WHAT CAUSES HORMONAL IMBALANCE?
Hormonal imbalances occur when there is too much or too little of a hormone in the bloodstream.
Hormones are essential to normal bodily function, and even small imbalances can have significant consequences.
WHAT ARE HORMONES?
Hormones are chemicals that are produced by glands in the endocrine system. Hormones travel through the bloodstream to the tissues and organs, delivering messages that tell the organs what to do and when to do it.
WHAT DO YOUR HORMONES DO?
Hormones help regulate many bodily processes, and a hormonal imbalance can affect a wide range of bodily functions, these include:
metabolism and appetite
heart rate
sleep cycles
reproductive cycles and sexual function
general growth and development
mood and stress levels
body temperature
Women can be affected by imbalances in insulin, steroids, growth hormones, adrenaline, estrogen and progesterone.
SYMPTOMS OF HORMONE IMBALANCE
Most women experience times when they have some hormonal imbalance. These periods of hormonal imbalance can also occur when the endocrine glands are not functioning properly.
The symptoms of a hormonal imbalance depend on which glands and hormones are affected.
Some symptoms associated with the more common causes of hormonal imbalances include:
unexplained weight gain or weight loss,
unexplained or excessive sweating,
difficulty sleeping,
hot flashes and night sweats,
changes in sensitivity to cold and heat,
very dry skin or skin rashes, skin tags or abnormal growths,
changes in blood pressure,
changes in heart rate,
brittle or weak bones, osteoporosis,
changes in blood sugar concentration,
irritability, anxiety, and depression,
unexplained and long-term fatigue,
increased thirst and indigestion,
vaginal dryness and clitoral enlargement,
headaches,
needing to go to the bathroom more or less than usual,
bloating, heavy, irregular, or painful periods,
changes in appetite,
reduced sex drive,
thinning, brittle hair,
infertility,
puffy face,
blurred vision,
a bulge in the neck,
breast tenderness,
deepening of the voice in females,
constipation and diarrhea,
acne during or just before menstruation,
uterine bleeding not associated with menstruation, and
increased hair growth on the face, neck, chest, or back.
CAUSES OF HORMONE IMBALANCE
Hormonal imbalance or hormonal fluctuations at not uncommon, but hormonal imbalances caused by poorly functioning endocrine glands can be significant.
Endocrine glands specialise in the production, storage, and release of hormones into the blood.
There are several endocrine glands located throughout the body that control different organs, including the:
adrenal glands
gonads (testis and ovaries)
pineal gland
pituitary gland
hypothalamus gland
thyroid and parathyroid glands
pancreatic islets
Several medical conditions that impact the endocrine system can be affected by lifestyle habits and environmental factors like:
poor diet and nutrition,
being overweight,
chronic or extreme stress,
severe allergic reactions or infections, and
exposure to toxins, pollutants, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including pesticides and herbicides
Other causes of hormonal imbalances include:
type 1 and type 2 diabetes,
hyperglycemia (overproduction of glucagon),
hypoglycemia (more insulin produced than there is glucose in the blood),
an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism),
overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism),
over or underproduction of the parathyroid hormone,
hormonal replacement or birth control medications,
abuse of anabolic steroid medications,
solitary thyroid nodules,
pituitary tumours,
Cushing’s syndrome (high levels of the hormone cortisol),
Addison’s disease (low levels of cortisol and aldosterone),
benign tumours and cysts (fluid-filled sacks) that affect the endocrine glands,
congenital adrenal hyperplasia (low levels of cortisol),
endocrine gland injury,
cancers that involve endocrine glands,
chemotherapy and radiation therapy,
iodine deficiency (goitres),
hereditary pancreatitis,
Turner syndrome (females with only one functioning X chromosome),
Prader-Willi syndrome,
Anorexia, and
phytoestrogens, naturally-occurring plant estrogens found in soy products.
HORMONAL IMBALANCES IN WOMEN
Women experience several periods of hormonal change in their lifetime, primarily during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause.
Women naturally experience several periods of hormonal imbalance throughout their lifetime, including during:
puberty,
menstruation,
pregnancy, childbirth, and breast-feeding, and
perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.
Women are also at risk of developing different types of hormonal imbalance disorders than men because they have different endocrine organs and cycles.
Medical conditions causing irregular hormonal imbalances in women to include:
hormone replacement or birth control medications,
early menopause,
primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), and
TREATMENT FOR WOMEN WITH HORMONE IMBALANCE
Treatment for hormonal imbalances may vary depending on the cause. Every person may require different types of treatment for hormonal imbalances.
Treatment options for women with hormone imbalances include:
Pharmaceutical - prescribed medications and topical remedies,
Lifestyle - eg: weight loss,
Surgical - eg: cancer surgery,
Physical - eg: IUDs vs birth control pills
YOUR NEXT STEP
If you have any of the above long-term unexplained symptoms, especially those that cause pain, discomfort, or interfere with everyday activities, we would advise that you see your general practitioner and possibly obtain a referral to see Dr Alexander.
Dr Alexander can offer advice help in your Fertility and Pregnancy Planning. Arrange an appointment now for peace of mind and body at www.alexalexander.com.au