The five most important hormonal imbalances are diabetes, hypo- and hyperthyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, polycystic ovary syndrome, and hypogonadism.
The only way to confirm a hormone imbalance is to test your hormone levels. Both blood tests and saliva tests are proven techniques in assessing a hormone imbalance. i-screen uses blood tests to accurately determine sex hormone and thyroid hormone levels, but prefers saliva testing to assess cortisol levels.
Because hormones affect so many bodily systems, hormonal imbalances can result in a wide range of symptoms. Doctors may suggest hormone testing in patients with one or more of the following symptoms: Signs of menopause like vaginal dryness, hot flashes, and/or trouble sleeping in people under the age of 40.
Changes to your hormone levels may cause low mood, mood swings, and even depression. Estrogen has an impact on your brain's chemicals, such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Other hormones can also affect the way we feel, so it's worth investigating your hormone levels if you are feeling low.
Medical conditions that can cause hormone imbalances in women include ovarian cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), early menopause, hormone replacement or birth control medications, and primary ovarian insufficiency (POI).
Here's how to balance hormones naturally: Eat an anti-inflammatory diet; consume omega-3s, adaptogen herbal supplements, mushrooms, probiotics and other supplements like vitamin D; get good sleep; exercise; and control stress.
When a person feels anxious or stressed, the body often goes into survival mode. When this happens, the adrenal glands produce more cortisol, which triggers the body to store more fat. The body often redistributes this fat to the stomach, chest, and face.
Blood or urine tests can determine the levels of various hormones in the body. This includes reproductive hormones, thyroid hormones, adrenal hormones, pituitary hormones, and many others.
But prolonged periods of stress can cause cortisol and adrenaline to remain elevated. This can result in a hormonal imbalance and have a profound effect on our health, particularly for women.
If your hormones become imbalanced (meaning your levels are too high or too low), they can interfere with the body's normal processes—causing a variety of complications, including anxiety.
It's true that hormone imbalances can be associated with many problems, such as period problems, unwanted hair growth, fertility struggles, weight gain, and even difficulty sleeping. You should absolutely talk to your doctor about these things.
What does hormonal weight gain look like? Hormonal weight gain looks like any type of excess weight. Factors such as age, sex, body type, and cause of weight gain may make you gain weight differently. However, it's not possible to know that hormones are causing your weight gain by the way it looks.
Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries are all hormone balancing foods packed with great nutrients. Berries are rich sources of vitamin C, which regulates your progesterone levels, particularly during the luteal (PMS) phase of your cycle .
Treating Imbalance with Medications
These treatments are often referred to as hormone therapy. Medications to balance female hormones, like estrogen and progestin, can alleviate symptoms like hot flashes and even increase fertility. Women with high androgen, a male hormone, can take medication to suppress high levels.