Hormonal Imbalance: Reasons and Treatments

What is the Hormonal Imbalance?

Hormones are the chemical messengers in your body. It is produced in the endocrine glands and circulates through our bloodstream, instructing tissues and organs on what to perform. They aid in regulating many of your body’s essential functions, such as metabolism and reproduction. You have too much or too little of a specific hormone when you have a hormonal imbalance. Even little alterations in hormones can have serious impacts on your entire body. Hormones are crucial for regulating most key body systems; therefore, a hormonal imbalance can have consequences. Hormones aid in regulating metabolism, blood sugar, growth, blood pressure, reproductive cycles, and sexual function, mood, stress levels, and general growth and development. Prolonged imbalance without treatment may seriously affect your body regulation. It is mandatory to visit a hormone imbalance specialist or hormone imbalance doctor during the initial stage of the condition. 

What are its signs and symptoms?

Hormonal imbalances are seen in both men and women. This imbalance is mostly seen in women in comparison to men. Some of the common symptoms that are seen in both men and women are weight gain, weakness in muscles, feeling more thirsty, pain and stiffness in muscles, excess sweating, increase in appetite, reduced sex drive, sudden weight gain or weight loss, fat accumulation between the shoulders, fatigue, dry skin, hair fall, blurred vision, infertility, depression and many more.

To elaborate more clearly, let’s see the symptoms in men and women separately. 

Symptoms in females 

The normal hormonal cycle changes naturally during puberty, menopause, breastfeeding, and pregnancy. The most common hormonal imbalance is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), seen in females of reproductive age. Some common symptoms in women are irregular periods, hair growth on the face, chin, and other body parts, acne, hair loss, skin darkening in groins and underneath breast area, dryness in vagina, pain during sex, frequent headaches, sweating during the night and vaginal atrophy. 

Symptoms in males

Testosterone is a crucial component in male growth. It can create some symptoms if you aren’t making enough testosterone. In adult males, the hormonal imbalance manifests itself in the following ways, including erectile dysfunction, gynecomastia or the growth of breast tissue, breast tenderness (ED), muscle mass loss, hot flashes, osteoporosis.

What are the main reasons for hormonal imbalance?

A variety of factors can cause a hormonal imbalance. The reasons for this vary depending on which hormones or glands are involved. Hormonal imbalance can be caused by various factors, including hormone therapy, cancer treatments like chemotherapy, tumors at the beginning or last stage, tumors in the pituitary glands, stress, and trauma or injury.

Some of these conditions also lead to hormonal imbalances

1. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes 
2. Diabetes insipidus
3. Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid
4. Hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules
5. Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid
6. Thyroiditis
7. Hypogonadism
8. Cushing syndrome, or increased cortisol
9. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, leading to low levels of cortisol and aldosterone
10. Addison’s disease

Some unique reasons for hormonal imbalance in women are related to reproductive hormones like consumption of hormonal drugs like birth control pills, premature menopause, pregnancy, and PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome). 

Treatment options for hormonal imbalance 

The treatment for a hormonal imbalance is defined by its cause. These are some common treatment choices.

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Estrogen therapy

If you’re having hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms, your doctor may prescribe a low-dose estrogen supplement. You should discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT. Make an appointment with the best hormone imbalance doctor in your area.

Vaginal estrogen

If you’re having trouble with vaginal dryness or soreness during sex, consider using estrogen cream, pill, or ring. Many of the hazards connected with systemic estrogen, or estrogen that goes through the circulation to the proper organ, are reduced when you use this local treatment.

Hormonal birth control

Hormonal birth control can assist you in controlling your menstrual periods. The birth control pill, birth control patch, birth control injection, vaginal ring, and intrauterine device are all examples of hormonal birth control (IUD). It may also aid in treating acne and the reduction of unwanted hair on the face and body.

Anti-androgen medications

Androgens are sex hormones produced by males found in both men and women. Women with high testosterone levels may opt to take androgen-blocking medication. These are some of the effects of hair thinning, acne, and hair growth on the face. 

Testosterone therapy

Testosterone supplements can assist men who are experiencing symptoms of low testosterone. It encourages the beginning of puberty in teenagers who have experienced a delay in puberty. It comes in various forms, including injections, patches, and gel.

Thyroid hormone therapy

If you have hypothyroidism, the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Synthroid, Unithroid) can help you recover hormonal balance.

Metformin

Metformin is a type 2 diabetes medication that may help certain PCOS patients. Although the FDA hasn’t authorized it to treat PCOS, it may help reduce androgen levels and promote ovulation.

Flibanserin (Addyi) and bremelanotide (Vyleesi)

Addyi and Vyleesi are the only FDA-approved medicines for the treatment of diminished sexual desire in premenopausal women. Vyleesi is an injectable medicine that may be self-administered, whereas Addyi is a pill. These drugs can have serious side effects include acute nausea and irregular blood pressure. Consult your physician to see whether either option is right for you.

Eflornithine (Vaniqa)

This prescription ointment is made for ladies who have a lot of facial hair. When applied topically to the skin, it helps delay new hair development, but it doesn’t get rid of existing hair.

Natural Supplements

The following natural substances are frequently used to alleviate the symptoms of hormone imbalances:

1. Menopause-related hot flashes can be relieved with black cohosh, Dong Quai, red clover, and evening primrose oil.
2. Ginseng for menopause-related irritability, anxiety, and sleep disruptions. 

Before beginning any natural or herbal treatment, a person should consult with their doctor to confirm safety and avoid negative effects from pharmaceutical interactions.

The Takeaway

Hormones are in charge of a lot of your body’s essential functions. When hormones are out of whack, the effects can be quite different.

Hormonal imbalance may lead to many significant problems, so it’s critical to get help as soon as possible.