Hormone imbalance - Endocrine Wellness Center

What is hormone imbalance?

A hormone imbalance occurs when there are too much or too little of a certain hormone in the body. Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate many essential functions like growth, metabolism, reproduction, sleep, and mood.

Some common signs of a hormone imbalance include:

• Fatigue
• Weight gain or weight loss
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Low libido
• Mood changes like depression or irritability
• Acne
• Hair loss

Hormone imbalances can happen for various reasons:

• Perimenopause and menopause in women as estrogen levels decline
• Thyroid disorders leading to low/high thyroid hormone
• High cortisol levels due to chronic stress
• PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) in women due to excess androgens
• Low testosterone levels in men

The good news is hormone imbalances can often be corrected with lifestyle changes and sometimes hormone replacement therapy:

• Eat a nutrient-rich diet and exercise regularly
• Reduce stress through yoga, meditation, etc.
• For menopausal women, estrogen/progesterone therapy may help alleviate symptoms
• Thyroid patients may need thyroid medication to restore optimal thyroid hormone levels
• Testosterone therapy may benefit some men with low testosterone

If you suspect a hormone imbalance, have troubling symptoms, or have difficulty getting pregnant, see a medical provider who specializes in hormonal conditions - like the caring physicians at Endocrine Wellness Center. Their integrated approach looks at nutrition, exercise, stress levels along with advanced hormone testing and customized bioidentical hormone therapy to restore balance, optimize wellbeing, and help you feel your best from the inside out!