{"id":9789,"date":"2019-07-05T05:00:06","date_gmt":"2019-07-05T12:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/btsadv.wpengine.com\/?p=9328"},"modified":"2019-07-05T05:00:06","modified_gmt":"2019-07-05T12:00:06","slug":"hormones-used-as-a-tool-of-abuse-in-intimate-partner-violence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/?p=9789","title":{"rendered":"Hormones Used as a Tool of Abuse in Intimate Partner Violence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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By Amy Thomson<\/span><\/p>\n

As survivors, it\u2019s not uncommon to find shared experiences in others\u2019 stories of surviving intimate partner violence. While the underlying methods of abuse are similar, there are ways that abusers exploit our circumstances to manipulate, control, and punish us.<\/span><\/p>\n

One form of abuse that can be experienced regardless of gender or sexual orientation is controlling and withholding hormone treatments. While you may have limited knowledge of how hormones are incorporated into medical treatments, the actual usage of hormones covers an array of purposes. To understand how interrupting or withholding hormone therapies can be used as a tool of abuse, it\u2019s important to know how they are used.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Hormones Are Used<\/b><\/p>\n

Menopausal Hormone Therapy<\/b> \u2013 As women age, their bodies slowly and ultimately cease production of estrogen and progesterone. Decreasing hormones can cause sleep disturbances, irritability, hot flashes and night sweats, anxiety, and decreased sex drive. Depending upon whether or not the woman has had a hysterectomy, doctors will prescribe estrogen and progestin in the form of pills, patches, creams, or suppositories as appropriate. For those who are concerned about low sex drive, doctors may also prescribe a small amount of testosterone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Testosterone Therapy<\/b> \u2013 As men age, levels of testosterone decrease slowly over time. This occurs as a natural result of aging but can be exaggerated in those with <\/span>hypogonadism<\/span><\/a>, a disease where the body is unable to produce sufficient levels of the hormone due to a gland malfunction or underlying conditions such as diabetes, thyroid issues, sleep apnea, and depression. Doctors will prescribe testosterone injections, patches, or gel to reduce sleep disturbance, level mood and improve memory, increase energy, and make it easier to regulate sex drive, body fat, muscle bulk, and other physical conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Diabetes<\/b> \u2013 There are several hormones our bodies produce to regulate blood sugar levels, including glucagon, amylin, cortisol, growth hormones, epinephrine, GIP, and GIP-1. All of these hormones work together to maintain stable blood sugars, but a key piece of the puzzle is insulin. (To learn more about how they work together, visit <\/span>Diabetes Education Online<\/span><\/a>.) When the pancreas is unable to produce normal levels of insulin, it causes hypoglycemia (low glucose), and Type I and II Diabetes. Types I and II diabetes are treated with a range of medications in pill form and insulin injections and pumps for more severe cases.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cancer<\/b> \u2013 Because some cancers are believed to be driven by hormone levels, <\/span>hormone therapies<\/span><\/a> have been developed to fight the illnesses. Currently, hormone therapies are used in treating breast and prostate cancers. There are three ways hormones can be used to stop cancer from spreading: blocking their ability to act, stop the body from producing it, and change or eliminate hormone receptors. Doctors will use these treatments as another option to surgery and radiation and prescribe them in the form of oral, injection, or surgical procedures.<\/span><\/p>\n

Medical Transitioning<\/b> \u2013 Not everyone internally identifies with their biological sex, and there are many ways a person can feel more comfortable in their skin. To help this process, transgender individuals may choose medical options, including hormone treatments and surgical procedure. The <\/span>hormone treatments<\/span><\/a> prescribed will depend upon whether they want to create feminine or masculine features.<\/span><\/p>\n

For transwomen, therapies will include estrogen and spironolactone, anti-androgens, GnRH agonists, or progesterone. These will decrease the growth of body hair, reduce muscle mass, soften skin, and aid in the development of hips and breasts. Because there are limited effects of these hormones, other treatments including voice training, hair removal, and facial feminization procedures may be used if the person chooses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Transmen will receive testosterone (and sometimes finasteride) therapy. Usage of these therapies causes several changes to occur, including thickening of facial bone structure, deepening voice, fat redistribution, increased muscle mass, and increase in hair growth. Because testosterone does not affect ovulation, contraception or other procedures may be used to prevent the occurrence of pregnancy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ways Abusers Use Hormones to Control and Punish Their Victims<\/b><\/p>\n

Like pets, children, and other things that can be used to cause emotional duress or coercively modify behavior, abusers will use a victim\u2019s access to medical procedures and treatments against them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As a form of punishment, the abuser might stop their victim from taking needed medication or hormones. At other times, they may threaten to withhold or temporarily interrupt their victim\u2019s treatments to coerce the victim into modifying their behavior or agreeing to things they usually would not do.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some ways the abuser might do this:<\/span><\/p>\n