Experiencing some shifts in your hormones is normal at different times in your life. However, some hormonal shifts are unexpected or severe and can cause a number of problems within your body. You are warmly invited to learn more about a hormone imbalance and discover some of the symptoms you should be aware of, as well as some common treatments that are available to treat this issue.
About Hormone Imbalances in Women
Hormones are chemical messengers within your body. The endocrine glands produce chemicals and send them throughout the bloodstream in order to control various organs. They’re responsible for a number of your body’s functions such as reproduction and metabolism. A hormone imbalance simply means that your body is producing either too little or too much of a particular hormone. Unfortunately, even the smallest changes can have serious effects.
While some changes are normal throughout your life or during different times of your cycle, other imbalances can be more problematic and longer-lasting. If your endocrine glands are malfunctioning, it can cause you immense upheaval that affects your body, mind and emotions in a wide variety of ways.
Common Signs of a Hormone Imbalance
Your health and well-being can be affected greatly when your hormones are out of balance. Therefore, it’s possible to experience a broad array of symptoms if you have a hormone imbalance present. Various symptoms are affected by different hormones, so these symptoms will likely vary depending on the root cause. However, there are some symptoms that are rather common. They can occur in both women and men. These include:
Increased sensitivity to cold or heat
Constipation or frequent bowel movements
Weight gain
Puffy face
Fatigue
Muscle weakness
Increased thirst
Sudden weight loss
Increase or decrease in heart rate
Dry skin
Increased hunger
Depression
Thinning, fine or brittle hair
Sweating
Blurred vision
Pain, stiffness or swelling of the joints
Decreased sex drive
Infertility
Increased or new stretch marks
As you can see, this list of symptoms is extensive. The variety of symptoms indicates the kind of havoc a hormone imbalance can wreak on the body. There are some signs of an imbalance in hormones that occur specifically in women. They are:
Heavy or irregular periods
Missed, frequent or halted periods
Thinning hair or hair loss
Excessive hair on the face, chin or other body parts
Upper back, face or chest acne
Weight gain and difficulty losing weight
Skin tags
Vaginal atrophy
Darkening of the skin in areas such as under breasts, neck creases or near the groin
Night sweats
Vaginal dryness
Painful sex
Hormones can normally change due to puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause. You may notice some of these symptoms during such times.
Causes and Treatments
There are lots of reasons you might develop a hormone imbalance. As noted, some of these are normal and to be expected. The cause may vary based on which hormones are being affected and other factors.
The following are common causes of a hormone imbalance:
Hypothyroidism
Hyperthyroidism
Hypogonadism
Cushing syndrome
Diabetes
Medications
Eating disorders
Hormone therapy
Hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules
Thyroiditis
Benign or cancerous tumors
Cancer treatments
Injury or trauma
Stress
Adrenal Insufficiency
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
Pituitary tumor
Some causes specific to women include:
Menopause
Pregnancy
Breastfeeding
Premature menopause
PCOS
Birth control or other hormonal drugs
Primary ovarian insufficiency
A physical exam and discussion of your symptoms with a professional is the first place to start when it comes to diagnosing an imbalance of hormones. You should also talk about your medical history and share any medications you’re currently taking. Testing for a hormonal imbalance is varied; however, there are some common options used when an imbalance is suspected.
Again, depending on what may be causing your hormone imbalance, there are various treatment options available. Estrogen therapy is common for treating symptoms associated with menopause. Vaginal dryness that causes painful sex can be alleviated.
Learn More
Here at Pearl MD Rejuvenation, we are proud to offer bioidentical hormones to women who are dealing with a hormone imbalance. However, it is impossible for you to determine on your own that you qualify for treatment. That’s one of the reasons why an initial consultation is so important. This is a safe and effective treatment for those who qualify, but we want to make sure it is right for you. We also want to make sure you have realistic expectations regarding the treatment and what it can and cannot do for you.
These are just some general things you should know about a hormone imbalance and how to treat it. As you can see, the effects are vast. Book an appointment at Pearl MD Rejuvenation to talk to a professional and discover which type of treatment might be right for you. Our office is conveniently located in Toronto. Contact us today to set up a consultation and get started!
