Acromegaly is a rare but serious condition caused by too much growth
hormone (GH) in the blood. GH is released into the bloodstream by the
pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain. The blood carries GH
to other parts of the body where it has specific effects. In children,
GH stimulates growth and development. In adults, GH
affects energy levels, muscle strength, bone health, and a sense of well-being.
Too much GH in children is called gigantism and is extremely rare.
Acromegaly in adults occurs mainly in middle-aged men and women. Each
year, about three new cases of acromegaly occur for every million
people.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=471&Itemid=191
Congenital (con-JEN-ih-tuhl) adrenal (uh-DREEN-uhl) hyperplasia
(HY-per-PLAYzhee-uh), also called CAH, is a group of genetic disorders
in which the two adrenal glands do not work properly. Children inherit
one gene that causes this disorder from each of their parents. The
adrenal glands, located on top of each kidney, make hormones that are
essential for body functions.
People with CAH lack one of the enzymes needed for proper function of
the adrenal glands. (An enzyme is a protein that causes a chemical
change in the body.) Without the enzyme, the adrenal glands may produce
too little of the hormones cortisol and/or aldosterone and too much
androgen. CAH can be severe (classic) or mild (nonclassic).
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=472&Itemid=192
Cushing’s syndrome consists of the physical and mental changes that
result from having too much cortisol in the blood for a long period of
time. Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands,
located above the kidneys. In normal amounts, cortisol helps the body:
• respond to stress
• maintain blood pressure and cardiovascular function
• keep the immune system in check
• convert fat, carbohydrates, and proteins into energy
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=474&Itemid=193
The pituitary gland is about the size of a pea and found just below the
base of the brain, behind the nose. It is made up of many different
kinds of cells, each of which produces a specific hormone. In turn, each
hormone sends signals to other glands or organs in the body to do a
particular job.
Because the pituitary affects so many functions of the body it is called the master gland.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=475&Itemid=194
Bariatric surgery helps people who are very obese to lose a lot of
weight. It limits how much food your stomach can hold, making you feel
full after just a small meal (called restriction), and sometimes also
limits the calories and nutrients your body can absorb (called
malabsorption). People have this type of surgery if other methods of weight loss have not worked for them and/or if they have serious health problems caused by obesity.
Bariatric surgery has both benefits and risks for your endocrine
system—the network of glands that produce, store, and release hormones.
Hormones play a part in your body’s energy balance, reproductive system,
growth and development, and reactions to stress and injury. Different
types of bariatric surgery vary in the kind and degree of risks and
benefits.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=478&Itemid=196
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a main cause of heart and
blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease. Hypertension greatly raises your
risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure, which may lead to
death. Since people with hypertension often have no symptoms, it has
been called “the silent killer.”
As blood flows through the body, it pushes against the walls of
the arteries. The force of this push in the arteries is the blood
pressure. The measurement of blood pressure includes two readings. An
example is 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). The first number is
the systolic pressure as the heart contracts; the second number is the
diastolic pressure when the heart relaxes between beats.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=479&Itemid=197
Obesity is a chronic medical condition characterized by too much body
fat. Obesity is diagnosed by a number called the Body Mass Index (BMI).
Your BMI is calculated from your current height and weight. In general,
the higher the BMI, the more body fat a person has. Some bodybuilders
and elite athletes have high BMIs, but they have more muscle mass than
the average person and are not considered obese.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=480&Itemid=198
The term cardiometabolic risk describes a person’s chances of damaging
their heart and blood vessels when one or more risk factors are present.
Risk factors include obesity, high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, high blood
fat (triglycerides), low HDL (“good”) cholesterol, high blood pressure,
and insulin resistance. Each of these risk factors is dangerous on its
own, but a combination greatly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Metabolic syndrome, syndrome X, cardiometabolic syndrome, and insulin
resistance syndrome are other terms for this cluster of risk factors.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=481&Itemid=199
Hyperlipidemia means there are high levels of fats (or lipids) in the
blood. These fats include cholesterol and triglycerides, which are
important for our bodies to function. But when they are too high, these
fats can put people at risk for heart disease and stroke.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=482&Itemid=200
The term metabolic syndrome describes a cluster of risk factors that
increase the chances of developing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes
(high blood sugar). The exact cause of the metabolic syndrome is not
known but genetic factors, too much body fat (especially in the waist
area, the most dangerous type of fat), and lack of exercise add to the
development of the condition.
You are diagnosed with the metabolic syndrome if you have three or more risk factors (see table below).
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=483&Itemid=201
Hypoglycemia is the term for low blood sugar (or blood glucose).
Glucose is the “fuel” that your brain and body need to function
properly.
It’s important to maintain levels of blood sugar that
are healthy: not too high and not too low. If hypoglycemia is not
corrected right away, it can quickly worsen. You may become very
confused and unable to manage your condition. In severe cases, you may even lose consciousness, have a seizure, or go into a coma.
Hypoglycemia can happen if you do not eat when you need to or as much
as you need, or if you skip a meal, drink too much alcohol, exercise
more than usual, or if you have diabetes.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=485&Itemid=203
Diabetes is a disease in which levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood
are higher than normal. Glucose is produced by the body from the foods
that you eat. Insulin, which is a hormone produced by the pancreas (an
organ located in your abdomen), takes the glucose from the bloodstream
and carries it into your cells where it is used for energy. Diabetes
occurs when glucose does not enter the cells and instead, builds up in the
bloodstream.
When glucose levels are too high, they can cause damage to the blood
vessels, nerves and other organs in the body and can also shorten your
life.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=486&Itemid=204
Diabetes is a disease in which levels of glucose (sugar) in the
bloodstream are higher than normal. Glucose is produced by the body from
the foods you eat. The hormone insulin takes glucose from the
bloodstream and carries it into your cells where it is used for energy.
Insulin is produced by the pancreas, an organ located in your abdomen.
Diabetes occurs when
the pancreas does not produce insulin (called type 1, or
insulin-dependent, diabetes) or when the body becomes resistant to the
effects of insulin (called type 2, or non-insulin-dependent, diabetes).
In either case, the result is that glucose does not enter the cells and
builds up in the bloodstream.
Keeping blood sugar levels close
to normal is key to preventing a number of serious complications from
diabetes including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and
nerve damage.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=487&Itemid=205
Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher
than normal. Glucose is produced in the body from the foods that you
eat. The pancreas, an organ located in the abdomen just behind the
stomach, produces insulin. Insulin is a hormone that takes glucose from
the bloodstream and carries it inside your body’s cells where it is used
for energy.
Diabetes occurs
when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body
becomes resistant to the effects of insulin. Sometimes it is a
combination of both problems. In either case, the result is that glucose
does not enter the cells and builds up in the blood.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=488&Itemid=206
Diabetes is a disease characterized by higher than normal levels of
glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream. Glucose is produced by the body from
the foods you eat, mainly carbohydrates. So your food choices have an
impact on your glucose levels.
The major nutrients in food are protein, fat, and carbohydrates. You need all of these nutrients in your diet. Among the
many different sources of these nutrients, some are better for you than
others. For example, lean white meat (such as chicken breast with no
skin) is a healthier source of protein than fatty red meat (such as
hamburger). Liquid vegetable oils (such as olive and canola) are more
heart-healthy than solid fats (such as margarine and butter). There are
also differences among carbohydrates, and these differences are
important in diabetes control.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=489&Itemid=207
Cholesterol and triglycerides, known as lipids, are fatty substances
normally produced by the body. Dyslipidemia means lipid levels in the
bloodstream are too high or low. The most common types of dyslipidemia
are:
• High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol
• Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good”) cholesterol
• High levels of triglycerides
Dyslipidemia contributes to atherosclerosis, a disease in which fatty
deposits called plaque build up in the arteries over time. The arteries
are blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the
body. If plaque narrows your arteries, you are more likely to suffer
from heart disease, heart attack, peripheral artery disease (reduced
blood flow in the limbs, usually the legs), and stroke.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=490&Itemid=208
The kidneys are two fist-sized organs located in your back. To maintain
life, you need at least one to work well. The work done by the kidneys
is called renal function. There are three major renal functions:
• Remove waste and excess water from your body
• Maintain the body’s chemical balance
• Produce hormones that regulate red blood cell production and blood pressure, and contribute to bone health
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=491&Itemid=209
Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which levels of glucose (sugar) in
the bloodstream are higher than normal. Glucose is produced in the body
from the foods you eat. The pancreas, an organ located just behind the
stomach, produces insulin. Insulin is a hormone that takes the glucose
from the bloodstream and carries it inside your body’s cells where it is
used for energy. Diabetes occurs when sugar builds up in the blood.
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a form of diabetes that can
develop during pregnancy, usually in the second trimester. During
pregnancy the placenta produces hormones that help the baby develop.
These hormones also block the effects of insulin in the woman’s body,
increasing her blood sugar levels.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=492&Itemid=210
Monogenic diabetes is a rare condition resulting from mutations
(changes) in a single gene. In contrast, the most common types of
diabetes—type 1 and type 2—are caused by multiple genes (and in type 2
diabetes, lifestyle factors such as obesity). Most cases of monogenic
diabetes are inherited.
Monogenic diabetes appears in several forms and most often affects young people. In most
forms of the disease, the body is less able to make insulin, a hormone
that helps the body use glucose (sugar) for energy. Rarely, the problem
is severe insulin resistance, a condition in which the body cannot use
insulin properly.
Many people with monogenic diabetes are
mistakenly diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and may not receive
the best treatment. For example, some children with monogenic diabetes
are misdiagnosed with type 1 diabetes and are given insulin. When
correctly diagnosed, some of these children can take diabetes pills
instead, with even better glucose control. A correct diagnosis may also
benefit family members,who might have monogenic diabetes themselves
without knowing it. An accurate diagnosis can lead to proper treatment
and better health in the long term.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=493&Itemid=211
Glucose (also known as blood sugar) is produced by the body from the
foods you eat. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, takes
glucose from the bloodstream and carries it to your cells where it is
used for energy. This process controls the amount of sugar in your
blood, keeping it from getting too low or too high.
Prediabetes is a condition in which your body becomes resistant
to the effect of insulin, and the pancreas does not produce enough
insulin to overcome the resistance. This causes the level of blood sugar
to become higher than normal. Over time, having too much sugar in your
blood puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, and for developing
type 2 diabetes.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=494&Itemid=212
Diabetes is a disease in which levels of glucose (sugar) in the
bloodstream are higher than normal. Glucose is produced by the body from
the foods you eat. Insulin, which is produced by the pancreas (an organ
located in your abdomen), takes glucose from the bloodstream and
carries it into your cells where it is used for energy. With diabetes,
glucose does not enter the cells and builds up in the bloodstream.
There are three common types of diabetes:
• Type 1 occurs when the pancreas stops making insulin. It is usually
seen in children, but may occur later in life. Patients require insulin
to survive.
• Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes. With type 2
diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or it becomes
resistant to the effects of insulin. It is usually seen in adults and
elderly patients, many of whom are overweight. Younger people can also
develop type 2 diabetes. Treatment includes diet and exercise, oral
antidiabetic medications, or insulin.
• Gestational diabetes is a
type of diabetes that occurs only during pregnancy. It usually goes away
after the baby is born. Women who have had gestational diabetes are
more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=495&Itemid=213
Diabetes is a disease in which there is too much glucose (sugar) in the
bloodstream. It occurs when the pancreas, a gland behind the stomach,
does not produce enough insulin.
Insulin is the hormone
necessary to carry sugar (produced from the foods you eat) from the
bloodstream into the body’s cells, where it is used for energy. When
there is not enough insulin, sugar builds up in the blood, putting people at risk for serious health problems including:
• Heart attacks and strokes
• Kidney problems
• Numbness in the feet and sores that don’t heal
• Vision problems
• Erectile dysfunction (in men)
It is important to keep blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible to avoid the long-term complications of diabetes.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=496&Itemid=214
Diabetes is a disease in which levels of glucose (sugar) in the
bloodstream are too high. The body produces glucose from the foods you
eat. It also produces the hormone insulin, which carries glucose from
the bloodstream to the body’s cells where it is used for energy. In type
2 diabetes, too little insulin is produced, or the body cannot use
insulin properly, or both. This results in a build-up of glucose in the blood.
People with diabetes are at risk for developing serious health problems
(complications). If your blood sugar level stays too high for too long,
complications can include:
• Blindness
• Kidney disease and failure
• Nerve damage that may result in amputation (loss of toes, fingers, or legs)
• Heart attack and stroke
Many people with type 2 diabetes can control their blood sugar levels
with diet, exercise, and oral medications (pills). Others may need
insulin shots.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=497&Itemid=215
When you have type 2 diabetes, your blood glucose (sugar) levels are
higher than normal. Blood glucose comes mainly from the food you eat,
and some is produced by your liver. Your body uses glucose for energy
with the help of insulin, a hormone made by your pancreas. You can
develop type 2 diabetes when your body
• doesn’t make enough insulin
• doesn’t use insulin the way it should, a condition called insulin resistance
Most people with type 2 diabetes have both problems. Middle-aged and
older people are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. So are people
who are overweight (especially around the waist) and physically
inactive.
High blood glucose levels over time can lead to
serious health problems, such as blindness, nerve damage, kidney
disease, heart attacks, and strokes. But keeping blood glucose, blood
pressure, and cholesterol levels on target with meal planning, exercise,
and medicines (if needed) can prevent or delay these problems.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=498&Itemid=216
People with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) have higher than normal blood
glucose (sugar) levels. The pancreas, an organ located in the abdomen
just behind the stomach, produces insulin. Insulin helps sugar from the
bloodstream enter your body’s cells, where it’s used for energy. This
process controls the amount of sugar in your blood, keeping it from
getting too low or too high. T2DM occurs
when the body becomes resistant to the effect of insulin and then
cannot make enough so that sugar builds up to abnormally high levels in
the blood.
Usually, T2DM develops in middle age or later.
Although T2DM is rare in children, over the past two decades, more and
more cases have been reported in the United States. Most youth with type
2 diabetes develop it when they are teenagers. If left untreated or
poorly controlled, over the years, T2DM can lead to blindness, kidney
failure, nerve damage, heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=499&Itemid=217
Both type 2 diabetes and prediabetes are characterized by blood sugar
levels that are higher than normal. The pancreas, an organ located just
behind the stomach, produces insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps to
move the sugar from the bloodstream and into your body’s cells where it
is used for energy. This process controls the amount of sugar in your
blood, keeping it from getting too low or too high.
Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes occur when the body doesn’t make enough
insulin or becomes resistant to the effects of insulin. As a result,
sugar levels build up in the bloodstream. Prediabetes is diagnosed when
sugar levels are higher than normal, but not as high as in diabetes.
Prediabetes puts you at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=500&Itemid=218
Estrogen, the main female sex hormone, is produced mostly by then
ovaries. It is responsible for a woman’s sexual development, including
the growth of breasts and regulation of her menstrual cycle. At
menopause (usually around age 51) the ovaries stop producing estrogen,
but small amounts are still made from pre-hormones (substances that are
converted to hormones) produced by the adrenal glands. These pre-hormones are then transformed into estrogen by fat tissue.
Estrogen travels through the bloodstream and attaches to estrogen
receptors on specific cells in your body. Breast tissue has these types
of cells and is one of the main targets for estrogen. Estrogen
stimulates the growth of breast cells. For example, pregnant women have
higher estrogen levels that cause the breasts to get larger in
preparation for breastfeeding. For this reason, if a woman develops
cancer cells in her breast, estrogen can stimulate the growth of that
cancer.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=502&Itemid=220
The prostate is the gland that makes seminal fluid, the milky substance
that transports sperm during ejaculation (orgasm). Prostate cancer is a
type of cancer that begins in the cells of the prostate but can spread
throughout the body. Other than skin cancers, it is the most common
cancer in American men. Overall, about one out of six men will be
diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, but only one man out of 33 will die of this disease.
About 80 percent of men who reach age 80 have prostate cancer. In most
men, prostate cancer grows very slowly and stays inside the prostate
gland, where it does little harm. Many men with the disease will never
know they have it, but aggressive forms of prostate cancer can spread
quickly to other parts of the body, including bone.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=503&Itemid=221
Puberty is the time of life when a child develops into an adult. It
usually begins as early as age 7½ to 8 and as late as age 13 in girls,
and between ages 9 and 14 in boys. African American and Hispanic
children tend to start puberty about six months earlier than Caucasian
children.
At puberty, the gonads—ovaries in girls and testes in boys—begin to function. The physical changes of puberty include:
• The development of secondary sexual characteristics (growth of
underarm and pubic hair, breast development, and growth of the penis and
testicles)
• Growth spurts of bones and muscles, leading to rapid increase in height
• Changes in body shape and size
Puberty occurs when a part of the brain called the hypothalamus
releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). This hormone stimulates
the pituitary gland (a small gland at the base of the brain) to release
two other hormones: luteinizing hormone (LH) and folliclestimulating
hormone (FSH). LH and FSH then stimulate the gonads to produce sex
steroids—estrogen in females and testosterone in males—that lead to the
physical changes of puberty.
The adrenal glands (two small
glands located above the kidneys) also play a role in the production of
sex steroids, but their role is usually less important than that of the
gonads.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=505&Itemid=223
Turner syndrome (TS) is a genetic condition that occurs when a female
infant is born with a missing or changed X chromosome. Chromosomes
contain the genes that determine physical and developmental features. TS
occurs in about 1 in 2,000–2,500 female births worldwide. The reason
for the missing or changed X chromosome appears to be a random event.
Thus, any girl can be born with TS.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=506&Itemid=224
Anabolic steroids are drugs that are chemically related to the major
male hormone testosterone. They are best known for their effects on
building muscle. Anabolic steroids are sometimes prescribed to help AIDS
patients gain weight and to treat certain types of severe anemia. But
some people use these drugs illegally to improve athletic performance or
to get a more muscular appearance.
Inappropriate use of anabolic steroids can have unhealthy side effects,
like changes in behavior, increased risk for heart and liver disease,
and unwanted—sometimes permanent—changes in physical characteristics.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=508&Itemid=226
Human growth hormone (GH) is a substance that regulates your body’s
growth and metabolism. GH is made by the pituitary gland, located at the
base of the brain. GH helps children grow taller (also called linear
growth), increases muscle mass, and decreases body fat. In both children
and adults, GH helps control the body’s metabolism—the process by which
cells change food into energy and make other substances needed by the body.
If children or adults have too much or too little GH, they may have
health problems. Growth hormone deficiency (too little GH) and some
other health problems can be treated with synthetic (manufactured) GH.
Sometimes GH is used illegally for non-medical purposes.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=509&Itemid=227
Anabolic steroid precursors (also called prohormones) are substances
that can be converted by the body into anabolic steroids. Anabolic
steroids are a class of natural and synthetic (manufactured) substances
related to the male sex hormone testosterone.
Anabolic steroids promote growth of muscle and can make bones stronger and reduce body fat.
In addition, all anabolic steroids are androgenic. This means they
cause male characteristics, such as facial hair and a deepened voice.
However, because of their chemical structure, anabolic steroid
precursors can also be converted into the female hormone estrogen, which
can cause breast enlargement in men.
Until recently, these
steroid precursors were advertised and sold as dietary supplements to
improve athletic performance and body image. Although most are banned in
the United States, use of these products by professional athletes and
bodybuilders made them popular among young people who wished to be like
those role models.
Some of the commonly used anabolic steroid precursors include:
• Androstenedione (or “andro”)
• Androstenediol
• Norandrostenedione
• Norandrostenediol
• Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
Because steroid precursors can have dangerous side effects, many of these products
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=510&Itemid=228
Menopause is the time of life when the monthly periods (menstruation)
end. The ovaries, the twin organs that produce and release an egg during
each monthly cycle, also produce the female hormone estrogen. There are
four primary types of estrogen circulating in the blood—estrone,
estrone-sulfate, estradiol, and estriol. At an average age of 51, when
the ovaries stop producing estrogen, menopause begins.
Menopause can have mild to severe symptoms including hot flashes, night
sweats, and vaginal dryness. The severity of symptoms varies from woman
to woman and there are a variety of ways to treat them. The most common
and effective way is to replace the estrogen the body no longer
produces with hormone therapy (HT). Hormone therapy can be estrogen
alone or combined estrogen-progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone,
which is produced after the release of an egg, or ovulation).
In 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative study of postmenopausal women
with an average age of 65 found that taking combination HT slightly
increased the risk of breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, and blood
clots. The results scared women and many stopped taking HT, only to find
their symptoms came back. As a result, women and their doctors began
looking for alternative ways to treat menopausal symptoms, such as
bioidentical hormone therapy. (For more information on the WHI study,
see Resources at the end of this fact sheet.)
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=512&Itemid=230
Menopause marks the end of a woman’s menstrual periods. Production of
the hormones estrogen and progesterone fluctuates in the years leading
up to menopause, then declines. Symptoms may include hot flashes and
night sweats, disturbed sleep, vaginal dryness or itching, bladder
problems, and mood changes.
Women have a number of options
for treating menopausal symptoms, including estrogen—currently the most
effective treatment for many symptoms—nonestrogen prescription drugs,
and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=513&Itemid=231
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in American women,
especially for those who started their periods early (before age 12) or
reached menopause late (after age 55).
Breast cancer is more common among:
• older women
• women with no children
• women who delayed pregnancy until after age 30
• women who have used combination hormone therapy (estrogen plus progestin) for more than five years
• women whose mother, sister, or daughter has had breast cancer
Women can learn about their individual risk for the disease through a
questionnaire based on the Gail Model (see the risk assessment website
below). This questionnaire is used to calculate your chances for
developing breast cancer within five years and during your lifetime by
looking at several factors, including your age and any family history of
the disease.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=514&Itemid=232
Infertility is the inability of a sexually active couple, not using any
birth control, to get pregnant after one year of trying.
Infertility affects more than 3 million couples in the United States.
About 40% of cases are due to female factors, 30% are due to male
factors, 20% are a combination of both, and in about 10% the cause is
unknown.
For pregnancy to occur, several things have to happen:
• An egg must develop in the woman’s ovary.
• The egg has to be released each month into the fallopian tube (ovulation).
• A man’s sperm must travel through the fallopian tube to meet and
fertilize the egg (within 24 hours of ovulation for greatest success).
• The fertilized egg must be able to travel through the fallopian tube and attach (implant) in the lining of the uterus.
If any of these events does not happen or is disrupted, infertility will result.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=515&Itemid=233
Throughout life, your body keeps a balance between the loss of bone and
the creation of new bone. You reach your highest bone mass (size and
density) at about age 30. Then, sometime between age 30 and 35, your
body begins to lose bone faster than it can be replaced.
Menopause—the time when menstrual periods end, which usually happens in your late forties or early fifties—dramatically
speeds up bone loss. After menopause your ovaries stop producing the
hormone estrogen, which helps to keep your bones strong. Even during
perimenopause (the period of 2 to 8 years before menopause), when your
periods start to become irregular, your estrogen levels may start to
drop off and you could start to lose bone more rapidly.
Over
time, this bone loss can lead to osteopenia (low bone mass) or even
osteoporosis, a condition in which bones become weak and are more likely
to break (fracture).
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=516&Itemid=234
The term polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder defined by a group of signs and symptoms. These may include:
• Irregular or absent menstrual periods
• Infertility
• Weight gain (especially at the waist)
• Acne
• Excess hair on the face and body
• Thinning hair on the scalp
Women with PCOS often have many small painless cysts in the ovaries
(hence the name “polycystic”). These cysts are not cancerous.
PCOS affects 7 to 10 percent of women of childbearing age and is the
most common cause of infertility. In the United States, an estimated 5
to 6 million women have PCOS, many of them without realizing it.
PCOS affects more than reproduction. It’s also a metabolic problem that affects several body systems.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=517&Itemid=235
Premature Ovarian Failure
Premature ovarian failure (POF), sometimes called premature ovarian
insufficiency, occurs when the ovaries (the twin female organs that
produce and release an egg each monthly cycle) stop working before a
woman turns 40. When they stop working, women don’t ovulate or produce
normal amounts of the hormone estrogen, which puts them at risk for
serious conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease, as well as infertility.
In the United States, POF affects about 1 in every 100 women. The most
common signs of POF are irregular or missed menstrual periods—especially
if they are accompanied by hot flashes. Periods may occur off and on,
or may start again many years after being diagnosed with POF. Other
symptoms may include:
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Irritability
• Difficulty concentrating
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=518&Itemid=236
Premenstrual syndrome, also called PMS, includes both emotional and
physical signs and symptoms. It affects a woman for a week or two before
the start of her menstrual period. Symptoms go away shortly after her
period starts. About 75 percent of women have PMS at some time before
menopause.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, also
called PMDD, is a more severe form of PMS, affecting about 3 to 6
percent of women. PMDD can interfere with daily life and make it hard
for a woman to maintain relationships. Women who have had major
depression are more likely than others to have PMDD.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=519&Itemid=237
Erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence, is the inability to get or
keep an erection (hard penis) for enough time to have satisfactory sex.
To maintain an erection, blood must be able to flow into and stay in the
penis until orgasm.
Men commonly have problems with their erections once in a while. If ED occurs often, medical therapy may be helpful.
About 15 to 30 million men
in the United States have ED. It can happen at any age, but is more
common in men older than 65. Physical problems cause about 70 out of 100
cases (or 70%); emotional issues cause about 10% to 20%; and 10% to 20%
have a mixed physical and emotional cause.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=521&Itemid=239
Infertility is the inability of a sexually active couple who are not
using birth control to get pregnant after one year of trying.
Infertility affects more than three million couples in the United
States. Male problems play a role in 30% to 50% of infertile couples.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=522&Itemid=240
Klinefelter syndrome is a group of conditions affecting the health of
males who are born with at least one extra X chromosome. Chromosomes,
found in all body cells, contain genes. Genes provide specific
instructions for body characteristics and functions. For example, some
genes determine height and hair color. Other genes influence language
skills and reproductive functions. Each
person typically has 23 pairs of chromosomes. One of these pairs (sex
chromosomes) determines a person’s sex. A baby with two X chromosomes
(XX) is female. A baby with one X chromosome and one Y chromosome (XY)
is male.
Most males with Klinefelter syndrome, also called XXY
males, have two X chromosomes instead of one. The extra X usually occurs
in all body cells. Sometimes the extra X only occurs in some cells,
resulting in a less severe form of the syndrome. Rarely, a more severe
form occurs when there are two or more extra X chromosomes.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=523&Itemid=241
Testosterone is the most important sex hormone that men have. It is
responsible for the typical male characteristics and helps maintain sex
drive; sperm production; facial, pubic, and body hair; muscle; and bone.
The brain and pituitary gland (a small gland at the base of the brain)
control the production of testosterone by the testes.
In the short term, low testoterone (also called hypogonadism) can cause:
• A drop in sex drive
• Poor erections
• Low sperm count
• Enlarged breasts
Over time, low testosterone may cause a man to lose body hair; lose
muscle bulk and strength; accumulate body fat; and have weaker bones
(osteoporosis), mood changes, less energy, and smaller testes. Symptoms
vary from person to person.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=524&Itemid=242
Bones undergo changes throughout our lives, as old bone is broken down
and new bone forms. But the most important time for building a strong
skeleton is during childhood and adolescence. Bone strength depends on
both the size of the bones and the amount of mineral they contain.
The greatest gains in bone size and mineral content occur in adolescence. At puberty, hormonal
changes take place that start sexual maturity and speed up bone growth.
Bones not only get longer and wider, they also get denser. People reach
their peak bone mass, or maximum bone size and density, by their late
teens or early twenties. As early as age 30, some bones begin to slowly
lose mass.
The more bone mass we “bank” in childhood and
adolescence, the better we withstand the inevitable bone losses and the
better protected we are from osteoporosis and bone fractures later in
life.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=526&Itemid=244
Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become weak and are more
likely to fracture or break. In young adult life, both men and women
form enough new bone to replace the bone that is naturally broken down
by the body (bone turnover). Osteoporosis develops when your body cannot
replace bone as fast as it is broken down.
In the United States there are 2 million men
with osteoporosis and 12 million who are at risk for the disease. About
one in five men over age 50 will have a bone fracture that will
seriously affect his quality of life, and may cause early death.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=527&Itemid=245
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become weak and are more
likely to fracture or break. It is called a “silent” disease because
bone loss often occurs without your knowing it.
Until about age
30, your body forms enough new bone to replace the bone that is
naturally broken down by the body (a process called bone turnover). Your
highest bone mass (size and thickness)
is reached between ages 20 and 25, and it declines after that. After
menopause, however, women begin to lose bone at an even faster rate.
Osteoporosis develops when your body cannot replace bone as fast as it is broken down.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=528&Itemid=246
Bone is a living tissue that is constantly breaking down and being
replaced. Throughout life, your body balances the loss of bone with the
creation of new bone. You reach your highest bone mass at about age 30.
Thereafter, you begin to lose bone mass.
Over time, bone loss can cause osteopenia (low bone mass) and then osteoporosis, a condition in which bones become
weak and are more likely to break (fracture). Fractures can cause
serious health problems, including disability and premature death.
Getting enough vitamin D and calcium is important in keeping your bones
healthy and reducing your chances of developing osteopenia or
osteoporosis.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=529&Itemid=247
Newborn babies who are unable to make enough thyroid hormone have
congenital hypothyroidism, meaning they are born with an underactive or
absent thyroid gland. If the condition is not found and treated,
children can have mental retardation and growth failure. But the good
news is that early diagnosis and proper treatment can prevent these
problems. In most cases, the condition is permanent and your child will
need lifelong treatment.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=531&Itemid=249
The thyroid gland is located in the neck, just below your voice box
(larynx). It produces two thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and
triiodothyronine (T3), which regulate how the body uses energy. This is
sometimes called your “metabolism.”
How well the thyroid works
is controlled by another gland called the pituitary, which is located in
your brain. The pituitary produces thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH),
which stimulates the thyroid to produce T4 and T3.
Read more
Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
http://www.lysetteiglesiasmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=532&Itemid=250
