Symptoms Of Hormonal Imbalance In Women: What To Look For

Hormone balance can be a fickle thing to maintain, especially as you age, or as a woman, during and/or after menopause. Women are susceptible to hormonal changes, mainly because so many hormones are involved in reproduction and the menstrual cycle.

Menopause, aging, and lifestyle tend to wreak havoc on the delicate balance of hormones in a woman’s body. Here are the signs and symptoms to look out for if you suspect hormone imbalance.

What are Hormones Again?

Hormones are chemicals produced by several different glands and tissues throughout the body, part of the endocrine system. Hence why the study of hormones is called endocrinology. Hormones are chemical messengers that travel through the body to organs and cells to tell them what to do and when. Aren’t our bodies amazing?

Hormones regulate sexual function, appetite, body temperature, metabolism, sleep, mood and stress levels, heart rate, and more. 

They are essential, and problems will most likely arise if just one hormone becomes significantly lowered or raised out of its normal range.

Signs of Hormone Imbalance in Women

Excess Weight Gain: Excessive weight gain is often triggered by hormone imbalance. It seems like the weight came on quickly and is incredibly difficult to lose. As said before, hormones play a significant role in metabolism and the nervous and reproductive systems.
All three of these are involved in maintaining a healthy weight.

The hormones mainly to blame are increased oestrogen, cortisol, insulin, and low levels of thyroxin. Throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle, oestrogen levels naturally increase, and this can cause women to crave and eat more fatty or sugary junk food.

Increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol slow down metabolism. Consider incorporating meditation or a calming exercise daily to reduce cortisol levels. Lowering sugar intake also helps with this as well as regular exercise.

Hormonal acne: Many women experience skin breakouts right before and/or during their menstrual period. About 50% of women in their twenties experience hormonal acne, and 25% of women in their forties are about to experience menopause.

It’s normal for these breakouts to go away once menstruation is over and hormone levels fluctuate back down, but women with excess androgens may experience chronic hormonal acne. This includes whiteheads, cysts, blackheads, or general redness and inflammation.

Androgens are male hormones such as testosterone, and these can make the skin produce extra oil, which clogs pores, causing acne. In addition, high androgens may be caused by excess insulin (another hormone).

To combat this, you may need hormonal contraceptive pills or anti-androgen pills. To soothe inflammation, corticosteroids can help temporarily. Weight loss can prevent insulin resistance.

Mood Swings: One of PMS's most common (and made fun of) symptoms is moodiness. Menopausal and pregnant women are also known to experience moodiness. Mood changes include anger, sadness, depression, irritability, and anxiety and are caused mainly by fluctuations in oestrogen levels.

Oestrogen affects neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Some doctors prescribe hormonal birth control pills to control moodiness in extreme cases. Relieve mood swings naturally by exercising regularly, avoiding stimulants (caffeine, sugar), taking calcium supplements, getting enough sleep, and eating smart.

Digestive Issues: Oestrogen imbalances commonly lead to frequent stomach upsets. The gastrointestinal tract has receptors for both oestrogen and progesterone. If either of these is out of balance, symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, bloating, nausea and diarrhea may result.

This could be why women experience IBS more than men, as they are twice as likely to have it. Interestingly, male hormones such as testosterone have been seen to have protective effects against IBS.

Hormonal birth control pills do not seem to relieve digestive issues resulting from hormone imbalance. Try taking magnesium supplements or eating magnesium-rich foods to relieve constipation and get your digestive tract running smoothly.

The foods to eat are whole grains, sweet potatoes, leafy greens, bananas, and fish. Try incorporating fermented foods in your diet as well as ingesting enough fiber.

Low Sex Drive: Low testosterone levels are to blame here. Testosterone plays a significant role in the sex drives of women, not just men. One study showed that postmenopausal women who reported low libido had increased sexual desire after being given testosterone.

They also reported more satisfying sexual experiences. Testosterone must be taken under the supervision of a doctor or endocrinologist because women do not need high hormone doses – unwanted side effects such as hair growth and other masculine traits may result.

Besides testosterone replacement therapy, other ways to increase your libido include maintaining a healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise.

Reference

The Standard

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