Hormonal Imbalance: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Hormones are produced in the endocrine glands. You can think of them as the body’s chemical messengers. They travel around the body and through the bloodstream telling tissues and organs what to do and when to do it. Hormonal Imbalance happens for the reason that you have too much or too little hormone in your body. Hormones help regulate metabolism, appetite, heart rate, sleep cycles, reproductive cycles, sexual function, general growth, development, mood, stress levels, and body temperature. Hormonal imbalances can affect a wide range of bodily functions. Even a little change involving hormones can have serious effects on the body.

Symptoms

People may be affected by imbalances in steroids, growth hormones, insulin and adrenaline. For women, they may experience an imbalance in progesterone and estrogen levels differing from men that may get an imbalance in testosterone levels. The symptoms of hormonal imbalance will depend on which hormones or glands aren’t functioning properly.

General Symptoms

Here are some of the symptoms associated with hormonal imbalance:

Unexplained weight gain/loss
Unexplained/excessive sweating
Sleep difficulties
Changes in heat/cold sensitivity
Dry skin
Skin rashes
Changes in blood pressure
Changes in heart rate
Brittle/weak bones
Changes in blood sugar concentration
Irritability
Anxiety
Unexplained fatigue
Increased thirst
Headaches
Depression
Increase/decrease in bathroom activity
Bloating
Appetite changes
Sex drive reduction
Brittle, thinning hair
Infertility
Puffy face
Blurred vision
Neck bulges
Breast tenderness
Voice deepening in females

In Women

Women will naturally experience periods of hormonal imbalance throughout their life, such as during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, perimenopause or menopause, and post-menopause. And since women have different endocrine organs and cycles, they have a risk of developing hormonal imbalance disorders different from men in general. These disorders may also be caused by medical conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hormone replacement, early menopause, birth control medications, primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), and ovarian cancer. Here are symptoms of hormonal imbalance in women:

Heavy/irregular/painful periods
Osteoporosis
Hot flashes/night sweats
Vaginal dryness
Breast tenderness
Indigestion
Constipation
Diarrhea
Acne during and before menstruation
Uterine bleeding (not associated with menstruation)
Increased hair growth on face, neck, chest or back
Infertility
Weight gain
Thinning hair
Hair loss
Skin tags/abnormal growths
Voice deepening
Clitoral enlargement

In men

For men, the natural experience of hormonal imbalance occurs along with puberty and aging. Prostate cancer and hypogonadism (low testosterone) are some medical conditions that cause hormonal imbalance in men. Symptoms of hormonal imbalance in men include:

Reduced sex drive
Erectile dysfunction (ED)
Low sperm count
Reduced muscle mass
Reduced body hair growth
Overdevelopment of breast tissue
Breast tenderness
Osteoporosis

Causes

People will naturally experience hormonal imbalance or fluctuations at particular points in their life, another cause might be the endocrine glands not working properly. Endocrine glands are made up of specialized cells that produce, store, and release hormones into the body. The endocrine system includes:

Adrenal glands
Gonads
Pineal gland
Pituitary gland
Hypothalamus gland
Thyroid and parathyroid glands
Pancreatic islets

There are a lot of medical conditions that can affect the endocrine glands moreover lifestyle habits and environmental factors may also be cause for hormonal imbalance. Here are some of the causes of hormonal imbalance:

Chronic/extreme stress
Diabetes
Hyperglycemia (glucagon overproduction)
Hypoglycemia (there’s more insulin produced than there is glucose in the blood)
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
Parathyroid hormone over/underproduction
Poor diet and nutrition
Being overweight
Hormonal replacement
Birth control medications
Anabolic steroid medication abuse
Solitary thyroid nodules
Pituitary tumors
High cortisol levels (Cushing’s syndrome)
Low cortisol and aldosterone level (Addison’s disease)
Benign tumors and cysts affecting endocrine glands
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Endocrine gland injury
Severe infections or allergic reactions
Cancers involving endocrine glands
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy
Goiters (iodine deficiency)
Hereditary pancreatitis
Turner syndrome (females with only one functioning X chromosome)
Prader-Willi syndrome
Anorexia
Phytoestrogens
Exposure to toxins, pollutants and chemicals that disrupt endocrine functions

Tests and Diagnosis

When it comes to detection, there’s no single test available for doctors to diagnose hormonal imbalance. Start by making an appointment for a physical exam. Be ready to describe your symptoms and the times they occurred. Prepare a list of all vitamins, supplements, and medications you’re currently taking. Your doctor may ask you questions such as:

How often are you experiencing symptoms?
Does anything help relieve your symptoms?
Have you lost or gained weight recently?
Are you more stressed than usual?
When was your last period?
Are you planning to get pregnant?
Do you have trouble getting or maintaining an erection?
Do you have vaginal dryness or pain during sex?

Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may suggest one or more diagnostic tests. Eventually, you can ask your doctor to perform the following test; blood testing, pelvic exam, ultrasound, biopsy, MRI, X-ray, thyroid scan and sperm count tests.

Treatments

The treatment for hormonal imbalance may be different for each person, as it depends on what caused the imbalance in the first place.

For women:

Hormone control or birth control – for those not trying to get pregnant, medications containing forms of estrogen and progesterone can help regulate irregular menstrual cycles and symptoms. People can take birth control medications as pills, rings, patches, shots, or an intrauterine device (IUD).
Vaginal estrogen – people experiencing vaginal dryness associated with changes in estrogen levels can apply creams containing estrogen directly to vaginal tissues to reduce symptoms. Estrogen tablets and rings might also be used to reduce vaginal dryness.
Hormone replacement medications – can be used to temporarily reduce severe symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes or night sweats.
Eflornithine (Vaniqa) – this prescription cream may slow excessive facial hair growth in women.
Anti-androgen medications – medications that block the predominately male-sex hormone androgen can help limit severe acne and excessive hair growth or loss.
Clomiphene (Clomid) and letrozole (Femara) – these medications help stimulate ovulation in people with PCOS trying to become pregnant. Those with PCOS and infertility may also be given injections of gonadotropins to help increase the chances of pregnancy.
Assisted reproductive technology – in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be used to help those with PCOS complications get pregnant.

For men:

Testosterone medications – gels and patches containing testosterone that can help reduce symptoms of hypogonadism and other conditions that cause low levels of testosterone such as delayed or stunted puberty.

For both:

Metformin – medication for type 2 diabetes, it can help manage or lower blood sugar levels.
Levothyroxine – medications containing levothyroxine, such as Synthroid and Levothroid, can help improve symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Note that lifestyle changes (for the better) may help reduce symptoms and likelihood of hormonal imbalance. Here are some, for reference:

maintaining a healthy body weight
eating a nutritious and balanced diet
exercising regularly
practicing good personal hygiene, focusing on washing areas with a lot of natural oils, such as the face, neck, back, and chest
using over-the-counter acne washes, rinses, and medicated creams or gels for minor to moderate acne
avoiding triggers that cause hot flashes, such as warm weather and spicy, rich, or hot foods and drinks
reducing and managing stress
practicing yoga, meditation, or guided visualization
limiting sugary foods and refined carbohydrates
avoiding packaged foods

replacing older non-stick pans with ceramic pans
using glass containers to store and heat foods and drinks
restricting the use of cleaning products that contain toxic chemicals, such as bleach
buying fruits and vegetables that have not been sprayed with pesticides or ripening chemicals
not microwaving foods and drinks in plastics

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