Some hormone disorders, such as an underactive thyroid, can be easily treated with daily supplemental hormones. Others may require a thyroid biopsy or more complex treatment, such as surgery. An endocrinologist can talk you through all of your treatment options, and help you to choose the best one for you.
Drugs and Injections
A number of drugs can be used to treat hormonal disorders.
- Glucocorticoid pills can replace hormones such as cortisol that may be low due to malfunctioning adrenal glands.
- Several types of medication including insulin can be used to treat diabetes.
- Supplemental testosterone in the form of injections, gels and patches may be used to treat men who have low testosterone.
Surgical Procedures / Thyroid Disorder Care
When disorders of the thyroid or parathyroid glands can’t be treated with medication, it may be necessary to remove all or part of the glands surgically.
If there is a growth in the thyroid gland, your endocrinologist might order a thyroid nodule biopsy to rule out cancer. If the growth is highly overactive or if it is so swollen it affects your breathing, they may recommend removal of the gland.
Surgery may also be used to remove the nearby parathyroid glands if they contain a growth. In some cases, parathyroid tissue is removed because the tissue is highly overactive, leading to improper calcium levels in the body.
