Last Updated on 31/03/2023 by Jill Dumas
Do you have a hormone imbalance?
A hormone imbalance is defined as a deficiency or excess of one or more hormones, which can lead to a wide range of health symptoms and disorders. In general, signs that suggest a hormone imbalance include the following:
- persistent tiredness
- hair loss
- palpitations at rest
- unjustified mood swings or irritability
- metabolic alterations (e.g. blood sugar, hypercholesterolemia)
- difficulty concentrating
- water retention
- sub or infertility
- changes in sense of appetite
- insomnia
Common signs and symptoms of a hormone imbalance
Irregular menstrual cycle
Most women have menstrual cycles that last between 26 and 35 days, but up to a quarter of women experience irregular cycles. This includes periods that are shorter or longer than usual. Some women who have irregular periods may also experience several symptoms including abdominal cramps or lack of ovulation. Amenorrhea is a term that refers to an absence of menstruation for at least 3 months if a woman is not pregnant, while menorrhagia denotes excessive or long menstrual bleeding. Additionally, dysmenorrhea refers to the onset of pain and cramping during menstruation.
Acne
Persistent acne can be due to an excess of androgens, hormones such as testosterone, which, contrary to popular belief, both men and women have. Excess levels of androgens affect the skin and sebum production and thus acne. In particular, women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a higher concentration of male sex hormones and have a higher risk of infertility.
Fatigue & low energy
Fatigue is a common symptom that can have many potential underlying causes. For example, while too little progesterone can make it difficult to sleep, too much progesterone can make fatigue worse. Another common hormone imbalance that causes fatigue is low levels of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) or cortisol.
Mood swings & your menstrual cycle
A hormonal imbalance can be the cause of mood changes. Many women experience anger, irritability, mood swings, depression and feelings of agitation before and during their period. These symptoms could be associated with PMS. In this regard, it is well known that hormones effect neurotransmitter production such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine.
Headaches and migraines
A wide variety of causes can trigger headaches, but a decrease in oestrogen levels is a common cause in women. If your headaches routinely occur at the same times each month, just before or during a period, declining oestrogen may be the trigger.
Libido and sexual desire
Testosterone is typically thought of as a male hormone, but both men and women have it. Although testosterone is not an aphrodisiac, a state of deficiency of this hormone can cause a decrease in libido, as occurs for example in male andropause. Conversely, even very high levels of testosterone can be harmful to health, causing sterility in men and amenorrhea and hirsutism in women.
Sleep disturbances & insomnia
Insomnia or night awakenings are very common in the general population and there may be a hormonal imbalance at their base. We often see high levels of cortisol at night time, a hormone that should be higher in the morning than in the evening. Additionally, the pineal gland is a small endocrine gland found in the brain that produces melatonin, which affects the circadian rhythm and the levels of other hormones in the body. Together with cortisol, an change or decrease in melatonin secretion contributes to difficulty falling asleep in the evening. If cortisol and melatonin levels are off or being secreted at the wrong time, you’ll have trouble falling asleep and waking up in the morning.
If you’re in your 40’s or 50’s and still getting a period, you’re likely going through perimenopause and I suggest you check out my blog post on perimenopause & sleep.
Female subfertility or infertility
Hormonal imbalance is a common cause of female infertility. In these cases, abnormal levels of oestrogen, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, progesterone, prolactin, and other hormones can contribute to this disorder.
Aging skin
Decreased oestrogen levels in perimenopause and menopause are associated with skin aging. Skin thins with age and tends to wrinkle as collagen is lost. Skin also becomes drier, less elastic, and less vascular with age. Lower oestrogen is associated with increased signs of skin aging.
Conclusion
When we think of a ‘hormone imbalance’, we generally think of sex hormones – oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. However, there are other important hormones in the body that can also be out of balance, such as stress hormones (cortisol, adrenaline), the thyroid hormones and even insulin which helps balance blood glucose levels in the body. All of these hormones are intricately connected and if one is off, it can quickly have a cascade effect on the others. That’s why, in my clinic, I take a comprehensive look into all of the hormones and we worth together to put a plan in place with specific, targeted diet, nutrition and lifestyle changes to bring them all back into balance.
If you’re ready and motivated to sort your hormones once and for all, book a discovery call today!
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PERIMENOPAUSE: TARGETED DIET, LIFESTYLE & SUPPLEMENT SUPPORT
