Common Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance and Treatment Solutions

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there are over 50 hormones found in the human body.

The endocrine system controls the hormones in our body. It consists of glands, the hormones the glands make and the receptors who receive the hormones in the different areas of our body.

There are many reasons why our hormones can get thrown out of whack and the symptoms of hormone imbalance are numerous.

Let’s discuss what a hormone imbalance is and some of the more common symptoms people can experience.

What is a Hormone Imbalance?

Hormones are produced by your endocrine system. They are chemical substances that act as messengers that tell the parts of your body what to do.

Hormones travel through the body to their target site or sites then attaches to it and relays its message.

A hormone imbalance occurs when your endocrine system sends too many or not enough messages to a particular part or parts of the body.

While we receive a lot more news and health notices about hormone imbalance in women (menses, perimenopause, menopause, etc.), it is important to note that hormone imbalance in men also occurs.

What are the Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance?

Symptoms of hormone imbalance can vary depending on which particular hormones are involved.

Since individual hormones interact with only certain parts of the body, your symptoms will depend on which hormone isn’t being produced in the correct amount.

Thus by knowing which symptoms you are having, it will help narrow down which hormones your doctor needs to check for.

Review the list below and be sure to tell your doctor about any of the ones you may be experiencing.

Poor Quality Sleep

The National Sleep Foundation indicates a normal person should fall asleep within 30 minutes of getting into bed, not wake up more than once per night, get back to sleep within 20 minutes, and spend less than 85% of your time in bed sleeping.

A change in your hormones can cause you to have trouble sleeping.

Your adrenal glands may be producing too much adrenaline, cortisol or cortisone. Your pituitary gland also produces cortisone and cortisol. These hormones are released when you are under too much stress.

Extreme Fatigue

Extreme fatigue can occur in normal people when they have been busier than normal over a long period of time. If that’s not the case for you but you regularly feel drained of energy or feel like you are coming down with the flu (that never develops), it may be due to your hormone levels.

Your thyroid may be making too few thyroid hormones or too many. Hypothyroidism refers to when your thyroid is making too few hormones. When your thyroid is making too many, it is called hyperthyroidism.

Thyroid hormones regulate important things like your heart rate and body temperature. They also control the energy use for every tissue in your body.

Unexplained Weight Loss or Gain

If you are losing or gaining weight for no apparent reason, it is imperative you get your doctor to check you out. There are many reasons why your weight change may be occurring, but don’t assume a loss in weight is a good thing.

Your unexplained weight gain may be due to too much cortisol. An unexpected weight loss may mean your adrenal glands aren’t producing enough cortisol or aldosterone.

Hair Loss

People lose hair every day, so some loss is normal.

Excessive hair loss can occur when your hormones are out of balance. Hormones produced by your thyroid and adrenal glands may be to blame.

So if you notice your hair coming out in larger quantities than normal, it’s time to get checked out by a doctor.

A Decrease in Sex Drive

Sometimes a woman’s adrenal glands and ovaries stop producing enough of the necessary hormones which can cause a decrease in her interest in engaging in sexual intercourse.

Your hormone levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all play a part in your sexual desire. There are many treatments options available, so talk to your doctor to find a solution you are comfortable with.

Brain Fog and Memory Loss

If you have had moments where you feel either disoriented or confused, you may be suffering from brain fog. Brain fog can make you believe your thinking and memory processes are not responding the way they should.

Brain fog can be caused by declining estrogen levels or a thyroid condition, among other things.

Vaginal Dryness

A common reason for vaginal dryness is that a woman’s estrogen levels have dropped. The hormone estrogen helps keep the vaginal lining in a healthy state.

20% of all females going through perimenopause and menopause experience vaginal dryness.

If you are experiencing pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse, it may be due to vaginal dryness.

Other Symptoms Involving Estrogen Levels

Urinary incontinence, mood swings, hot flashes, and night sweats can all be traced back to a woman’s estrogen levels.

If you suffer from urinary incontinence or vaginal dryness, your doctor may refer you to a urogynecologist.

A Urogynecologist is a doctor who specializes in treating women with pelvic floor disorders. The pelvic floor helps to support a woman’s internal organs including her uterus, vagina, bladder, bowels, and rectum.

If you are asking yourself how you find a “urogynecologist near me”, you can start by asking your general practitioner for a referral. If not, place a call to your medical insurance helpline to get their help in locating a qualified urogynecologist near you.

Treatments for Hormone Imbalance

Depending on your specific personal health history, there can be many options for your doctor to subscribe for treatment if you have a hormone imbalance. Your doctor can help you choose the right one for you.

Hormone replacement therapy such as bioTE® may be prescribed. bioTE® is a natural hormone replacement option that is available. Many patients like this option because it only takes seconds to insert the pellets, the insertion is relatively painless, and patients see improvement within 7-10 days.

Other options your doctor may prescribe is birth control, anti-androgen medications, estrogen therapy, estrogen creams, and thyroid hormone therapy.

Make an Appointment Today to Get Your Hormone Levels Checked

Your doctor understands that symptoms of hormone imbalance may be uncomfortable to discuss. Don’t let that difficulty or discomfort keep you from getting the care you need and deserve.

Remember, your doctor has been trained to help people with these types of personal medical issues. And they want to help you.

If you have more questions about healthy hormone levels, contact us today to make an appointment. We can help you determine if you have a hormone imbalance and find the best treatment available for you.