Guide To Hormone Imbalances

Many of today’s health problems can be attributed to hormone imbalance. Hormones play a critical role in how we act, feel, and think. Whether you’re trying to lose weight, avoid illness, or enhance cognitive focus, imbalanced hormones may be the first area you target.

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about hormone imbalance.

What Are Hormones?

Hormones are chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream to the organs and tissues. They tell our organs what to do and how to function – although they work more slowly than most other chemical messengers.

Hormones are made by endocrine glands, which are special groups of cells found throughout the body. The main endocrine glands are:

— Pituitary Gland
— Thyroid
— Thymus
— Adrenal Glands
— Pancreas

Hormones are considered to be a dominant chemical messenger, which means you only need a small amount of hormones to cause significant changes in your organs or tissues.

Men and women mostly produce hormones in the same way outside of the sexual organs: men produce some of their hormones in the testes, while women produce hormones in the ovaries.

Hormones are classified into four different categories. You’ll find each category below along with some common hormones from each category:

— Amino Acids, Like Epinephrine, Melatonin, And Thyroxine.

— Eicosanoids, Like Thromboxane, Prostaglandins, And Leukotrienes.

— Peptides, Like Amylin, Glucagon, Growth Hormone, Insulin, Leptin, And Lipotropin.

— Steroids, Like Testosterone (Androgen Steroid), Estrone (Estrogen Steroid), And Progesterone (progestogen Steroid).

Understanding Hormone Imbalance

When our bodies are in a normal state, we produce a balanced range of hormones. Our organs and tissues are functioning in their optimal state.

However, when one or more hormones are altered, it can lead to a hormone imbalance. You might have a shortage of one hormone and an overproduction of another hormone.

The most common hormone imbalances involve estrogen and progesterone in women. These two hormones are frequently imbalanced for one or more reasons, including birth control pills, stress, or even the overuse of cosmetics.

Another common type of hormone imbalance involves male hormones and hair loss. The male body converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). When DHT binds to hair follicle receptors, it causes hair follicles to shrink or miniaturize. This leads to thinner, shorter, and finer hair.

Hormone imbalance can occur for many different reasons beyond pregnancy, menopause, PMS, puberty, and male baldness. Other reasons could involve:

— Lack Of Exercise
— Genetics
— Sedentary Lifestyle
— Obesity
— Dietary Habits

Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance in Women

Think you might have a hormone imbalance? Here are some of the common symptoms for different types of hormone imbalances:

Progesterone Deficiency

This is the world’s most common hormone imbalance and it affects women of all ages. Common causes include dietary habits or the use of birth control pills. If you have a progesterone deficiency, then you may exhibit the following symptoms:

— PMS
— Early Miscarriage
— Unexplained Weight Gain
— Anxiety
— Insomnia
— Painful Or Lumpy Breasts
— Cyclical Headaches
— Infertility

Estrogen Deficiency

This hormone imbalance is particularly common among menopausal women. Women with a slim build are more likely to be affected by estrogen deficiency than other women. Common symptoms of estrogen deficiency include:

— Vaginal Dryness
— Painful Intercourse
— Bladder Infections
— Hot Flashes
— Night Sweats
— Memory Problems
— Lethargic Depression

Excess Estrogen Production

You may have an estrogen surplus if your doctor has prescribed synthetic hormones – which are commonly prescribed to women going through menopause. Key symptoms include:

— Puffiness And Bloating
— Rapid Weight Gain
— Mood Swings
— Anxiety Or Depression
— Insomnia
— Red Flush On Face
— Weepiness
— Cervical Dysplasia (Abnormal PAP Smear)
— Breast Tenderness
— Heavy Bleeding
— Migraine Headaches
— Foggy Thinking

Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen dominance can occur when your body doesn’t produce enough progesterone to balance out the effects of estrogen. This imbalance can occur in women who have traditionally low estrogen levels: if your progesterone production is lower than your estrogen production, then you may experience the following symptoms of estrogen dominance:

— PMS
— Early Miscarriage
— Unexplained Weight Gain
— Anxiety And Depression
— Insomnia
— Painful/lumpy Breasts
— Cyclical Headaches
— Infertility
— Puffiness And Bloating
— Red Flush On Face
— Foggy Thinking
— Migraine Headaches
— Weepiness

Excess Androgen

Androgen is a male hormone. Women may develop an excess androgen imbalance by eating too much sugar or simple carbohydrates. In addition, women who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are more susceptible to androgen imbalances. Symptoms include:

— Acne
— Excessive Hair Growth On The Face And Arms
— Thinning Hair On The Head
— Infertility
— Hypoglycemia Or Unstable Blood Sugar Levels
— Ovarian Cysts

Cortisol Deficiency

Cortisol deficiency is typically caused by overworked adrenal glands. Your adrenal glands become overworked when you’re constantly stressed out. Key symptoms include:

— Chronic Fatigue
— Foggy Thinking
— Thin Or Dry Skin
— Brown Spots On The Face
— Low Blood Sugar
— Unstable Blood Sugar
— Intolerance To Exercise

If you have two or more of the above symptoms, then you may have a hormone deficiency. Talk to your doctor and ask about potential treatments for hormone imbalances. Or, check the Hormone Imbalance Treatments section below.

Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance in Men

There are two main types of hormone imbalances that affect men. See those imbalances and symptoms below:

Testosterone Deficiency

Testosterone deficiency is particularly prevalent in men over the age of 50. As the male body ages, testosterone production declines. Symptoms of low testosterone include:

— Weight Loss
— Loss Of Muscle Mass And Definition
— Lower Sex Drive
— Fatigue And Poor Stamina
— Enlarged Breasts
— Softer Erections

Excess Estrogen

Some men think they have symptoms of testosterone deficiency, but in reality, it’s just excess estrogen. Symptoms of excess estrogen are similar to testosterone deficiency and include:

— Puffiness Or Bloating
— Irritability
— Prostate Enlargement
— Hair Loss
— Headaches
— Breast Enlargement
— Weight Gain

Once again, if you have two or more of the above symptoms, then you may have a hormone imbalance.

Other Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance (Men and Women)

The hormone imbalances listed above are just the most common imbalances for men and women. There are countless other hormone imbalances which may be caused by poor diet, exercise, obesity, or simply genetics. If you suffer from the symptoms listed below, then you may have some type of hormone imbalance:

— Sweating: Hot flashes, night sweats, and high internal temperatures, for example.

— Digestion Problems: Gassiness, bloating, and slow digestion are all common hormone problems.

— Cravings: Constantly craving certain foods or activities could be a sign of a hormone imbalance.

— Insomnia and Poor Sleep Patterns: Physical stress often leads to cortisol imbalances, which can lead to sleep problems.

— Anxiety, Irritability, and Depression: Getting angry over little problems? It could be a hormone imbalance.

— Fatigue: Do you constantly feel tired or sluggish – mentally and physically?

— Low Libido: A low sex drive for both men and women could be a sign of hormone imbalance.

— Loss of Muscle Mass and Weight Gain: If you haven’t changed your diet or exercise habits, but have found yourself gaining weight and losing muscle, it could be a hormone problem.

Once again, a doctor can perform tests to check different levels of hormones within your body. In some cases, the above symptoms are unrelated to hormones, and you may be suffering from other health problems. Talk to a doctor to make sure.

Hormone Imbalance Treatments

If you think you suffer from a hormone imbalance, then you should talk to your doctor to learn some of the best treatment methods. Doctors can prescribe certain tests to determine exactly which type of hormone imbalance you’re suffering from.

Possible hormone imbalance treatments include:

Over the Counter Supplements

You may be able to cure certain hormone deficiencies by taking over the counter supplements. These supplements simply raise levels of a certain hormone within your body.

Over the counter supplements are particularly common among women. You can take estrogen and progesterone supplements, for example, without a prescription. You’ll find them at most pharmacies in the form of a cream or a pill.

It’s more difficult for men to take over the counter supplements: especially when trying to raise testosterone. Testosterone pills are often part of the dietary supplement industry and are largely unregulated, making it difficult to find a testosterone pill that works without giving you horrible side effects.

Change Your Diet

You know how dietary organizations recommend getting a certain amount of each vitamin or mineral each day? If you don’t get that daily recommended amount, then your body may not be producing the hormones it needs.

Consider supplementing your diet with the following foods and vitamins:

— Zinc, which has been linked to higher testosterone levels. You can naturally get zinc from dark chocolate, peanuts, and meats like beef, veal, lamb, crab, and oysters. Interestingly enough, high zinc levels are also why people suggest using oysters as an aphrodisiac.

— Omega-3 fatty acids are also important for the production of healthy cell membranes. Your hormones need strong cell membranes in order to reach destinations in your body without breaking down. Common sources of omega 3s include fish, eggs, walnuts, sardines, salmon, tuna, trout, and oysters. Without enough omega-3 fatty acids, your body might be producing enough hormones – but they’re not getting to their intended destinations.

— Fiber plays an important role in the body’s use of estrogen. Specifically, fiber binds itself to old estrogen hormones, clearing them out of the system and restoring balance. Add high-fiber foods like whole grains, raw fruit, and raw vegetables to your diet.

— Avoid excessive caffeine or alcohol. As much as you might want to drink lots of caffeine and alcohol, studies have shown that they can cause hormonal imbalances when taken in excessive amounts.

Exercise More

Many of our health problems boil down to this: we live a sedentary lifestyle and don’t exercise enough.

Exercising more frequently can boost cardiovascular health and have powerful benefits across your body. However, aerobic exercise in particular will release powerful hormones into your bloodstream to boost your mood. These hormones can neutralize the negative effects caused by imbalanced levels of female reproductive hormones.

Stress Less

Out of all the tips listed here, this may be the toughest to implement. If you could instantly eliminate a stressful item in your life, then you probably wouldn’t be stressing about it in the first place.

With that in mind, stress causes excess cortisol production, which can block estrogen. Lower estrogen levels leads to lower serotonin, which can make your mood swings even worse.

Stress isn’t just in your head: it’s a physical condition that affects your entire body. If you can’t eliminate stress from your life, then consider dedicating 30 to 60 minutes per day doing something relaxing: like having a glass of red wine and watching TV, or playing video games.

Sleep More

Getting enough sleep plays a key role in our hormone levels. Sleep is particularly important for men because the male body produces testosterone during the REM cycle of sleep.

If your body can’t spend a sustained amount of time in that REM cycle, then you may experience a drop in testosterone levels. Try sleeping more to see if that clears up symptoms.

Wear Loose-Fitting Clothes

This tip is exclusively for men: wearing tight clothing can block hormone production. Tight clothes create excess heat in your crotch, which destroys existing sperm in the area. The reduced sperm count can lead to hormone imbalances.

Consider Prescription Medications

If none of the above tips have worked for you, then it may be time to seek professional medical advice. Doctors can prescribe a wide range of pharmaceuticals specifically designed to balance your hormones.

Some doctors could recommend taking a birth control pill, for example, which has powerful physical effects beyond reducing your risk of pregnancy.

Other medications include anti-depressants or menopausal hormones, both of which are designed to raise hormone levels within the body.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy is now officially called hormone therapy. For decades, women undergoing menopause would undergo hormone therapy to alleviate symptoms.

That practice stopped suddenly when a large clinical study showed that hormone therapy created more health risks than it avoided. As a result, hormone therapy is a controversial procedure today – and most doctors recommend against it.

Specific risks of hormone therapy include a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer.

Given that information, there are two main types of hormone therapy, including:

— Systematic Hormone Therapy: Doctors will prescribe synthetic estrogen in the form of a skin patch, cream, spray, or pill, to relieve symptoms of estrogen deficiency.

— Low-Dose Vaginal Products: Doctors may also prescribe hormone therapy in the form of low-dose vaginal products, which include creams, tablets, or rings. Doctors may use these products to treat vaginal symptoms without causing hormone imbalances in the rest of the body. If you have vaginal dryness, for example, but aren’t exhibiting low estrogen symptoms in the rest of your body, then doctors might recommend this targeted treatment method.

Talk to Your Doctor for Professional Medical Advice

Ultimately, most of us suffer from some type of hormone imbalance. However, most hormone imbalances are relatively minor. If you’re experiencing chronic instances of any of the hormone imbalance symptoms listed above, then you may need to talk to your doctor about possible solutions.