Endocrine System: Feedback Mechanisms, Hormones, and HRT Analysis

This report delves into the endocrine system, focusing on positive and negative feedback mechanisms, particularly in the context of oxytocin during childbirth and the regulation of blood glucose levels. It explains how these feedback loops maintain homeostasis. The report also examines the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), discussing the use of synthetic hormones in treating menopausal symptoms and their associated risks, such as increased chances of breast cancer. It differentiates between the two main types of HRT and highlights the importance of medical expertise when considering hormone therapy. The report references relevant sources to support its findings and provide a comprehensive understanding of the endocrine system and its clinical applications.

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

2.2 Process controlled by a feedback mechanism
Positive feedback control of oxytocin in a normal labour
Positive feedback mechanism are rare. One of the best example of positive feedback
controlled mechanism is birth of a child. They mainly help in amplifying changes but do not help
in reversing them. Oxytocin are released during labour from posterior pituitary, this is known as
positive feedback mechanism (Osilla and Sharma., 2018). It helps in stimulating muscle
contraction which helps in pushing baby through birth control. Its release makes contractions
during labour stronger. It increases continuously till the baby is outside the birth canal. When the
pressure receptors ends, production of oxytocin ends as well as labour contractions cease. This
mechanism helps in controlling self-perpetuating events that do not require adjustments
continuously and sometimes can get out of control. In this process original stimulus is promoted
rather than negated. This mechanism also increases the deviation from normal ideal value. This
feedback helps in keeping a human body in homestasis.
Flow chart diagram of the negative feedback mechanism of blood glucose control
Flow chart diagram of the positive feedback mechanism of oxytocin in a normal labour

4.1 Medical use of synthetic hormones
Use of HRT that focuses on medical use of synthetic hormones
HRT or Hormone replacement theory is a kind of hormone therapy which is mainly used
to treat symptoms associated with female menopause. Synthetic hormones are a kind of medicine
used widely in hormone replacement therapy and increases anxiety and aggression. Synthetic
hormones are mainly used in HRT and contraceptive formulation. It is used to treat several
diseases within human body (Yang and et.al., 2017). Today use of these hormones have
increased however, it is used only when medical experts suggest it as it has various kinds of side
effects associated with it.
Hormonal medications used in HRT have both positive and negative effects. But still it is
one of the most effective treatment of menopause symptoms. However, there is no doubt that
increased use of HRT increases chances of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Due to its
increasing risks use of HRT is decreased however still it is used in treating bothersome
menopausal symptoms.
There are mainly two types of HRT: first is combination of HRT that consist of
progesterone and hormones estrogen, and second is HRT that only consist of estrogen.
Combination of HRT that consist of progesterone and hormones estrogen increases chances of
breast cancer by approximately 75 percent even if it used for short term as well. Whereas
Estrogen-only HRT also increases chances of breast cancer as well as ovarian cancer but when it
is used for more than 10 years. It can be used with synthetic hormones that are mostly made in

labs that acts as natural hormones within a human body it is used with hormonal replacement
therapy to treat menopause. In other words HRT can hep in treating menopausal hormone
symptoms such as accelerated skin ageing, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, bone loss etc.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Osilla, E.V. and Sharma, S., 2018. Oxytocin. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.
Yang, J.D., and et.al., 2017. Patient sex, reproductive status, and synthetic hormone use
associate with histologic severity of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Clinical
Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 15(1). pp.127-131.