Pills, Patches, and Shots

Part 2: What is a Hormone?

The term hormone is derived from the Greek word, hormo, which means to set in motion. And that's precisely what hormones do in the body. They stimulate, regulate, and control the function of various tissues and organs. Made by specialized groups of cells called glands, hormones are involved in almost every biological process including sexual reproduction, growth, metabolism, and immune function. These glands, including the pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, ovaries, and testes, release various hormones into the body as needed.

Levels of some hormones like parathyroid hormone, which helps regulate calcium levels in the blood and bone, actually increase as a normal part of aging and may be involved in bone loss leading to osteoporosis. But the levels of a number of other hormones, such as testosterone and estrogen, tend to decrease over time. In other cases, the body may fail to make enough of a hormone due to diseases and disorders that can develop at any age. When this occurs, hormone supplements -- pills, shots, topical (rub-on) gels, and medicated skin patches -- may be prescribed.

Unproven claims that taking hormone supplements can make people feel young again or that they can slow or prevent aging have been "hot" news items for several years. The reality is that no one has yet shown that supplements provide health benefits for people with genuine deficiencies of certain hormones. They also can cause harmful side effects. In any case, people who have genuine hormone deficiencies should take them only under a doctor's supervision. More is not necessarily better. The right balance of hormones helps us stay healthy, but the wrong amount might be damaging.

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