What is hormone imbalance?
Hormone imbalance is when your body's hormones are out of equilibrium. This happens when you have too much or too little of a certain hormone in your system. Some common symptoms of hormone imbalance include:
- Irregular periods or missed periods
- Acne breakouts
- Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Depression and anxiety
- Fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping
- Loss of libido
What causes hormone imbalance?
There are a few key factors that can throw your hormones out of balance:
- Perimenopause and menopause - Estrogen levels start to decline leading up to menopause, which can cause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats.
- Thyroid disorders - An underactive or overactive thyroid gland can impact hormones.
- Chronic stress - High cortisol levels from prolonged stress can disrupt other hormones.
- Poor diet - Not getting proper nutrition can affect hormone production.
- Being overweight or underweight - Extra fat cells or being underweight alter estrogen levels.
- PCOS - Polycystic ovarian syndrome causes hormone imbalances that affect menstruation and fertility.
- Environmental toxins - Chemicals like BPA can interfere with natural hormone pathways.
How is hormone imbalance diagnosed and treated?
If you suspect a hormone imbalance, see your doctor for testing. They will check levels of hormones like estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and testosterone. Based on test results, they can determine where your hormone levels are off.
Treatment depends on what's causing the imbalance but may include:
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) - Taking estrogen/progesterone supplements to relieve menopause symptoms.
- Thyroid medication - Levothyroxine to treat an underactive thyroid.
- Birth control pills - Can regulate menstrual cycles and hormone levels.
- Medications that treat PCOS - Like metformin or spironolactone.
- Lifestyle changes - Improving diet, exercise, sleep and stress management.
The doctors at The Hormone Hub specialize in identifying and treating hormone imbalances through customized care plans. Their integrative approach combines bioidentical hormone therapy, nutrition plans, targeted supplements and stress reduction techniques to restore hormone balance from within. If you think hormones could be at the root of your health issues, visit www.The Hormone Hub.com to learn more and book a free 15 minute phone consultation with a hormone specialist today!