Test #8 Flashcards
What uses a cycle balance maintain homeostasis?
female reproductive system
What are the groups of drugs in women’s health?
estrogens, progestins, fertility drugs, oxytocics drugs, and tocolytics
What is estrogen?
the female sex hormone that develops the reproductive system and the secondary sex characteristics: full breasts, soft skin, fat distribution, and female voice
Why are estrogens given?
- prevent/treat menopause. (ERT) protects cardiac & bone
- stimulate ovulation (hypogonadism): maintain menstrual cycle
- combined with progestins for oral contraceptives
What is the action of estrogen?
bind with receptors to produce the same effect as natural estrogen
What are the uses of estrogen?
hormone replacement therapy
What are the available forms of women’s drugs?
oral, injection, vaginal cream, transdermal patch, implant, vaginal ring, and implanted uterine device
Estrogens fight menopausal symptoms. What are the symptoms?
hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, headaches and nervousness
What can cause the early onset of menopause (before the age of 45)?
smoking
How does estrogen help bone health?
reduces the risk of osteoporosis
Estrogen helps with menstrual disturbances described as what?
abnormal bleeding, PMS, and dysmenorrhea
What is estrogen used for in men?
prostate cancer
What cancer is estrogen used for in women?
breast cancer
What teenage problem can estrogen be used for?
severe acne
What are the major side effects of estrogen?
- Nausea (most common)
- Na+ and H2O retention (weight gain & HTN)
- Breast tenderness
- Increased risk of blood clots (smokers & over the age of 35)
- Break-through menstrual bleeding
- Photosensitivity (cholasma: brownish macular spots on face and neck)
What should the nurse monitor for in women taking estrogen?
blood pressure, liver function, and weight gain
What should patients report on estrogen?
break-through bleeding
What should nurses tell male patients taking estrogen?
female characteristics disappear when drug therapy is complete and drug is discontinued
What should nurses warn against when taking estrogen?
smoking
What are the contraindications for estrogen?
- estrogen-dependent tumors
- undiagnosed vaginal bleeding
- pregnancy
- active thrombophlebitis (h/o CVA and blood clots)
- Hx of breast, cervical, endometrial, and prostate cancer and hepatitis
- can increase HDL, cholesterol, & triglyceride levels
- Pregnancy category X
Women over the age of 60 on progestin/estrogen combo meds:
- increase risk of MI, CVA, breast cancer, dementia, DVT
- less reported hip fractures
- less risk of colo-rectal cancers
What is the drug brand name for estrogen?
Premarin
What is the goal for Premarin?
low dose possible for the shortest duration to alleviate pre- or peri- menopausal symptoms
What has Women’s Health Institutes of Health studies determined about estrogen?
- decreased rate of hip fractures
- no effect on rates of CAD or breast cancer
- increased risk of CVA & Endometrial cancer