indication in treatment summary not drug page)
- Short term treatment of symptoms of oestrogen deficiency
- Osteoporosis prophylaxis if other drugs cannot be used
- Female hypogonadism
- Menstrual disorders
- Palliative treatment of prostate cancer
- Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (rare indication)
Why would a male patient be taking ethinylestradiol?
Palliative treatment of prostate cancer
- Oral: 0.15-1.5 mg daily
Raloxifene hydrochloride is used in the treatment and prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis, but does it reduce menopausal vasomotor symptoms?
NO