Ethinyl Estradiol Toxicity
Ethinyl Estradiol Toxicity
Ethinyl Estradiol is a hormone that may be administered to women having hormone replacement therapy and it is also used to make contraceptive pills, patches and vaginally inserted rings. Like any other medical substance that is introduced into the body, excessive exposure to, or ingestion of, ethinyl estradiol may be toxic and cause mild to serious health problems. It is important that women who have been prescribed ethinyl estradiol stick to the prescribed dosages and periods of use. Failure to do so may cause serious health complications and lead to an increased risk of the user developing some of the more serious side effects of ethinyl estradiol use.
Risks
Poisoning by overdosing on medications can come in two forms, acute and chronic. Acute poisoning refers to a single instance of over-exposure where the user takes in too much of a substance in a short period of time while chronic poisoning refers to the cumulative effect over an extended period of high exposure and absorption of a substance. The two types of poisoning can have different effects even when only one toxic substance is in question. Acute and chronic poisoning by over-exposure to ethinyl estradiol causes varying kinds of problems for the user.
Acute Ethinyl Estradiol Toxicity
Acute ethinyl estradiol poisoning results in self-limiting complications usually confined to the gastrointestinal tract. Users who ingest too much ethinyl estradiol in a short period of time may experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and vaginal bleeding. Acute overdoses of estrogen, the hormone created in the body by ingesting ethinyl estradiol, have also been linked to visual disturbance and hypertension. Acute ethinyl estradiol poisoning has not been known to cause death. Patients who are diagnosed with acute ethinyl estradiol poisoning may have to undergo procedures such as activated charcoal treatment to rid the body of the toxic substances.
Chronic Ethinyl Estradiol Toxicity
Chronic ethinyl estradiol poisoning has been linked to cardiovascular disease and cerebro-vascular disease. Like other forms of estrogen that may be administered as treatments, chronic ethinyl estradiol poisoning might lead to stoke, thromboembolic disease, myocardial infarctions, hypertension, jaundice and fluid retention. Studies have also shown that continuous over-exposure and ingestion of estrogen may be connected to certain cancers like breast, endometrial liver cancer. The effects associated with chronic ethinyl estradiol poisoning, like myocardial infarctions and stroke, may lead to death. Persons who are diagnosed with chronic ethinyl estradiol toxicity may be required to stop using the substance altogether.
Ethinyl Estradiol and the Body
Ethinyl estradiol is administered to women as a contraceptive or during hormone replacement therapy as a source of estrogen. Compared to other estrogens, the metabolism of ethinyl estradiol is slow and it carries a risk of toxicity if too much of the substance is ingested. Women who choose to use ethinyl estradiol should stick to the prescribed dosages to reduce the risk of poisoning. Studies have dispelled many of the suggested side effects of ethinyl estradiol, but those studies were conducted using prescribed dosages and not excessive dosages. The risks attached to excessive dosages are much higher than those attached to prescribed dosages.