Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Medically reviewed and verified by Kate Burke, MD, MHA
Are you familiar with hormone therapy? This treatment method is used for different medical conditions, especially those that involve hormone imbalances. One condition where hormone therapy plays an essential role is congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). CAH is a genetic disorder that affects the adrenal glands, causing problems with hormone production. Hormone therapy helps manage CAH by replacing the hormones the body cannot produce. Interested in learning more about this treatment approach and why it is so important? PatientsLikeMe has a guide!
What Is Hormone Therapy?
Hormone therapy is using medications to either add, block, or remove hormones in the body. It helps keep hormone levels balanced and is commonly used to treat conditions with hormone deficiencies or imbalances. For people with CAH, hormone therapy helps replace essential hormones like cortisol and aldosterone, which the body cannot produce properly. While hormone therapy is essential for managing CAH, it also treats other conditions.
- Diabetes: People with type 1 diabetes use insulin, a hormone, to regulate their blood sugar levels. Insulin therapy is lifesaving for individuals who cannot produce enough insulin naturally.
- Menopause: Women going through menopause may have symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep problems. Estrogen replacement therapy or combination therapy helps balance hormone levels and reduce these symptoms.
- Cancer: Hormone therapy can help slow the growth of certain cancers. For example, prostate cancer and breast cancer can be fueled by natural hormones like testosterone and estrogen. This therapy blocks these hormones to stop the cancer from growing.
Hormone Therapy and CAH
CAH affects the adrenal glands. These glands sit on top of the kidneys and are responsible for releasing cortisol, aldosterone, and androgens. People with CAH either don’t produce enough of these hormones or produce them in an imbalanced way. The main treatment goal for CAH is to replace and suppress the missing hormones through daily hormone therapy. People with CAH typically need to take this therapy for their entire lives. Daily medication makes sure that their hormone levels stay balanced so their bodies function properly. Without treatment, people with CAH can experience a range of symptoms, including low blood pressure, dehydration, and in severe cases, a life-threatening condition called adrenal crisis.
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis? Low cortisol? High androgens? What does it all mean?
Watch now: The science behind CAH: What’s going on in my body?
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) can be overwhelming, but breaking it down can make it easier to understand what's happening in your body. Hormones monitored by your doctor are produced by several different organs that make up the HPA axis. The HPA axis is short for hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and in people with CAH, those organs don’t work together as they should. Learn more about the HPA axis and its role in this video.
Questions about CAH and how it affects the body? Visit WhatTheCAH to learn more. Sponsored by Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
How Hormone Therapy Works
Taken daily, medications like hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone replace the missing hormones in the body. These are taken in doses that mimic the body’s natural hormone production. During times of stress, such as illness or surgery, the body naturally needs more cortisol. People with CAH may need to take higher doses of their hormone medication, called "stress doses," to help their bodies cope with these situations.
Why This Is Important for CAH
Without hormone therapy, people with CAH are at risk of serious health problems. Low levels of cortisol and aldosterone can lead to salt wasting, dehydration, low blood sugar, and other dangerous symptoms. Hormone therapy not only prevents these issues but also allows people with CAH to live normal lives. For children with CAH, hormone therapy starts early. Doctors will monitor the child's hormone levels regularly to make sure the treatment is working. As children grow, doctors will adjust their hormone doses to support their changing bodies.
Managing treatment for CAH takes regular monitoring by healthcare professionals, including endocrinologists, who specialize in hormone disorders. For children with CAH, a team of doctors, including geneticists and mental health professionals, often work together to provide the best care possible. This will include:
- Regular Check-Ups: Blood tests monitor hormone levels and adjust medication doses as needed.
- Setting a Daily Routine: Taking hormone medications at the same time every day helps keep hormone levels stable.
- Being Prepared for Emergencies: Families should be ready for adrenal crises by keeping an emergency hydrocortisone injection on hand and knowing when to give stress doses of medication.
Hormone therapy is a vital treatment for people with CAH. It helps replace the missing hormones that the adrenal glands cannot make, allowing people with CAH to live healthier, more stable lives. For those with CAH, this lifelong treatment will help them avoid complications like adrenal crisis and other health issues. You should work closely with your doctor to make sure the therapy is effective throughout your life.
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