HORMONAL IMBALANCE- HOW IT EFFECTS US?
In this article we’re going to explore a topic that affects many of us today but often goes unnoticed, which is hormonal imbalances and its common symptoms you should be aware of.
Hormones are chemical messengers that affect many body processes such as sexual function, reproduction, metabolism and mood. Therefore, what is a hormonal imbalance? Glands throughout your body make over 50 different hormones. Many of these hormones respond to fluctuations in other hormones to maintain stability. A hormonal imbalance is when you have too little or too much of one of the hormones. Even a small imbalance can lead to big changes. You can develop an imbalance due to natural hormonal transitions or certain medical conditions. This can lead to a variety of symptoms such as menstrual irregularities, skin changes and weight fluctuations. Today we will address hormonal imbalance symptoms; what causes them and how to get back in balance.
Hormonal imbalance can lead to menstrual symptoms such as irregular periods, heavy bleeding between periods and missed periods. In addition to breastfeeding, pregnancy and menopause, other conditions that can disrupt hormones related to menstration include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), primary ovarian insufficiency (POS) and thyroid disorders. Skin symptoms caused by hormonal imbalancing include acne, especially during adolescence, menopause, rashes and easily irritated skin and slow wound healing. Hormonal imbalanced digestive symptoms may include diarrhea, constipation, bloating and abdominal discomfort. Hormones help regulate the gastrointestinal GI tract estrogen and progesterone in particular, may influence irritable bowel syndrome IBS. Gastrointestinal symptom changes related to the menstrual cycle are common when estrogen levels drop during perimenopause. So do serotonin levels as serotonin is a chemical messenger neurotransmitter that helps brain and nervous system cells communicate.
A drop in estrogen can also happen postpartum. These changes can result in symptoms such as nervousness, irritability, anxiety, sadness and weight changes are sometimes the result of a hormonal imbalance. For example: hormone changes due to menopause or having too much cortisol can result in weight gain conditions such as hyperthyroidism and can led to weight loss. Hormones have a big impact on the hair growth cycle and follicle structure. Anything that affects your hormone levels can affect your hair, causing one unwanted hair under your chin along your jawline or above lip to thinning hair or loss.
Hormonal imbalance sleep symptoms can include trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, poor sleep due to night sweats and hot flashes and insomnia. While hormonal imbalances can cause sleep problems it’s also true that sleep problems can upset hormonal rhythms. Low sexual desire can be a symptom of a hormonal imbalance. Endocrine or hormonal abnormalities are common in people with sexual dysfunction. Several hormones, primarily testosterone can affect the male sex drive. Estradiol, testosterone and progesterone all help modulate sexual desire in females. Other hormonal imbalance sex symptoms include vaginal dryness and uncomfortable or painful intercourse in women and erectile dysfunction in men. Infertility is defined as not being able to conceive after 12 months of regular sex without birth control. Conception depends on ovulation, which is the release of an egg from ovary. Ovulation depends on the timing of certain hormones such as gonadotropin,
releasing hormone GnRH, lutenizing hormone LH and follicle stimulating hormone FSH. Infrequent or regular periods could mean that you’re not ovulating. It’s rare but hormonal imbalance due to low LH and FSH levels can cause infertility symptoms. In males, certain medications can also cause changes to hormone levels some of these are hormonal treatments for menopause or breast cancer and long-term use of cortisol like drugs to treat conditions such as inflammatory diseases, asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease
and cancer. Too much hypothyroidism medicine hormones can get out of balance due to natural transitions in life such as puberty, pregnancy and menopause. Many medical conditions also affect hormones, that’s why it’s important to see a healthcare provider and find the cause. Your specific symptoms and clinical examination will determine the next steps.
Hormone blood tests may include:
estrogen test to help diagnose infertility, menstrual problems and erectile dysfunction
progesterone test to help diagnose infertility, abnormal bleeding and adrenal gland disorders
FSH test to help diagnose infertility problems with the ovary or testicles and low sperm count
TSH test to see how well your thyroid is working
testosterone test for symptoms of erectile dysfunction or low sex drive in men
DHEA sulfate test to check adrenal gland function disorders of the testicles or ovaries and excess body hair in women
Treatment depends on the specific diagnosis. For example: low estrogen and low progesterone in females can be treated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT is typically used to treat menopausal symptoms. There are many ways to take it including tablets, patches and gels. It’s not for everyone, though it may not be safe if you’ve had certain conditions such as breast, ovarian or uterine cancer, blood clots or high blood pressure or liver disease.
You might be able to affect hormone levels through diet. Certain plants contain compounds that mimic estrogen. Foods that may help boost estrogen include apples, berries, grapes, peaches, pears, plums, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, onions, spinach, sprouts, barley, oats, wheat germ, almonds, flax seeds, peanuts and seeds. Vitamins B and D can help boost estrogen and a mineral called Boron can help the body absorb estrogen and testosterone. If you’re considering taking dietary supplements, it’s a good idea to speak with a health care provider first. Other natural ways to keep hormones in balance include maintaining a healthy balanced diet, exercise regularly, get adequate sleep and manage stress.
