What you should know about hormonal imbalances

symptoms

The symptoms of hormonal imbalance may vary depending on which gland is affected and whether the person is male or female.

Symptoms in women

In women, the symptoms are more common:

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• constipation or diarrhea

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• irregular menstrual cycle

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• infertility

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• Pain in the stomach or back during menstruation

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• low sex drive

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• insomnia

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• unexplained. weight gain or loss

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• brittle bones
• , hirsutism, or excessive hair growth

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• rashes on the skin

symptoms in men

When a man has low testosterone levels, their symptoms typically include:

• Decrease in sex drive

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• erectile dysfunction (ED)

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• loss of muscle mass

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• thinning hair and reduced hair growth

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• Tenderness in the area of the chest

acne

Acne can occur due to overproduction of oil in the sebaceous glands of the skin. This excess oil can clog pores and attract bacteria that further inflame the skin.

The hormones testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone can affect the sebaceous glands in a person’s skin. Some ways these hormones can affect acne include:

• Testosterone helps regulate sebum production (oil). Excess amounts may clog pores and lead to acne.
• Increasing progesterone levels are likely to play a role in pregnancy-related acne, although doctors aren’t sure exactly how.
• Women may develop postmenopausal acne, which may be due to changes in estrogen and progesterone levels.

In addition, women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are more likely to suffer from severe and persistent acne. Doctors believe that increased exposure to androgen hormones such as testosterone and resistance to insulin hormones may increase acne risk.

Learn more about hormonal acne here.

weight gain

Hormonal disorders can affect various processes in the body that lead to weight gain. A few examples include:

• Thyroid hormones regulate the body’s metabolism or the rate at which energy is burned. Too few thyroid hormones can slow your metabolism and lead to weight gain.
• Decreasing estrogen levels can lead to weight gain during menopause.
• Hormonal imbalances due to PCOS can lead to weight gain.
• More than 80% of people with Cushing’s disease say that weight gain is a symptom. This disorder causes the body to produce excess amounts of cortisol.

Ideally, treating the underlying condition can help reduce weight gain due to hormonal imbalance

Learn more about estrogen and weight gain here.

Pregnancy One

Pregnancy causes a change in hormone levels to feed a growing fetus. This includes changing levels of the hormones progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone. While hormone levels may vary, they aren’t necessarily out of balance during pregnancy.

However, some hormones that increase during pregnancy can affect how a woman’s body uses insulin. This can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes during pregnancy.

Learn more about gestational diabetes here.

hair loss

Male hair loss has links to reduced androgen hormones such as testosterone. For this reason, doctors also call male hair loss androgenetic alopecia. This condition causes hair loss in the front and crown of the head.

However, not all men suffer from androgenetic alopecia, although their hormone levels change with age. Doctors interpret this as meaning that some men are genetically predisposed to hair loss.

Learn more about hair loss in women here.

testing

Testing for hormonal imbalances depends largely on what condition your doctor believes is causing your condition. Some of the tests a doctor can do include:

• Blood tests: Doctors can test for specific hormones, such as estrogen, testosterone, or thyroid hormone.
• Imaging: imaging studies by doctors, such as ultrasound, X-ray, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests, to identify cysts or tumors that could cause the body to produce excess amounts of hormones.
• Urine tests: Doctors use urine tests to measure hormone levels that are specifically related to the menstrual cycle, such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).

Some home test kit manufacturers may offer products that allow a person to do a test at home. This may include urine or blood tests. An individual should ensure that the company is reputable and uses certified laboratories to evaluate test samples.

Find out more about taking a hormone test at home.

causes

Everyone will experience natural periods of hormonal imbalance or fluctuations at certain points in their lives. However, hormonal imbalances can also occur when the endocrine glands do not function properly.

Endocrine glands are specialized cells that produce, store and release hormones into the blood. There are multiple endocrine glands throughout the body that control various organs, including:

• adrenal glands

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• gonads (testes and ovaries)

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• pineal gland

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• pituitary

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• hypothalamus, thyroid
• and parathyroid

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• pancreatic islands

Various diseases can affect the endocrine glands. Certain lifestyle habits and environmental factors can also play a role in hormonal imbalances.

Learn more about endocrine disorders here.

Medical conditions

Disorders that may affect hormone production are but not limited to:

• Diabetes, in which the body does not produce enough of the hormone insulin, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism
• , which is the overactivity and underactivity of the thyroid
• acts
• Addison’s disease, in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones

-Syndrome in which the adrenal glands produce too many corticosteroids

• acromegaly, i.e. the overproduction of growth hormones
• hyperglycemia, i.e. overproduction of glucagon
• Hypoglycaemia, in which the body produces more insulin than there is glucose in the blood
• solitary thyroid nodules
• Pituitary tumors benign tumors
• and cysts (fluid-filled sacs) that affect the endocrine glands
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (low cortisol levels)

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• cancers with endocrine glands,
• chemotherapy and radiotherapy

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• iodine deficiency (goiter)
• hereditary pancreatitis
• Turner syndrome, in which women are born with only one functioning X chromosome

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• Prader-Willi syndrome

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• anorexia

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• Pituitary injury with bleeding and congenital genetic abnormalities in a pregnant person and their fetus

Additional causes

Other causes of hormonal imbalance may include:

• chronic stress

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• poor diet and diet
• With excess weight

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• Hormone replacement or contraceptive drugs Misuse of drugs
• with anabolic steroids
• Exposure to toxins, pollutants, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including pesticides and herbicides

Women naturally experience multiple periods of hormonal imbalance throughout their lives, including:

• puberty
• menstruation
• Pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding
• Perimenopause, Menopause, and Postmenopause

Women are likely to develop different hormonal imbalance disorders than men because they have different endocrine organs and cycles.

The causes of hormonal imbalance in women include:

• hormone replacement or contraceptive drugs

With

• polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• primary ovarian failure (POI)
• ovarian cancer

Men also experience natural periods of hormonal imbalance throughout their lives, including:

• Pubertat

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• Altern

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• Stress

Men may develop different hormonal imbalances than women because they have different endocrine organs and cycles.

Conditions that cause hormonal imbalances in men include:

• congenital problems or other underlying conditions
• Prostate cancer that develops with the help of androgens or male sex hormones
• hypogonadism, the production of testosterone

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• testicular injury
• ,
• radiation or chemotherapy hormone disorders

, such as pituitary tumor diseases

• such as type 2 diabetes, HIV and AIDS genetics
• Disorders such as Klinefelter syndrome, hemochromatosis or Kallmann syndrome

Find out how to balance hormones here.

How to fix a hormonal imbalance

Treatment for hormonal imbalances may vary depending on the cause. Each person may need different types of treatment for hormonal imbalances.

Treatments for women

To the

Treatment options for women with hormone imbalances include:

• hormone or contraception. For those who aren’t trying to get pregnant, medications that contain forms of estrogen and progesterone may help regulate irregular menstrual cycles and symptoms. Contraception is available as a pill, ring, patch, syringe, or intrauterine device (IUD).
• vaginal estrogen. People with vaginal dryness associated with changes in estrogen levels can apply estrogen-containing creams directly to vaginal tissue to reduce symptoms. You can also use estrogen tablets and rings to relieve vaginal dryness.
• medicines for hormone replacement. Medication is available to temporarily reduce severe menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes or night sweats.
• Eflornithine (Vaniqa). This prescription cream may slow excessive facial hair growth in women.
• anti-androgen drugs. Medications that block the predominantly male sex hormone androgen can help limit severe acne and excessive hair growth or loss.
• clomiphene (clomid) and letrozole (femara). These drugs stimulate ovulation in people with PCOS who are trying to get pregnant. Doctors can also inject gonadotropins to people with PCOS and infertility to increase the chance of pregnancy.
• Assisted reproductive technology. In vitro fertilization (IVF) can be used to help people with PCOS complications get pregnant.

Treatments for men

To the

Treatment options for men with hormonal imbalances include:

• testosterone drugs. Testosterone-containing gels and patches may help reduce symptoms of hypogonadism and other conditions that lead to low testosterone levels, such as stunted puberty.

Other treatments

Treatment options for hormonal imbalances include:

• metformin. Metformin is a medication for PCOS and diabetes and may help lower both androgen and blood sugar levels.
• levothyroxine. Drugs containing levothyroxine, such as synthroid and levothroid, may help improve symptoms of hypothyroidism.

METFORMIN EXTENDED RELEASE RECALL

Metformin prolonged release tablets should be taken with caution and under medical advice. In May 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that some extended-release metformin manufacturers remove some of their tablets from the US market. In addition, Viona Pharmaceuticals, a manufacturer of extended-release metformin, pulled its tablets off pharmacy shelves in June 2021.

Each problem was due to finding unacceptable levels of a likely carcinogen (carcinogen) in some extended-release metformin tablets. If you are currently taking this medication, contact your doctor. They will advise you whether you should continue taking your medication or whether you need a new prescription.

Natural remedies

For thousands of years, people have been using natural supplements to treat hormonal imbalances.

However, clinical trials have not proven that natural remedies can treat hormonal imbalances and their causes.

Natural supplements

dietary supplement

, which are commonly used to reduce symptoms of hormonal imbalances, include:

• Black cohosh, dong quai, red clover and evening primrose oil for hot flashes caused by menopause
• Ginseng for irritability, anxiety, and sleep disorders caused by menopause.
• Ginseng and Maca for ED

Before taking any natural or herbal treatment, a person should consult their physician to ensure safety and avoid side effects of interactions when taking with other medications.

changes

Lifestyle changes that can help reduce the likelihood and symptoms of hormonal imbalances include:

• Maintaining a moderate body weight

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• a nutritious and balanced diet

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• regular exercise
• , good personal hygiene, emphasis on washing. areas with lots of natural oils, such as the face, neck, back and chest, which
• Use OTC acne cleansers, conditioners, and medicated creams or gels for mild to moderate acne to
• Avoid triggers that cause hot flashes, such as warm weather and spicy, rich, or hot foods and drinks

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• reduce and treat

Stress

• , yoga, meditation, or guided visualization,
• Limit sugary foods and refined carbohydrates

, avoiding packaged foods,

• Avoiding packaged foods

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• Replacing older non-stick pans with ceramic pans
• Using glass containers to store and heat food and beverages

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• Limit the use of cleaning products that contain toxic chemicals, such as bleach

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• Buying fruit and vegetables free from pesticides or ripening chemicals

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• Avoiding microwaves from food and drinks in plastic containers

outlook

Most people experience at least one or two periods of hormonal imbalance over their lifetime.

Hormonal imbalances are more common during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, and aging. However, some people experience continuous, irregular hormonal imbalances.

Diseases that affect or affect the endocrine system or glands can lead to hormone imbalance. But external factors such as stress or hormonal drugs can also be a cause.

A person should talk to a doctor about long-term unexplained symptoms, especially those that cause pain or discomfort or interfere with everyday activities.

Read this article in Spanish.