Hormone Problems
Hormonal imbalance occurs when your endocrine system produces too much or too little of a hormone. Hormones travel throughout the body and play a major role in controlling the functions in the body and maintaining balance. They help manage metabolism, reproduction, blood sugar, growth, and more.
Hormonal imbalance can cause various health issues like unwanted hair growth, weight gain, fertility struggles, early menopause, or even ovarian cancer. Many signs and symptoms help to diagnose hormonal imbalance in women and restore their proper health.
Symptoms of Hormone Problems
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- Sudden weight loss
- Increased or decreased heart rate
- Frequent urination
- Increased thirst
- Increased hunger
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Infertility
- Dry skin
- Decreased sex drive
- Constipation
It is not necessary that if you have these symptoms, you probably have a hormonal imbalance.
Symptoms in Females
In females, the hormonal cycle changes naturally during:
- Puberty
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Menopause
The most common hormonal imbalance in females is PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome).
Some signs/symptoms in women are:
- Hair loss
- Insomnia
- Mood swings
- Vaginal dryness
- Pain during sex
- Headaches
- Heavy/Irregular periods
- Darkening of skin
Symptoms in Males
The main role in the development of males is testosterone. If the production of testosterone is not enough, several symptoms are indicating the same.
- Some hormonal imbalance symptoms in the male are:
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Loss of muscle mass
- Difficulty concentrating
- Hot flashes
- Osteoporosis
- Decreased beard and body hair growth
- Tenderness in the chest area
- Thinning of hair
Symptoms in Children
Puberty is the stage when boys and girls start producing sex hormones. Some enter late puberty but have normal experience while some have a condition called hypogonadism.
Boys with hypogonadism experience:
- Growth of arms and legs is not proportionate with the body
- A voice that is not deep
- Muscle mass development is not proper
- Impaired penis
Girls with hypogonadism experience:
- No development of breast tissue
- No increase in the growth rate
- Menstruation does not start
Causes of Hormonal Imbalance
Everyone experiences hormonal imbalances in their life at some point or the other. Sometimes, hormonal imbalance can be due to the improper functioning of the endocrine gland.
Several endocrine glands are located throughout the body including:
- adrenal glands
- gonads (testis and ovaries)
- pineal gland
- pituitary gland
- hypothalamus gland
- thyroid and parathyroid glands
- pancreatic islets
Some medical conditions leading to hormonal imbalance are:
- Diabetes
- Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism
- Pituitary tumors
- Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia
- Iodine deficiency
- Chemotherapy
Other causes can be:
- Stress
- Improper diet
- Overweight
- Birth control medication
- Injury
- Medications
Causes in women include –
- PCOS
- Birth control medication
- Ovarian cancer
- Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)
Causes in males include –
- Type 2 diabetes
- Congenital problems
- Testicular injury
- Genetic conditions
- Chemotherapy
- HIV/AIDS
Diagnosis
- Blood test
- Pelvic exam
- Ultrasound
- Sperm count test
- Thyroid test
- MRI & X-ray
Treatment
Every person has a different reason for having a hormonal imbalance so the treatment also varies accordingly.
Treatment for females:
- Hormone replacement medications
- Hormone or birth control
- Vaginal estrogen
- Assisted reproductive technology
- Anti-androgen medications
- Eflornithine (Vaniqa)
Treatment for males:
- Testosterone medications.
Natural Remedies
- Remove unwanted hair
- Avoid things that trigger hot flashes
- Take proper diet
- Lose weight
Takeaway
Hormones play a major role in the functioning of the body. Various factors cause hormonal imbalance. You should notice the signs and the symptoms and consult the doctor to seek further investigation.
