The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) suspended the manipulation, commercialization, advertising and use of manipulated hormonal implants, also known as beauty chipsand sold by compounding pharmacies across the country. The decision is contained in a new resolution from the agency, which will be published in the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU), and has the force of law.
According to Anvisa, the measure is preventive and was adopted after complaints presented by medical entities, including the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Associations, which indicate an increase in the care of patients with problems due to the use of implants that mix different hormones, in implantable format, including substances that do not have a safety assessment for implantable form.
Since last year, the prescription of hormonal therapies for aesthetic purposessuch as gaining muscle mass and improving sports performance, is prohibited by another resolution, approved by the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM).
“Beauty chips” are implants widely used as a strategy for weight loss, menopause treatment, anti-aging, reducing body fat, increasing libido and muscle mass. According to experts, they can contain numerous substances, although they are usually composed of testosterone or gestrinone, a progestin with an androgenic effect. Combinations containing estradiol, oxandrolone, metformin, oxytocin, other hormones and NADH are also produced. Medical entities had been warning health authorities against the abusive use of these implants.
With the new resolution, Anvisa asks patients who use these products to consult their doctors for guidance regarding treatment. Any patient who may have reactions due to the use of this type of product must undergo a notification to the body. Beauty chips have never been subject to Anvisa evaluation.
Alert
The regulatory agency’s monitoring area has also published a alert which highlights that hormonal implants for aesthetic and performance purposes can be harmful to health, in addition to there being no proof of safety and effectiveness for these purposes.
Complications for those who misuse these products include: elevated cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood (dyslipidemia), high blood pressure, stroke and cardiac arrhythmia.
Furthermore, excessive hair growth may occur in women (hirsutism), hair loss (alopecia), acne, voice changes (dysphonia), insomnia and agitation.
