10 Signs You May Have a Hormone Imbalance
10 Signs You May Have a Hormone Imbalance
From fatigue and irritability to weight gain and low sex drive, hormone imbalances could be to blame for a range of symptoms you may be dealing with. Symptoms associated with the most common types of hormone imbalance include:
- Persistent Weight gain
- Hair loss
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
- Mood Swings
- Low Libido
- Skin Problems
- Irregular Menstrual Cycles
- Infertility
Hormones are chemicals produced by glands in the endocrine system of the body. These chemicals travel throughout your bloodstream, delivering signals to your organs that help regulate their functions. The proper balance of these hormones is a necessary component in keeping your health at an optimal level. Here are 10 Signs You May Have a Hormone Imbalance!
Persistent Weight Gain
Weight gain or difficulty losing weight can be an extremely frustrating side-effect of hormone imbalance. Most women go through changes in metabolism and weight fluctuation throughout their lives. However, suppose you are actively trying to lose weight or keep to a rigorous diet and exercise schedule (without seeing results). In that case, you may be dealing with a decrease in estrogen levels or an underactive thyroid gland.
Hair Loss
There are a number of conditions that can cause hair loss, two of the most common being pregnancy or PCOS in women. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition in which the ovaries produce an abnormal amount of androgens, resulting in the growth of ovarian cysts. This condition affects approximately 10 percent of women and can cause irregular or missed periods.
Headaches
A variety of things may trigger headaches, but a decrease in estrogen levels is a common cause in women. In addition, you may experience headaches due to hormonal changes during your menstrual cycle, menopause, or pregnancy.
Fatigue and Night Sweats
Have you noticed your energy levels dropping? Maybe you’re relying on a few extra cups of coffee to help get through the day? While this could result from lack of sleep or changes in your daily routine, alterations to the hormone levels of your brain can affect your thyroid levels. Improper thyroid gland function can cause fatigue, while a drop in progesterone and estrogen levels can affect your sleep. Falling estrogen levels also contribute to night sweats and hot flashes, which disrupt your ability to sleep, adding to your fatigue.
Mood Swings
Though snapping at your partner or getting frustrated with a co-worker once in a while might not be an indicator of a hormone imbalance, there are a few consistent changes to your mood that you should watch out for. For example, many women experience anger, irritability, depression, or anxiety before and during their menstrual cycle. However, these mood changes are exacerbated by an imbalance of estrogen, which significantly affects neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine.
Low Libido
Have you noticed a change in your sex drive lately? Testosterone could be the culprit. Though typically thought of as a predominantly male hormone, low testosterone levels in women may cause low libido. However, this can also be true of men as well.
Skin Problems
From acne to prematurely aging skin, hormones play a significant role in the health and appearance of your skin. For example, chronic adult acne may appear due to high levels of androgens, which causes an excess of oils in the skin, breakouts, and clogged pores that lead to acne. Similarly, a decrease in estrogen levels is associated with premature skin aging and may become drier and less elastic.
Irregular Menstrual Cycles
Most women have menstrual cycles that last between 21 and 35 days. Consequently, if you have an irregular cycle, this could be a sign of hormonal imbalance. The most common cause of irregular menstrual cycles is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that typically appears in early adulthood.
Infertility
Hormonal imbalance is one of the leading causes of infertility in women. With changing hormone levels, a woman’s fertility typically drops off after the age of 35. However, if you are under the age of 35 and have been trying to conceive for more than six months, you should consult a doctor and test your hormones.
Treating Hormone Imbalance
Hormone imbalance is a common struggle that many women deal with. If you have noticed changes in your body or mood that could indicate a hormonal imbalance, contact our team at Optimus Health.
We want to help you take back control of your health and work with you to understand precisely what you need for your health goals. We have many solutions to these problems that allow you to live a richer and more fulfilling life. Contact us today to get started!
