The Antiandrogens are used as an active ingredient against the male sex drive. In contrast, it can also be used for women. In addition to treating acute symptoms, long-term use can result in permanent effects and side effects.
What is antiandrogens?
In some cases, women and men have too high levels of male sex hormones. Why this increased production of estrogens and gestagens occurs has not been conclusively researched.
In most cases, however, those affected already experience the first symptoms during puberty. In male adolescents, this can be the result of an increased sex drive. It is not uncommon for this to be accompanied by an uncontrollable trait that reacts to sensual stimuli. Women, on the other hand, usually complain of slight beard formation, a tendency to acne and recognizable masculine characteristics when they have this increased hormone count.
In these cases, the antiandrogen is used over a period of months or even years. This should achieve an inhibition of hormone production. As a result, the preparation often triggers side effects, which is why its use is controversial and may only be carried out on medical advice.
Pharmacological effect
The proportions of sex hormones develop unevenly in those affected. Compared to the female hormones, the male hormones are more numerous. This gives rise to the aforementioned symptoms. In these cases the antiandrogen is administered.
This is usually done in the course of oral intake by tablet or capsule. In a few cases it is also possible to inject a serum. Once the agent enters the bloodstream, it blocks the androgen receptor in the central nervous system. The now occupied receptors can then no longer be bound by testosterone for a few hours. This avoids a large number of biochemical processes.
Without the administration of antiandrogens, they would lead to the increased production of certain proteins in the organism. They, in turn, are involved in the increasing amount of sex hormones. The balance of male and female hormones is restored by the drug and can be positively influenced in the long term with long-term use. However, the administration is not entirely safe.
Medical application & use
Antiandrogens are used nowadays when symptoms are relatively low. On the one hand, this is the increased sex drive in men. On the other hand, the tendency to acne and increased sebum production as well as the presence of facial hair in women are treated in this way.
In addition, administration in the context of prostate cancer would also be conceivable in men, but is actually only carried out for certain medical indications.By inhibiting the sex hormone, the antiandrogen has also gained the reputation of being successfully used in castration. This image forms the basis that the preparation is currently controversial.
It continues to be injected into sex offenders in some nations. They should undergo chemical castration in the long term. However, this procedure is not legitimized in Germany. In some European countries it can be chosen voluntarily by those affected in the presence of non-treatable sexual urges. Only in the United States of America is it forcibly brought into the offender's body.
Risks & side effects
A considerable number of side effects result from the above. In a few situations, misuse can even lead to infertility in the person concerned. Although these cases are rarely registered, they cannot be completely avoided.
The desired effect of inhibiting male sex hormones is also linked in some constellations to the increased production of female hormones. In these circumstances, even men can show breast growth according to the female pattern. In general, patients report a decrease in pleasure, which in many cases also results in a more extensive lack of drive.
The being of the person concerned calms down. Pathological and driven traits decrease. With the alleviated sex drive, a change in personality is therefore also possible in certain cases. The application should therefore be rather discreet and must always follow the medical assessment and recommendation.
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