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Hormone Pills: Past Dangers, Present Cautions
10 Mar
Summary
- Older hormones caused masculinization in baby girls.
- Modern progestins are less androgenic, lower doses.
- Newer versions are 'feminizing' and treat acne.
In the mid-20th century, pregnant women sometimes received high doses of norethindrone to prevent miscarriage. This treatment resulted in notable side effects for both mothers and their children.
Women experienced increased sweating, hair growth, and acne, with some noticing their voices deepening. Alarmingly, nearly 20% of baby girls born to these mothers developed masculinized genitals, sometimes requiring surgical intervention.
Modern progestins, such as levonorgestrel, are chemically derived from testosterone but have significantly reduced androgenic properties due to lower doses and combination with estrogen. These modifications minimize the masculinizing effects observed in earlier treatments.
Conversely, newer generations of progestins, developed from synthetic progesterone, exhibit 'feminizing' effects. These are now prescribed for conditions like acne or excessive hair growth, although they can also lead to undesirable outcomes from hormonal imbalance.
