2020
Understanding Hormonal Imbalance
Understanding hormonal imbalance
Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers.
Produced in the endocrine glands, these powerful chemicals travel around the bloodstream instructing tissues and organs what to do. They help to control many of the body’s major processes, including metabolism and reproduction.
When there is a hormonal imbalance, either you have too much or too little of a certain hormone. Even tiny changes can have serious effects throughout your whole body.
Think of hormones like a cake recipe.
Too much or too little of any one ingredient affects the final product.
While some hormone levels fluctuate throughout lifetime and may just be the result of natural aging, other changes occur due to endocrine glands get the recipe wrong.
Signs or symptoms of a hormonal imbalance
Hormones play an integral role in your overall health. As a result, there’s a broad range of signs or symptoms that could signal a hormonal imbalance. Symptoms will depend on which hormones or glands aren’t working properly.
Common hormonal conditions affecting both men and women could cause any of the following signs or symptoms:
- weight gain
- a hump of fat between the shoulders
- unexplained, and sometimes sudden, weight loss
- fatigue
- increased thirst
- increased hunger
- decreased sex drive
- depression
- nervousness, anxiety, or irritability
- blurred vision
- muscle weakness
- muscle aches, tenderness, and stiffness
- pain, stiffness, or swelling in your joints
- increased or decreased heart rate
- frequent urination
- infertility
- thinning hair or fine, brittle hair
- dry skin
- puffy face
- rounded face
- purple or pink stretch marks
- sweating
- increased sensitivity to cold or heat
- constipation or more frequent bowel movements
Signs or symptoms in females
In females of reproductive age, the most common hormonal imbalance is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Normal hormonal cycle also changes naturally during these stages:
- puberty
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
- menopause
Symptoms of a hormonal imbalance specific to females include:
- heavy or irregular periods, including missed periods, a stopped period, or a frequent period
- hirsutism, or excessive hair on the face, chin, or other parts of the body
- acne on the face, chest, or upper back
- vaginal dryness
- vaginal atrophy
- pain during sex
- night sweats
- headaches
- hair loss
- darkening of the skin, especially along neck creases, in the groin, and underneath the breasts
- skin tags
Signs or symptoms in males
Testosterone plays an important role in male development. If you aren’t producing enough testosterone, it can cause a variety of symptoms.
Symptoms of hormonal imbalance in adult males include:
- gynecomastia, or the development of breast tissue
- breast tenderness
- loss of bone mass, otherwise known as osteoporosis
- difficulty concentrating
- hot flashes
- erectile dysfunction (ED)
- decrease in beard growth and body hair growth
- loss of muscle mass
Signs or symptoms in children
Boys and girls start producing sex hormones during puberty. Many children with delayed puberty will go on to experience normal puberty, but some have a condition called hypogonadism.
Boys with hypogonadism may experience:
- lack of development of muscle mass
- a voice that doesn’t deepen
- excessive growth of the arms and legs in relation to the trunk of the body
- body hair that grows sparsely
- impaired penis and testicular growth
- gynecomastia
For girls with hypogonadism:
- menstruation doesn’t begin
- the growth rate doesn’t increase
- breast tissue doesn’t develop
Causes of a hormonal imbalance
There are many causes of a hormonal imbalance. Causes differs, depending on which hormones or glands are affected. Common causes of hormonal imbalance include:
- hormone therapy
- cancer treatments such as chemotherapy
- tumors, whether cancerous or benign
- pituitary tumors
- medications
- pituitary tumors
- eating disorders
- stress
- injury or trauma
While the conditions below may be initially caused by hormonal imbalances, having the conditions can also lead to further hormonal imbalances:
- diabetes (type 1 and type 2)
- diabetes insipidus
- hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid
- hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid
- hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules
- thyroiditis
- hypogonadism
- Cushing syndrome, or high levels of cortisol
- congenital adrenal hyperplasia, which causes low levels of cortisol and aldosterone
- Addison’s disease
- hypogonadism
Causes unique to women
Many causes of hormonal imbalance in women are related to reproductive hormones. Common causes include:
- menopause
- primary ovarian insufficiency, which is also known as premature menopause
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
- PCOS
- hormone drugs such as birth control pills
There’s no single test available for doctors to diagnose a hormonal imbalance. Begin by making an appointment with your doctor for a physical exam.
Be prepared to describe your symptoms and the timeline along which they’ve occurred. Bring a list of all medications, vitamins, and supplements you’re currently taking.
Your doctor may ask you questions such as:
- How often are you experiencing symptoms?
- Does anything help relieve your symptoms?
- Are you more stressed than usual?
- When was your last period?
- Are you planning to get pregnant?
- Have you lost or gained weight recently?
- Do you have trouble getting or maintaining an erection?
- Do you have vaginal dryness or pain during sex?
Depending on your symptoms, doctor may suggest one or more diagnostic tests. One can also request that your doctor perform these tests.
Blood test
Your doctor will send a sample of your blood to a lab for testing. Most hormones can be detected in the blood.
A doctor can request a blood test to check your thyroid and your levels of estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol.
Pelvic exam
If you’re female, your doctor may perform a Pap smear to feel for any unusual lumps, cysts, or tumors.
If you’re male, your doctor may check your scrotum for any lumps or abnormalities.
Ultrasound
An ultrasound machine uses sound waves to look inside your body. Doctors may request an ultrasound to get images of the uterus, ovaries, testicles, thyroid, or pituitary gland.
Additional tests
Sometimes more advanced tests are required. These can include:
At-home tests
If you’re experiencing symptoms of a hormonal imbalance, you may also consider using a home testing kit. They’re available for a variety of conditions.
Home testing kits for menopause measure follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in your urine. FSH levels increase when you enter menopause.
Levels also rise and fall during a normal menstrual cycle. Other factors, such as the use of hormonal birth control, can also affect your FSH levels.
As such, these kits can give you an indication of whether menopause has started, but they can’t tell you conclusively. Your healthcare provider’s confirmation may be necessary.
Home testing kits typically use saliva or blood from the fingertip to measure your levels of cortisol, key thyroid hormones, and sex hormones such as progesterone and testosterone. Some tests may require a urine sample.
Treatment options for a hormonal imbalance
Treatment for a hormonal imbalance will depend on what’s causing it. Some common treatment options are described below.
Estrogen therapy
If you’re experiencing hot flashes or other uncomfortable symptoms of menopause, your doctor may recommend a low dose of estrogen.
Be sure to discuss the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with your doctor. If you don’t already have a provider, you can browse doctors in your area through the Health line Find Care tool.
Vaginal estrogen
If you’re experiencing vaginal dryness or pain during sex, you may want to try applying an estrogen cream, tablet, or ring.
Using this local therapy treatment helps eliminate many of the risks associated with systemic estrogen, or estrogen that travels throughout the bloodstream to the appropriate organ.
Hormonal birth control
Hormonal birth control can help regulate your menstrual cycles. Types of hormonal birth control include the:
It may also help improve acne and reduce extra hair on the face and body.
Anti-androgen medications
Androgens are male sex hormones that are present in both women and men. Women with high androgen levels may choose to take medication that blocks the effects of androgens.
These effects include:
- hair loss
- facial hair growth
- acne
Testosterone therapy
Testosterone supplements can reduce the symptoms of low testosterone in men. In adolescents with delayed puberty, it stimulates the start of puberty. It’s available in many forms, including injections, a patch, and gel.
Thyroid hormone therapy
If you have hypothyroidism, the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Synthroid, Unithroid) can bring hormone levels back into balance.
Metformin
Metformin is a type 2 diabetes medication that may help some women with PCOS symptoms. The FDA hasn’t approved it to treat PCOS, but it might help lower androgen levels and encourage ovulation.
Flibanserin (Addyi) and bremelanotide (Vyleesi)
Addyi and Vyleesi are the only medications that are FDA approved for the treatment of low sexual desire in premenopausal women. Addyi is a pill, and Vyleesi is a self-administered injectable medication.
These drugs may come with some serious side effects, such as severe nausea and changes in blood pressure. Talk to your doctor to see if either one could be right for you.
Eflornithine (Vaniqa)
This prescription cream is designed specifically for excessive facial hair in women. Applied topically to the skin, it helps slow new hair growth, but it doesn’t get rid of existing hair.
Natural remedies and supplements
There are many nutritional supplements on the market that claim to treat menopause and hormone imbalance. However, few of them are backed up by scientific evidence.
Many of these supplements contain plant-derived hormones. These are sometimes called “bioidentical” hormones because they chemically resemble the body’s natural hormones. There’s no evidence to suggest that they work better than regular hormone therapy, though.
Some people find that yoga helps treat symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Yoga is excellent for your strength, flexibility, and balance. It may also aid in weight loss, which can help regulate your hormones.
You can also make the following lifestyle changes:
- Lose weight. A 10 percent reduction Trusted Source in body weight in women may help make your periods more regular and increase your chances of getting pregnant. Weight loss in men may help improve erectile function.
- Decrease vaginal discomfort. Use lubes or moisturizers free of parabens, glycerin, and petroleum.
- Avoid hot flashes. Try to identify things that commonly trigger your hot flashes, such as warm temperatures, spicy foods, or hot beverages.
- Eat well. A balanced diet is an important part of overall health.
- Remove unwanted hair. If you have excess facial or body hair, you can use hair removal cream, laser hair removal, or electrolysis.
The primary cause of acne is excess oil production, which leads to clogged pores. Acne is most common in areas with many oil glands, including the:
- face
- chest
- upper back
- shoulders
Acne is often associated with pubescent hormonal changes, but there’s actually a lifelong relationship between acne and hormones.
Acne and menstruation
The menstrual cycle is one of the most common acne triggers. For many women, acne develops the week before they get their period and then clears up.
Dermatologists recommend hormonal testing for women who have acne in combination with other symptoms, such as irregular periods and excess facial or body hair.
Acne and androgens
Androgens contribute to acne by over stimulating the oil glands.
Both girls and boys have high levels of androgens during puberty, which is why acne is so common at that time. Androgen levels typically settle down in a person’s early 20s.
Hormonal imbalance and weight gain
Hormones play an integral role in metabolism and your body’s ability to use energy. Hormone disorders, such as Cushing syndrome, can cause you to become overweight or develop obesity.
People with Cushing syndrome have high levels of cortisol in their blood. This leads to an increase in appetite and fat storage.
Hypothyroidism, if the condition is severe, can also lead to weight gain.
During menopause, many women gain weight because the metabolism slows down. You may find that even though you’re eating and exercising like normal, you still gain weight.
The only way to treat weight gain from a hormone disorder is to treat the underlying condition.
Hormonal imbalance and pregnancy
During a normal, healthy pregnancy, your body goes through major hormonal changes. This is different than a hormonal imbalance.
Pregnancy and PCOS
Hormonal imbalances, such as PCOS, are among the leading causes of infertility. With PCOS, the hormonal imbalance interferes with ovulation. You can’t get pregnant if you’re not ovulating.
Pregnancy is still possible if you have PCOS. Losing weight can make a big difference in your fertility. There are also prescription medications available that can stimulate ovulation and increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is also an option if medication doesn’t work. As a last resort, surgery can temporarily restore ovulation.
PCOS can cause problems during pregnancy for both you and your baby. There are higher rates of:
- miscarriage
- gestational diabetes
- preeclampsia
- cesarean delivery
- high birth weight
- admission to and time spent in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
Pregnancy and hypothyroidism
Babies born to women with untreated hypothyroidism have a higher risk for birth defects. This includes serious intellectual and developmental problems.
Hormonal imbalance and hair loss
Most hair loss, such as male pattern baldness, is hereditary and unrelated to hormonal changes. However, hormonal changes and imbalances can sometimes cause temporary hair loss.
In women, this is often related to:
- pregnancy
- childbirth
- the onset of menopause
An overproduction or underproduction of thyroid hormones can also cause hair loss.
Hormone imbalances are associated with many chronic, or long-term, health conditions. Without proper treatment, you could be at risk for several serious medical conditions, including:
- diabetes (type 1 and type 2)
- diabetes insipidus
- kidney damage
- depression and anxiety
- endometrial cancer
- breast cancer
- osteoporosis
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- heart disease
- neuropathy
- obesity
- sleep apnea
- loss of muscle mass
- urinary incontinence
- infertility
- sexual dysfunction
Hormones are responsible for many of your body’s major processes. When hormones get out of balance, the symptoms can be extremely varied.
Hormonal imbalance can cause a variety of serious complications, so it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible.
Be sure to discuss the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with your doctor. If you don’t have a provider, you don’t have to worry as Quickobook is here to provide you with the best consultants.Top of Form
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