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.
What Treatments Can Help With Hormone Imbalance Symptoms
Medication can often help correct hormone imbalances and provide relief from unwelcome symptoms. If you’re a woman, hormonal contraceptives like the birth control pill can help regulate your hormones and menstrual cycle.
If you’re experiencing hormone imbalances as you age, you may benefit from hormone replacement therapy. As you get older, your body may no longer produce enough estrogen or testosterone. Pills, injections, or creams can provide your body with these crucial hormones.
Lifestyle changes can also help with weight management. Dr. Grover can help you learn more about lifestyle factors that increase your energy, improve your mood, and help you sleep better at night.
If youre ready to seek help to balance your hormones, call Dr. Grover today or book an appointment online.
Puberty & Menopause Problems Caused By Hormone Imbalances
Getting First Period too Young or too Old
Typically, a girl will begin her period at a similar age to when her mother began getting hers. Some girls have their first period as early as 10 or 11. Others dont get their first period until theyre 15 or even 16. If you or your daughter are outside those age ranges and are concerned about that first period, it is worth a visit to her Pediatrician, Family Doctor or OBYGN.
Common factors that affect when a girl begins her period are weight changes, environmental factors that stimulate the hormones, or adrenal gland problems.
Irregular Periods in Teens
Pre-teens and teenagers have very irregular periods as their bodies mature. Sometimes, teens have unusual bleeding because they arent ovulating regularly. In this case, they have some hormonal development that isnt complete so the uterus isnt getting a clear enough signal of what to do.
Issues During Menopause
When women approach their mid- to late-40s, their cycles may become irregular as they enter the perimenopausal stage. You can read more about what to expect in perimenopause in our recent article. Signs that you may be experiencing perimenopause include skipping periods and having lighter periods.
If your periods are becoming heavier, more frequent, prolonged, or with spotting between periods, you should mention this to your doctor. These changes could indicate menopause, but they could also be caused by abnormalities in your cervix or uterus.
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Testing Testing 1 2 3
If you feel like your hormones are out of balance, you can find out exactly what’s happening via a blood test, right? Not always. Current hormone testing for women has its limits. Blood tests show what the levels of hormones are in the blood, and not the body tissues where the symptoms are actually taking place for example, the brain for mental and emotional symptoms, says Dr Worsley.
“We can diagnose some hormonal conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome , for example, and see if a woman has gone through menopause using blood tests, but in general they won’t reflect all the ‘hormonal-type’ PMS or menopausal symptoms women might be feeling,” she says.
An alternative to blood testing is saliva testing, to measure the levels of hormones present in your saliva. This is commonly prescribed through naturopaths and other natural therapists, but isn’t recognised as valid by mainstream medicine.
“At this stage, saliva testing hasn’t been researched enough, there is not enough evidence to support that it works, so we don’t use it in medicine,” says Dr Worsley.
Do You Need A Doctor For Hormonal Imbalance
Hormonal imbalance can cause confusing and sometimes frightening symptoms. You need someone to help you sort through whats going on in your body, and to help you find solutions. And when you talk to your doctor, you shouldnt come away feeling even worse because they dont have any solutions to offer.
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Houston We Have A Problem
Fatigue, weight gain, low libido, irritability if you asked Google, or even one of your girlfriends, what these symptoms add up to, chances are they’d give you the diagnosis of ‘hormonal imbalance’. But as Dr Worsley explains, this doesn’t really answer your question.
“There is no medical diagnosis for ‘hormonal imbalance’,” she says. “You can use it in normal conversation and say ‘things are out of balance’ or ‘a particular hormone is out of balance’. But the term ‘hormonal imbalance’ itself is very imprecise. What hormone are you talking about? What sort of imbalance?
“It ends up being a catch-all type of phrase that often means ‘I don’t feel well’ or ‘something doesn’t feel right’.”
Hormone Imbalance And Hormone Level Testing
Last Reviewed Date: Apr 29, 2020 Apr 29, 2020 Dec 05, 2018
Chapter 1: Hormone Imbalance Introduction Chapter 2: Causes and Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance Chapter 3: Hormonal Imbalance and Men Chapter 4: Hormonal Imbalance and Women Chapter 5: More about Cortisol
Your entire endocrine system is composed of glands and hormones. It is one of two systems that help coordinate all the functions of your body.
This managerial role, of maintaining hormone levels over time and in various situations, is important for both your survival and well being. Hormone testing has shown that hormone levels decrease with age and that hormone replacement therapies may be helpful in maintaining youthful vigor.
The other critical system that regulates the functions of your body is the nervous system. Both the endocrine and nervous system work closely together to control a number of important functions:
- Your bodys growth and development
- Your metabolism
- Your mood and sleeping patterns
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What Is The Best Way To Test For Hormone Levels
Conventionally, the sex hormones are almost always tested in blood. But because this does not show true bioavailable hormone levels, salivary or urinary testing is not only more accurate, but also more convenient. For the hormones we test that are often imbalanced, saliva testing for hormonesgives us the best indication of what is available in your body. There are some hormones, however, that are better tested through blood such as thyroid hormones.
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Diagnostic & Operative Hysteroscopy
If you are experiencing abnormal bleeding, a Diagnostic Hysteroscopy is an examination designed to diagnose and treat abnormal bleeding from the uterus. After a diagnostic, we can also provide an Operative Hysteroscopy to treat abnormal bleeding, remove polyps and fibroids which are non-cancerous growths that may be present within the uterus.
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This Class Is Perfect For You If:
- Youre a womanbecause all women have hormonal fluctuations and need to learn how to protect, preserve and OWN them.
- Youre frustrated and struggling to understand your hormones.
- Painful periods are all too common for you, including heavy bleeding, clots or cramping.
- The bloating and weight gain around your cycle has you fed-up.
- Getting or staying pregnant is a struggle for you.
- Your hair is thinning, falling out or balding in certain areas on your head.
- Your periods are irregular or you suffer from PCOS or endometriosis.
- Menopause has completely changed your life and youre ready to find relief and balance again.
- Your sex life is struggling because you are suffering with low libido.
- You have acne and nothing is providing relief and lasting healing.
- The mood swings or anger and depression around your cycle are impacting you and those whom you love most.
- You cannot seem to get a good nights sleep.
How Safe Are The Synthetic Hormones
Prescribed medications like antidepressants, sedatives, analgesics fail to correct the physiological effects of loss of estradiol. And, the days of routinely prescribing synthetic estrogen and progesterone or both for hormonal imbalance are now pretty much ancient history because of the significant increased incidence of cancer and cardiovascular disease associated with them.
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Hormone Replacement Therapy In Atlanta Ga
Are you experiencing hot flashes, night sweats, decreased sex drive, or other symptoms of a hormone imbalance?
Dekalb Womens Specialists has a solution that can restore your quality of life, whether its menopause, thyroid disease, or some other condition that has created an imbalance in your hormone levels. We offer a host of treatments, including bioidentical pellet therapy. Call Dekalb Womens Specialists at 508-2000 to find out whether hormone replacement therapy is right for you. You can also simply request an appointment now.
We are conveniently located in , Stonecrest, and Stone Mountain, Georgia, and are ready, willing, and able to serve all your OB-GYN womens healthcare needs.
How Do Testosterone And Estrogen Differ
Testosterone, the key hormone in men, is the chief regulator of muscle tone and lean body mass, or the very essence of what gives a man his masculine appearance. A normal level of testosterone is a broad term, making deficiencies difficult to detect. The hormone is produced by the adrenal glands and testicles, with levels highest in the mornings and decreasing throughout the day.
Testosterone also regulates a mans sex drive. Lack of sexual desire and performance, often associated with low levels of testosterone, or low T, is a common complaint from men as they age and hormone levels drop. Sex drive and performance, however, require the presence of both estrogen and testosterone.
Estrogen, by contrast, is the hormone responsible for sexual and reproductive development in women and is also referred to as the female sex hormone. Estrogen is really a group of hormones that includes estrone, estradiol and estriol. Estrogen is produced in the ovaries but also by fat cells and the adrenal gland.
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My Treatment Protocols For Hormonal Imbalance
The treatment protocols for hormonal imbalance may vary with test results but might include herbal compounds , specific homeopathic remedies or cremes , B6 or magnesium supplementation or sometimes chiropractic alignment is necessary of the lumbar and adjoining bones. The results are almost always relatively rapid and satisfactory.
In summary, our approach is comprehensive, safe, unique to the patient, and highly effective in most hormonal imbalance cases.
If you are disturbed by hormonally related issues and wish to avoid prescription hormones, feel free to contact me.
To Begin Hormone Replacement Therapy First You Must Discuss It With Your Regular Doctor
A hormone imbalance can hugely affect your life, from menopause to thyroid disorders. If you have a problem relating to hormones, when you go to your doctor, ask them why it’s happening. Watching out for hormone imbalances during critical life stages searching for a doctor who could see my full picture and tailor a plan to fit my specific needs. Hormone therapy is a common treatment for hormonal imbalances. People with a suspected hormone imbalance will likely be referred to an endocrinologist. Women with hormone imbalances can seek treatment from medications like triptan and ssris. What kind of doctor should i see for hormone imbalance. I strongly recommend that you undergo bioidentical. Depending on the cause of the problem, your doctor may offer you Hormonal imbalance may cause symptoms hormonal changes happen in menopause and at other times. Other treatments for a hormone imbalance. Specific organs in the endocrine system what kind of doctor to see for my treatment please. Some require medical care, while others may be addressed with but if the symptoms interfere with your daily life, talk to your doctor to see if hormone replacement therapy is right for you.
Other treatments for a hormone imbalance. They are discharged into the bloodstream from the endocrine glands. My doctor is about to start my estrogen. The gland is the thing that what can i do for hormonal imbalance? Depending on the cause of the problem, your doctor may offer you
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Diagnosis Of Womens Hormonal Imbalance
Since the symptoms of female hormone imbalance are also common signs of a number of other diseases and health conditions, women experiencing them should see a physician for a thorough physical examination. If other underlying medical conditions are ruled out, hormone level testing is the next step. Hormone levels can be measured through saliva testing and/or blood tests. Establishing an accurate diagnosis of hormone imbalance may require several tests, done at intervals, as hormone levels fluctuate throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle and may change greatly from one day to another.
Common Signs Of Hormonal Imbalance
Knowing the signs of a hormonal imbalance in women can help you address the underlying cause and help get your hormones in balance again. Sometimes, all you need is to make some lifestyle changes to help your body produce enough hormones. Other times, you can use some natural remedies to help manage the symptoms of a hormonal imbalance.
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Three Categories Of Symptoms Often Caused By Hormonal Imbalances
When we see patients at Madison Womens Health for hormonal imbalances, most of their symptoms and concerns fall into three categories:
Lets first discuss these groups of symptoms. Next, well cover the most common hormones your doctor may check based on your symptoms.
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Reasons To See An Endocrinologist
Typically, youâll see an endocrinologist in an outpatient setting after being referred by your primary care doctor. However, an endocrinologist could be called in to consult during an inpatient visit if there are concerns about an underlying hormone-related disorder.
Patients see endocrinologists for reasons ranging from diabetes management to problems with their thyroid, certain types of cancer, adrenal disorders, and more. Your doctor will likely refer you when there are concerns about:
Difficulty Managing Diabetes with Standard Treatments
Individuals with diabetes typically see a primary care doctor regularly and may take medication to help keep their blood sugar levels stable. However, if standard treatment doesnât get your blood sugar levels under control, your primary care doctor may refer you to an endocrinologist. An endocrinologist will look for additional strategies to help control your diabetes.
Thyroid Disorder
Thyroid disorders can involve too much or too little of different types of hormones produced in the thyroid. You may be referred to an endocrinologist when a thyroid disorder is first diagnosed to review your condition and create a treatment plan. If there are no other complicating factors, youâll complete follow-up care with your primary care doctor.
Osteoporosis
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Why Should You See A Hormone Specialist
Hormone specialists are physicians who have expertise in diagnosing, treating, and preventing conditions and illnesses related to hormones. Hormones are natural chemicals produced by the endocrine glands and serve as messengers in the body. Injected directly into our bloodstream, they send signals to the different parts of the body to regulate bodily processes and functions.
Hormonal imbalances can affect our growth and development, mood, metabolism, reproduction, sexual function and drive, heart rate, sleep cycle, and body temperature. Hormones are critical for our wellbeing and when an imbalance happens, it can wreak havoc on our bodies.
Breast Changes Might Be An Estrogen Imbalance
Estrogen that is too high or too low may lead to changes in breast tissues. High estrogen may cause lumpy or dense breast tissue, even cysts. Estrogen levels that are too low may cause decreased breast tissue density. In one study, postmenopausal women who took estrogen plus progesterone hormone replacement therapy experienced an increase in breast density compared to women who took a placebo. Xenoestrogens are compounds that mimic estrogen function in the body. They are naturally occurring in some plants and fungi but they are also found in some drugs, industrial by-products, and pesticides. Non-naturally occurring xenoestrogens may produce a number of harmful effects in the body, including effects on breast density and the risk of breast cancer. They may also disrupt the endocrine system. If you notice any breast changes or are concerned about your estrogen levels, see your doctor for an evaluation.
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Mood Swings Anxiety And Depression
A hormonal imbalance can cause you to experience mood swings and heightened anxiety just before your period or during the menopause.
Estrogen levels constantly fluctuate during the reproductive cycle. Researchers from Harvard found that women with low estrogen levels are more prone to feeling the effects of emotional stress. They found that in clinical trials, higher levels of estrogen helped to calm the fear response helping you to be less fearful.8
Other studies have found that fluctuations in the hormone cortisol and hormones produced by the pituitary, hypothalamic, and gonadal glands can cause depressive symptoms. Researchers found that low levels of the cortisol hormone were found in women who have fibromyalgia and symptoms of depression.9
If you suffer from mood swings and anxiety during the menopause, you can find some helpful advice in my article on 10 herbs and supplements for menopause. If depression and anxiety is a result of hormonal imbalances, then you can help relieve these symptoms naturally by trying some natural treatments for depression after consulting with your doctor.