Why Sex Hormones Can Help (or Hurt) Your Asthma

genetically linked.
Can hormonal imbalances trigger asthma?
You may be noticing a pattern here. The available research tells us that if your body grows and develops in a typical way changing levels of sex hormones may impact your experience of asthma over the course of your life. And if your hormones are imbalanced when for whatever reason they arent behaving as expected for a person your age you may be even more likely to experience severe asthma symptoms.
If youre living with severe asthma that might be a scary thought. So what can you do about it?
How does this information impact you?
If you were assigned female at birth you might be wondering Should I stop taking birth control pills?
We dont want patients to just stop taking oral contraceptives Dr. Solanki stresses. Theyre effective for preventing pregnancy and managing certain chronic conditions and most people tolerate them well.
In fact oral contraceptives may keep premenstrual asthma symptoms from worsening at the end of your menstrual cycle.
Were simply asking patients to be vigilant she says. Tell your doctor if you notice more asthma attacks while on birth control pills. If you feel like your contraception method is having a negative impact on your health your provider can help you decide what alternative is right for you and your situation.
After menopause your asthma will likely improve. But if hot flashes or other symptoms become unbearable during the transition will it be safe to take hormone replacement therapy HRT?
Because HRT contains estrogen Dr. Solanki notes that it may temporarily worsen your asthma. But dont take that as a sign that you shouldnt take a prescribed medication. Instead watch your symptoms and alert your provider if you have any concerns.