Physician Assistant Elizabeth Hedlund shares the first part in a series of posts on hormone imbalances in women.

First, what are hormones and why are they so important? The body has over 50 different hormones, and they are not just for wide-eyed teens going through puberty! They are chemical messengers produced by the body in various glands and organs to allow for optimal functioning of all body systems as a whole being. This is called homeostasis. While our bodies can function with imbalances and will work to restore balance, if left untreated and uncared for, they will worsen. As a result, the body will struggle, wear down, and likely develop disease. Health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal fatigue, and autoimmune conditions, among others, can occur.

SYMPTOMS OF HORMONAL IMBALANCE

Because our hormones regulate so many bodily functions, there are lots of symptoms that occur when things are out of balance. Some of these include acne, hair thinning, constipation or diarrhea, breast tenderness, weight gain, irregular menstrual cycles, heavy or painful menstrual cycles, fatigue, depression or mood changes, headaches, vaginal dryness, decreased sex drive, excess body hair, chills or sweats, memory trouble, and sleep trouble. Specific symptoms will occur with specific hormone imbalances, but sometimes it’s vague and difficult to sort things out.  

CAUSES OF HORMONE IMBALANCE

Genetics can cause some imbalances, but most are a result of outside exposures and poor health habits.  The list of these external endocrine disruptors is lengthy and includes stress, smoking/vaping, processed foods, vitamin or mineral deficiencies, medications, poor sleep, severe infections, increasing age, synthetic hormone treatments, and environmental toxins (flame retardants, pesticides/herbicides,  plastics, synthetic fragrances and chemicals used in skin care products). 

SO NOW WHAT DO I DO?

Track your symptoms and find patterns. Do you feel worse after eating anything or just specific foods?  Do you feel worse when under stress such as in the workplace, but not at home, or vice versa? Do you feel worse after being in a certain environment, such as around chemicals, fluorescent lights, smoky rooms, or old basements? Do you feel worse just before or during your menstrual cycle? Is there a major life event happening such as having a baby, changing jobs, new home, going through menopause, or grieving a significant loss? What are your current lifestyle habits such as nutrition intake, activity level, sleep, stress management and spiritual growth?

Your healthcare provider can help you sort out these things, as well as discuss labs or testing that may be helpful for you. The important piece to remember is that the symptoms you have are your body’s way of telling you that something is out of balance. Rather than just taking medication to calm down the symptoms, the key is to find the cause for the imbalance. For example, if you are having very heavy and painful menstrual cycles, instead of taking synthetic birth control pills to improve them, maybe we can figure out why, correct the imbalance, and avoid the medication all together!  

Next month, we’ll focus on the primary female reproductive hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Two common scenarios occur with these hormones. One is estrogen dominance from sources of synthetic estrogen or estrogen mimickers (xenoestrogens) in our environment. The other is due to estrogen dominance that can occur because progesterone levels are too low. Meanwhile, check out these websites on hormone imbalance for more helpful detailed information:

Hormonal Imbalance: Symptoms and Treatments |WHN (womenshealthnetwork.com)Signs of Hormone

Imbalance in Males and Females & What To Do About It (weightandwellness.com)