Hormones are chemicals that help your body function the way it’s supposed to, playing major roles in your wellness and well-being. Not surprisingly, hormonal imbalances can have some pretty unpleasant and even dramatic effects on your health and your quality of life.
The team at Jersey Integrative Health and Wellness diagnoses hormone imbalances using state-of-the-art lab tests and other evaluations, restoring normal hormone levels with advanced bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Here, learn four common symptoms that could indicate you have a hormone imbalance that needs treatment.
For women, an irregular menstrual cycle is a common indicator of a hormonal imbalance. Menstruation depends on the regular production and release of estrogen and progesterone. When the levels of hormones change significantly, periods can be directly affected.
Menstrual irregularities can include a variety of changes in your cycle, like:
Sometimes, these changes can be caused by perimenopause, the decline in estrogen that happens during the months and years leading up to menopause, when periods completely stop.
Hormonal changes are just one possible cause of period irregularities. Endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and even some types of cancer can also cause problems, as can polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition that affects your ovaries and egg production.
For men, erectile dysfunction is a common side effect of hormonal imbalance. The androgen hormone testosterone plays a critical role in helping men attain and maintain erections.
When testosterone levels are lower than normal, erectile function can be directly affected, leading to problems with intimacy, sexual satisfaction, and quality of life. Not surprisingly, persistent problems can take a toll on relationships, as well.
Like irregular periods, erectile dysfunction can have other causes, including problems with blood pressure, vascular diseases, nerve problems, obesity, and chronic stress. Diabetes can also increase the likelihood of ED by affecting your blood vessels, nerves, and hormone levels.
Hormones don’t just affect your sexual and reproductive health — they play lots of other roles in health and wellness, including metabolism and natural energy levels. Chronic feelings of fatigue or low energy levels can be caused by hormone imbalances that leave you feeling worn out despite adequate rest.
Low levels of hormones associated with metabolism can make it harder for your body to convert food to usable energy, or they may make it more difficult for cells to access and use that energy. This type of fatigue differs from “regular” tiredness, making you feel sluggish and tired all the time, regardless of how well you’re sleeping.
Many people with this type of hormone imbalance also have trouble concentrating or difficulties with memory, a combination of symptoms sometimes referred to as “brain fog.” You might feel moody or irritable, as well.
Because some hormones also play roles in metabolism, low levels of those hormones can make it much harder to manage your weight. You may find you gain weight more easily and it’s harder to lose weight.
Insulin resistance, high levels of cortisol (the “stress hormone), and thyroid disorders can all cause weight gain, as can low levels of estrogen and testosterone. Often, added weight is most noticeable in the belly area.
Some hormones, like testosterone, help us maintain muscle mass and strength. When testosterone levels decline with age or from other causes, we lose muscle mass and strength, making it harder to stay physically active and in turn lead to more weight gain.
Weight and muscle changes can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.
Hormone levels can change dramatically as we age, and other issues, like chronic diseases, medications, and even lifestyle can affect our hormone levels, too. Some hormone imbalances increase the risk of other medical problems, like heart disease, osteoporosis, or obesity.
Taking steps to manage hormone imbalances with custom hormone replacement therapy helps improve your health and your overall quality of life, too.
To learn if you have a hormone imbalance and how HRT can help, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Jersey Integrative Health and Wellness in Pompton Plains and Jersey City, New Jersey, today.
