Hormone Imbalance Sign # 6
Excess sweating is another of the signs you have a hormone imbalance. Women going through the Menopause often experience hot flashes. At night, when in bed, these are known as night sweats, and are sometimes a precursor to the onset of menopause itself, if it is not already in full swing.
In both men and women, night sweats can be a result of problems with the endocrine system, brought about by over or under production of hormones such as serotonin.
Skin And Hair Changes
Acne. A sudden increase in acne is one easy way to identify a possible hormonal imbalance. One of the few hormones involved is androgens. Androgens, typically referred to as male hormones, but found in both males and females, regulate your skins sebum production. If your body produces androgens in excess, sebum can build up in your pores and cause a pimple to surface.
Hair loss. The quality and vitality of your hair is also directly related to your hormones. Thyroid abnormalities, for example, may cause dry hair or skin, thinning hair, or brittle nails. Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and parathyroid disorder can also cause hair loss.
Causes Of Hormonal Imbalances
The causes of hormonal imbalances are complex and varied. Sometimes it could be down to your lifestyle and other times it could be caused by a medical condition.
Some lifestyle factors that could cause hormonal imbalances include:
- medication for example, an oral contraceptive , hormone replacement therapy , or steroids
Some medical conditions that could cause hormonal imbalances include:
- an endocrine tumour or cyst for example, a pituitary tumour
- an ovarian tumour
- a side effect of cancer treatment
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Treatment Of Womens Hormonal Imbalance
In most cases, female hormones balance can be improved or corrected with treatment. Often, changes in diet and lifestyle are sufficient to improve female hormonal imbalance and offer some protection against its potential health complications. Among the common changes recommended are:
- Weight control
- 30 minutes of exercise daily, including resistance and aerobic exercise.
- Dietary changes that include replacing processed, fatty and sugary foods with lean proteins, low-fat dairy and a wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Eliminate tobacco consumption
Female hormonal imbalance that cannot be resolved with lifestyle changes is most commonly treated with hormone replacement therapy. Conventional HRT uses hormone drugs to normalize levels of estrogens or progesterone in the system, while bioidentical hormone replacement therapy enhances hormone levels as needed with plant-derived supplements. HRT has been associated with health risks with long-term use, so women considering this treatment should discuss risks and benefits carefully with their doctors.
Period Problems And Period
A common complaint of women who visit Madison Womens Health is irregular periods or unexpected changes to their periods. A period is considered irregular when it occurs more often than before or less often than before, or if the amount and duration of bleeding has changed significantly for repeated months. Is your period suddenly much heavier than it has been? Or are you not having a period at all?
Keep track of your cycles, when you begin to bleed, and for how long. A popular app among our patients for tracking cycles is Period Tracker Period Calendar , although there are many options. Let your doctor know how many days there are between your periods and what your typical flow is like. Discuss what is different and why you are concerned. Let them know if youre under more stress than before, if youve changed your diet or exercise recently, or if you have a family history of irregular periods.
These changes could have a structural cause having to do with your cervix or uterus or a hormonal cause. Your doctor will likely want to perform a physical exam and may also check specific hormones on a specific day of your menstrual cycle.
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How Is Low Testosterone Diagnosed What Treatments Are Available
Most healthcare providers will measure their testosterone levels by having a blood test, doing a physical exam and having the patient describe his symptoms. Finally, they may order additional tests to rule out other possible diagnoses.
Testosterone is sometimes prescribed for men with low testosterone. Almost all hormone supplements and testosterone treatments are available in different forms, including lozenges, patches, gels and creams.
Because of the limited knowledge regarding this condition, challenges in having a proper diagnosis, as well as the possible side effects of treatments, HRT should not administer for men without proper testing, retesting and consultation with a healthcare provider to discuss the pros and cons. One may want to consider an endocrinologist who specializes in hormones.
How To Test Your Hormones
Hormones can be tested in blood, urine or saliva and I prefer to use urine testing as it measures the free bioavailable hormones plus the levels of adrenal hormones throughout the day .
Saliva testing is the cheaper option and is easy to do at home without going to a lab or having to visit a doctor, and for some people this will be the best option. I recommend a combination of adrenal and sex hormone testing, this test measures 4 different samples throughout the day to identify the natural diurnal rhythm of cortisol and the best option for this is the DUTCH Hormone Test, if you would like to find out more information then read the DUTCH hormone test review.
Noteworthy: Urine testing is also an easy option to do at home, it is more expensive but goes into more detail about the hormones and the hormone metabolites and this is my preferred option for testing hormones.
This extra information tells us about the precursors to the hormones which can help to identify the cause of the hormone imbalance.
This test is called the DUTCH hormone test and it stands for Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones.
It gives us your levels of free testosterone, and also the metabolites of testosterone which show if your metabolizing testosterone down the 5b-DHT pathway or the more potent 5a-DHT pathway.
Once the results are in we can go through them via video consultation or phone and work out a treatment plan to optimize your results.
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Five Signs You Have A Cortisol Problem
High levels of Cortisol can lead to a number of different issues for endurance athletes. Learn more about this stress induced hormone and how you can reduce it’s effects.
Cortisol is the primary hormone of the stress response. When cortisol is too low, you struggle to get going. When cortisol is too high, you have trouble settling down. Thousands of years ago, cortisol mobilized energy to help us escape danger and pursue food. This effort was followed by a period of rest. In todays chronically stressful world, cortisol dysregulation creates chronic disease. The cumulative stress of a busy life may not manifest itself in an obvious manner. Instead, it can sneak up on you and cause issues that you may not even realize are a result of high cortisol.
Here are 5 signs you might have a problem with cortisol:
- You dont look forward to training. Once you get out there, it takes an hour to warm up.
- You have an awkward roll of belly fat that just wont budge.
- Your energy levels wax and wane throughout the day.
- Youve lost interest in sex.
- You have an injury ending in itis. This suffix refers to chronic inflammation, which is a sign of a cortisol problem.
What Is Hormonal Imbalance In Men
The most common hormonal imbalances in men are related to testosterone levels. Men may experience low levels of testosterone due to disorders, like hypogonadism for example when the testes cannot produce an adequate supply of testosterone. More commonly, aging is the underlying cause, with testosterone production gradually diminishing over time, beginning around age 40. For some men, levels fall so low that the body’s basic needs for the hormone cannot be fulfilled, which can lead to many of the symptoms listed above. Other factors that can contribute to low testosterone levels include excessive stress, poor diet, obesity and regular excessive alcohol use.
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Treatment For A Hormonal Imbalance
There are many different treatment options for hormonal imbalances. The treatment you ultimately be given will depend on which hormone exactly is unbalance as well as the underlying cause of the imbalance. Sometimes, a life event might cause such a fluctuation in your hormones, such as menopause. In that case, your treatment would be short term one. However, if you have a genetic disorder that causes a lifelong hormonal imbalance, you will need to pursue a more prolonged course of medications.
Hormone therapy is a common treatment for hormonal imbalances. Women who are witnessing uncomfortable menopausal symptoms may choose estrogen therapy. Testosterone therapy is a common choice for men with low testosterone levels or adolescents facing delayed puberty. Taking thyroid hormones can help individuals with hypothyroidism. Such hormone replacement therapies may come in the form of pills, patches, or even injections. Your doctor will help you choose the appropriate dosage by checking your hormone levels test results. This is how he will determine the right amount of supplemented hormone you will need to recreate the balance.
Bioidentical hormones can be produced by pharmaceutical companies using different doses. Examples include bi-estrogen which is 50 to 80 percent estriol combined with estradiol, or tri-estrogen which is 10 percent estrone, 10 percent estradiol, and 80 percent estriol.
Thyroid: The Mood & Energy Regulator
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in your lower neck that plays a powerful role in keeping your brain and body healthy. This gland regulates how your body uses energy, and it also has a strong impact on the brain because it controls the production of many neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, and GABA. Problems occur when thyroid dysfunction causes the gland to produce too little hormone or too much hormone .
Hypothyroidism: Brain SPECT scans of people with hypothyroidism show overall decreased brain activity, which often leads to depression, cognitive impairment, anxiety, and brain fog.
Hyperthyroidism: An overactive thyroid produces too much hormone, making everything in your body work too fast. It can feel like youre in hyper-driveyou feel jittery and edgy, as though youve had way too much caffeine.
Common Symptoms of Thyroid Dysfunction
| Hypothyroidism |
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Signs And Symptoms Of Hormonal Imbalance
Even when only one unbalanced hormone is present, it may result in the following hormonal imbalance symptoms in women:
If you are not sure if you have a hormonal imbalance, start with the hormonal imbalance quiz.
If your body is experiencing the symptoms of hormone imbalance, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can bring relief: these natural, plant-based hormones are chemically identical to the ones produced in the body, and a variety of treatment options are available.
Signs Of Hormonal Imbalance In Men
As hormones play a crucial role in many bodily functions, there is a broad range of symptoms that could indicate a hormonal imbalance in men. These signs can vary depending on the hormones or glands that are affected. The following are signs of hormonal imbalances in men:
Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia, or enlargement of the breast tissue, is a sign of hormonal imbalance in men. While breast tissue may become larger due to age, diet, or lifestyle, a decrease in testosterone or an increase in estrogen can also lead to its growth.
It may not be physically harmful, but gynecomastia can have an impact on self-esteem. It may also be a sign that a hormonal imbalance may be affecting other functions as well.
Loss of libido
Another sign of low testosterone or high estrogen levels is a loss of libido, or sex drive. While these changes in libido can have many root causes, a hormonal imbalance could be a factor. A low sex drive can be a psychological challenge and can strain intimate relationships.
Erectile dysfunction
Hormonal imbalances can also interfere with sexual performance. This can lead to erectile dysfunction , or difficulty having or maintaining an erection for sexual activity. Erectile dysfunction can be influenced by factors like age, depression, heart disease, stress, chronic illness, and insomnia.
Some medications, like opiates and those that treat hypertension , can also lead to erectile dysfunction. ED can also be a sign of low testosterone.
Loss of muscle
Mood changes
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Do You Have A T4 To T3 Conversion Problem
For those people with hypothyroidism and Hashimotos Thyroiditis, the usual conventional medical treatment involves giving the person synthetic thyroid hormone. Although this does help many people with the hypothyroid symptoms, not everyone does well when taking Levothyroxine and other similar products. And one of the reasons for this is because synthetic thyroid hormone only consists of T4.
Im not going to go into detail about thyroid physiology in this article, but the following is a very basic lesson. In past articles and blog posts I have discussed how problems between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland can cause thyroid problems. And the reason for this is because the production of thyroid hormone actually begins with the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus releases a hormone called thyrotrophin-releasing hormone . This hormone stimulates the pituitary gland, which in turn will release TSH. Just about everyone with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition has their TSH measured, as a high value is common in hypothyroid conditions, and the reason for this is because when there is a decreased amount of thyroid hormone, then the pituitary gland will release more TSH to signal the thyroid gland to make thyroid hormone.
Its Not All About T4
How To Correct A T4 To T3 Conversion Problem
What Is High Estrogen In Men
Too much estrogen in the male body can interfere with fertility, sexual function and even raise the risk for chronic diseases. One cause of hormone imbalance in aging men is that is testosterone is converted to estrogen, which can result in an excess of estradiol. Lab testing can reveal hormonal imbalances of estrogen and testosterone.
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How Are Pcos And Hypothyroidism Related
Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid isnt producing enough hormone. Up to a quarter of women with PCOS have hypothyroidism. There are 3 different causes/forms of hypothyroidism:
Androgens are the main things that links PCOS and hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism causes increased androgens, which are the main cause of PCOS. This disruption of sex hormones causes infertility, and studies have shown that up to 25% of women suffering from infertility or repeated miscarriages have hypothyroidism.
Risks Of Hormonal Imbalance
Risks associated with hormonal imbalances are often underlying conditions that never get checked or diagnosed because of neglect. When untreated, these symptoms can turn into more significant health problems.
How to Combat Signs of Hormonal Imbalance in Women
When hormone levels go awry, life can become less than optimal.
But its possible to restore imbalances with hormone replacement therapy.
At SynergenX, we have a unique approach to hormone replacement therapy for women. We help treat deficiencies in estrogen, testosterone, and others. With an individualized approach that addresses lifestyle and your health history, you can regain your life and feel like yourself again.
We invite you to call or complete our online form to learn more about our hormone replacement therapy options.
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Can Hormones Cause Acne
Many women experience monthly breakouts before or during their period. However, chronic acne is something different. Acne that does not go away may be due to excess androgens, male hormones like testosterone that both women and men have. Excess levels of these androgens make oil glands extra productive. Androgens also affect skin cells that line hair follicles. Excess oil and skin cell changes clog pores, leading to acne. A doctor may prescribe birth control pills, corticosteroids like prednisone , or anti-androgen medications to treat hormonally influenced acne. High androgen. levels may sometimes indicate polycystic ovary syndrome . Women with PCOS may experience infertility. High insulin levels can stimulate the production of androgens and may be associated with insulin resistance. Weight loss can help reverse insulin resistance.
How To Test Cortisol Levels
Cortisol levels are measured with lab tests. These may be blood tests, which measure levels of the hormone in the bloodstream, or saliva tests, which measure cortisol levels in a saliva sample. Cortisol testing is typically done early in the morning, when levels are normally highest. Often, to produce the most accurate results, testing is repeated in the afternoon of the same day. Cortisol testing is often done in conjunction with ACTH level tests, since this pituitary gland hormone works to regulate cortisone levels. ACTH tests measure levels of the hormone in the bloodstream.
Getting tested can be done through your health care provider, who can order your tests for you, take your blood or saliva samples or send you to a lab to have them done. Then, your provider will let you know your results once they are delivered to his or her office.
You can also order these lab tests yourself online or over the phone from independent testing services, like Health Testing Centers. Ordering your own tests is generally less expensive, since you skip the cost of an office visit, and more efficient, since the results are delivered directly to you.
However, it is important to note that if your tests show that your cortisol and/or ACTH levels are abnormal too high or too low following up on those results with a visit to your healthcare provider is essential. Abnormal levels of these important hormones require further examination and testing.
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