Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance

The exact mechanism that causes hot flashes isn’t fully understood yet but we do know that the underlying cause is hormonal imbalance, specifically low levels of estrogen and progesterone. Unbalanced levels of these two hormones cause the body’s thermoregulation (process that regulates your body’s temperature) to malfunction and give you the sensations of heat when in fact you are not hot. Estrogen and progesterone imbalance is the most common cause of hot flashes, but sometimes they may also be the result of a side effect to certain medications. In addition, hot flashes may be worsened by excess weight, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits and more.

Since estrogen and progesterone imbalance is directly linked to hot flashes, the most effective solution for them is bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. Once your hormones are brought to an optimal level, your hot flashes will be eliminated. The first steps in treating your hot flashes should be a comprehensive blood test to determine your hormone levels and a conversation with a knowledgeable medical professional.

9 in 10 women gain weight in perimenopause and during menopause, even if their eating and exercise habits haven’t changed. But why does that happen? The underlying cause is imbalance of several crucial hormones in our bodies: estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and thyroid. Ovaries stop producing estrogen during menopause, but the female body can still produce estrogen in fat cells, and that’s exactly what it tries to do to replace the diminished ovarian estrogen. As a result, your body slows its own metabolism so it can produce more fat (and thus, more estrogen). The result: your body becomes very good at storing fat, but very bad at burning it. Progesterone levels also reduce during perimenopause and menopausal transition and as that hormone reduces, your body starts retaining water and that causes water retention or simply put: bloating. As women age, our testosterone production drops too (sometimes to nearly non-existent levels), which substantially slows down your body’s ability to build muscle. As your muscle deteriorates, your body’s ability to burn fat also declines. Finally, thyroid...vast majority of women we test have low levels of thyroid. Low thyroid also causes reduced rate of metabolism, in other words, you can eat the same amount (or even less) and still gain weight.

The role of hormones in weight regulation is paramount. As a result, bringing hormones to optimal levels for your body can deliver significant weight loss results. However, let’s be honest with ourselves and say: hormones are an important part of the equation but not the whole equation. The rest of the equation is a healthy eating and a consistent exercise routine. Here at HealthLogicMD, we will provide a complete weight loss solution and will provide support along the way. However, if you don’t live nearby, start by finding a physician who is trained in hormone health and get your hormone levels checked.

Do you often feel crushing mental and physical fatigue? It is a very common symptom amongst women in menopausal transition and is caused by compromised hormone levels.

Those of us who have experienced chronic fatigue know that it is a serious and sometimes debilitating issue. But why is it happening to you? The answer lies in your hormones. Estrogen, progesterone, thyroid and testosterone are all involved in regulation of cellular energy in the body and when these hormones are out of whack, it leads to fatigue. Additional contributing factors are symptoms such as hot flashes (night sweats) and insomnia, which are also hormone-related.

Here is how that process works: as you wake up at night from a hot flash (caused by unbalanced estrogen and progesterone), you may find it difficult to fall asleep due to high levels of anxiety (also caused by unfavorable changes in hormones like progesterone and testosterone), as a result, you wake up already tired. Then, on top of that, your reduced hormone levels and associated problems such as anxiety, depression, excess weight and lower metabolism are not letting you recuperate. You may easily find yourself in a vicious circle, which can only be fully broken by bringing your hormone levels back to balance.

Remember how you felt about sex in your 20s and early 30s? What happens between that time and, say, early 50s? For vast majority of us in perimenopause and menopause, the root cause is simple: hormonal imbalance. Hormones play crucial roles in healthy desire for sex, so as the levels of these hormones becomes unbalanced (due to age, poor diet, lack of exercise and more), our sex drive diminishes. Here is how these hormones work to maintain desire for sex. Estrogen is responsible for sensitivity during sex, as well as maintaining healthy vaginal tissue and lubrication. As estrogen reduces, sex becomes less pleasurable and vaginal dryness makes it even less so. Testosterone also plays a big role in vaginal lubrication, in your motivation to have sex and in your ability to achieve and orgasm. Finally thyroid, being the catalyst for other hormones, makes sure all of them function correctly, so low levels of thyroid throw the whole system out of whack.

Low libido in women is effectively treated by a combination of hormone replacement therapy and a balanced nutrition and exercise plan. The very first step to regaining healthy sex drive is diagnosing the underlying issue, so to discuss your problems with a medical professional who can do a comprehensive hormonal evaluation.

Almost half of all women between ages of 40 and 50 have vaginal dryness. But why does it happen? The underlying cause is imbalance of several crucial hormones in our bodies: estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. One of many wonderful functions of estrogen is maintenance and lubrication of vaginal tissue. As women age and lose estrogen, our vaginas may become less elastic and lubricated. In addition to menopause, estrogen levels can drop from childbirth and breastfeeding, removal of ovaries, chemotherapy and some anti-estrogen medications used to treat uterine fibroids or endometriosis. Furthermore, low estrogen and high progesterone cause vaginal wall to thin and dry. And finally, as we lose testosterone due to age, poor nutrition, lack of exercise and other factors, we also lose vaginal muscle tone, which leads to decreased sensitivity and arousal.

Since hormones play a direct role in vaginal lubrication, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy is an effective treatment for vaginal dryness. However, it’s important to remember that balanced nutrition and consistent exercise also play roles in hormonal health. Here at HealthLogicMD, we will provide a complete hormone health solution, including personalized supplements, exercise and nutritional guidance. However, if you don’t live nearby, start by finding a physician who is trained in hormone health and get your hormone levels checked.

The most likely underlying cause is the hormonal changes that transpire as a result menopausal transition. Unfortunately for many of us, insomnia also contributes to constant fatigue, which can be a big problem in itself. The main causes of insomnia in women over 30 form a complex of hormone-related issues. First, a very common effect of reduced levels of estrogen and progesterone is the inability to fall asleep. Furthermore, reduced levels of estrogen and a shifting ratio of estrogen to testosterone expose women to higher levels of stress and anxiety, which can also disrupt sleeping patterns. In addition, for those of us who get hot flashes (which are also caused by unbalanced estrogen and progesterone levels) know that they disrupt sleep and also make it difficult to fall back asleep. Finally, as estrogen declines, about 1 in 5 women experience depression (sometimes severe), which can often have a disruptive effect on sleeping patterns.

Remember how well you slept in your early twenties? Amazing, right?! The reason was that your hormones were at optimal level then but they are probably quite unbalanced now. Here is what we know about the relationship between optimal hormone levels and insomnia. As women’s estrogen lowers, it limits your body’s ability to produce melatonin. Melatonin is a neurotransmitter that is directly responsible for your circadian rhythm (aka your biological clock). With melatonin not working correctly, falling asleep and staying asleep becomes an ever-increasing challenge. But wait, there is more. Another hormone involved in sleep is testosterone. A decline in testosterone causes sleep apnea (difficulty breathing during sleep) and night sweats (if you have ever woken up drenched in sweat, you know what we mean). But it doesn’t stop there! As you sleep less, you develop fatigue, which can unbalance your hormones even further. It’s a vicious circle that can be broken by a systematic approach to hormonal health.

Hormones play a key role in sleep, so balancing your hormones and bringing them to optimal levels for your body can deliver immediate improvements in sleep quality. If you are experiencing insomnia, don’t delay any longer. Start by reaching out to a medical specialist who can carry out a complete hormonal evaluation.

Bone health depends on the balance of two types of cells - osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Osteoclasts break down bone tissue for later re-absorption, while osteoblasts develop new bone. As our estrogen gets reduced with age and due to environmental factors, osteoclasts (bone breaking cells) become more active and we start losing more bone than we produce. In addition to maintaining balance between the two types of cells, estrogen also ensures that female bodies absorbs and retains calcium efficiently.

The direct link between optimal estrogen and levels and bone health makes hormone replacement therapy a proven tool for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Start by discussing your symptoms with a physician trained in hormone therapy and request a comprehensive blood test to determine your hormone levels.

Mood swings are defined as an abrupt and seemingly inexplicable change of mood. You may be heartily laughing at one moment and then suddenly you begin to cry. Mood swings are often accompanied by disproportionate reactions when something small can become very upsetting. Anxiety is another common type of change in mood for perimenopausal and menopausal women. Onset of anxiety can make you feel jumpy, nervous, even afraid and sometimes the fear may be debilitating, making even mundane tasks like going out for groceries difficult. Depression, unlike mood swings does not involve up and down changes in mood, but is characterized by a prolonged period of feeling down, unmotivated and without hope. Finally, irritability or simply being impatient and cranky is another common mood change in menopausal women. All of these issues are the result of hormonal imbalance which occurs during perimenopause and menopause. The hormones involved here are estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and thyroid. Estrogen affects mood by producing serotonin and beta-endorphins, which are basically the ‘good mood’ neurotransmitters. Unbalanced estrogen often means loss of those neurotransmitters and results in the issues described above. Progesterone on the other hand, is a natural antidepressant in the woman’s body, so when it is out of balance, your natural ability to stave off depression substantially reduces. Healthy levels of testosterone are shown to lift motivation and promote positive outlook on life. And finally, thyroid deficiency has been shown to cause anxiety and depression.

Effective treatment for mood changes in women includes a combination of hormone replacement and lifestyle changes (such as healthy nutrition and consistent exercise). However, the very first step you should take is to discuss your issue with a doctor specializing in hormone health, so she can carry out a comprehensive blood test to determine your hormone levels.