Do breast implants affect hormone levels?

Question

I had a mirena IUD a few years ago & had bad side effects, one being irritability, mood swings. I had it for 6 mo. & after getting it taken out I was back to my happy self within a week or so. I was reading that the mirena is made of silicone & although I've chosen saline implants, I realize the outer shell is silicone. Just wondered if this should be a RED FLAG to me to NOT get implants?? Do implants affect hormone levels at all?

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS · Answer

Good question. But understand your Mirena implant put hormones in your system to prevent pregnancy (in much smaller amounts than oral contraceptives, but still enough to obviously cause your symptoms).Breast implants do no have any hormones bonded to the silicone, and do not add any hormones to your system. They will not cause the symptoms your Mirena IUD did.Mirena caused your side effects because of the hormones bonded to the silicone, not the silicone. BTW, silicone implants are just as safe as saline implants (it could be argued they are safer, since they are now all cohesive, cannot leak like saline implants, and do NOT require periodic MRI studies to "check" for leaks. They are (soft) solid and cannot leak, ever. Since saline implants CAN leak, and require re-operation if they do, and feel less natural, and show ripples more commonly, perhaps saline is not the best choice?) Just consider re-operation as a risk factor since hormone changes are no longer an issue (at all). Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

Larry Weinstein, MD · Answer

There is no correlation of a change in hormonal levels with breast implants. I a sorry to hear of your problems with your IUD. However breast implants have risks that you would need to be aware of prior to placement. Hormone shifts are not one of them.

Elliot Lach, MD · Answer

The Mirena is considered a "levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system"  according to the FDA.  The Mirena is therefore an IUD that slowly releases a synthetic progesterone that is absorbed by the lining of the uterus.  Breast implants contain no such hormone releasing substances.  They are meant to be surgically placed and result in an anatomic change of the breast or for the purpose of reconstruction following breast cancer surgery, for example. Breast implants currently on the market in the United States currently do not release any hormone, nor are they known to stimulate a woman's  body to raise or reduce her own hormone levels.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

Breast implants have no impact on hormonal levels. It is important to recognize the difference between the effects caused by an IUD device in the female pelvic region and that of breast implants on the chest wall.

Kimberly Short, MD · Answer

No. I am not aware of any connection.  The mire a IUD has slow release hormones. Implants do not. Although some women can lactate short term after they get implants, this is not thought to be hormonally related to the implants.

Do breast implants affect hormone levels?

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Answer: Breast Implants and Hormones

Answer: Breast Implants and Hormones

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Answer: Breast implants and hormone levels

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Do breast implants affect hormone levels?

Answers (7)

Answer: Breast Implants and Hormones

Answer: Breast Implants and Hormones

Answer: Breast implants and hormone levels

Answer: Breast implants and hormone levels

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