12 Signs of Hormone Imbalance
Feeling bloated, irritable, not like yourself? No matter what your age 18-70+ hormone imbalance could be to blame. Hormones are chemical “messengers” that impact the way your cells and organs function. When hormones are unbalanced, your entire life can feel unbalanced. Here are the main indicators that hormones are out of balance?
#1 Irregular Periods
Most women’s periods come every 21 to 35 days. If yours doesn’t arrive around the same time every month, or you skip some months, it can mean that you have too little progesterone This is very common if you are in your 40s or early 50s – this is when you stop ovulating regularly, and ovulation is what produces progesterone. Irregular cycles can also be a symptom of a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome and this can happen in your 20’s. I have about 4 videos on PCOS if you are interested in how to resolve it. Progesterone for this symptom.
#2 Sleep Problems
If you aren’t getting enough sleep, or if the sleep you get is constantly interrupted. Progesterone, the all-important balancing hormone helps you catch zzz's. If your levels are lower than usual, that can make it hard to fall and stay asleep. Low progesterone often leads to low melatonin, the sleep hormone. Also, low estrogen can trigger hot flashes and night sweats, both of which can make it tough to get the rest you need. Progesterone and melatonin for this symptom.
#3 Chronic Acne
A breakout before or during your period is normal. But acne that won’t clear up can be a symptom of hormone problems. An excess of androgens (“male” hormones that both men and women have) can cause your oil glands to overwork. Androgens also affect the skin cells in and around your hair follicles. Both of those things can clog your pores and cause acne AND cause hair loss. Progesterone for this symptom.
#4 Memory Fog
Changes in estrogen and progesterone can make your head feel “foggy” and make it harder for you to remember things. Hormones impact brain chemicals called neurotransmitters that are responsible for good cognition, mental clarity and memory. Progesterone or progesterone and estrogen for this symptom.
#5 Ongoing Fatigue
Are you tired all the time? Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of a hormone imbalance. If hormones are in balance, you should feel energized, not tired…. until you 80’s and beyond. Progesterone and cortisol balance for this symptom.
#6 Mood Swings, Anxiety and Depression
Drops in hormones or fast changes in their levels can cause moodiness and the blues. Hormones affect key brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Don’t turn into the grumpy, depressed side of yourself. Let’s get balanced! Progesterone for these symptoms.
#7 Appetite and Weight Gain
When you’re feeling blue or irritated, as you can be when your hormone levels dip, you may want to eat more. That might be why drops in the hormone are linked to weight gain, ESPECIALLY progesterone. You may also have low estrogen, high insulin, and high cortisol. Hormones can also impact your body’s levels of leptin, a hormone that helps regulate food intake. Don’t wait until you gain 20-40 pounds which will make you even more depressed. Progesterone will balance out estrogen dominance which causes weight gain. So, once again, progesterone for this symptom.
#8 Headaches
Hormone imbalance in women often causes headaches, even migraines. That’s why it’s common for headaches to strike right before or during your period. Regular headaches or ones that often surface around the same time each month can be a clue that you have high estrogen in relation to your progesterone. Again, progesterone for this symptom.
#9 Vaginal Dryness
If you have observed that you're dry or irritated “down there”, low estrogen may be the reason. Estrogen helps vaginal tissue stay moist and comfortable. If your estrogen drops because of an imbalance, it can reduce vaginal fluids and cause tightness. Estrogen or DHEA for this symptom. Don’t use synthetics…go natural with estradiol or Estriol. If you don’t want to use estrogen, there are wonderful DHEA suppositories. By the way, these suppositories that can help are available without a doctor’s prescription. Email me for the information.
#10 Loss of Libido
If your testosterone levels are lower than usual, you might have less of an interest in sex than you usually do. Testosterone requires a prescription AND has not been approved by the FDA for women. You are just given a man’s dose, at a lower level. And it has side effects. Go for DHEA instead…a bio-identical hormone that can raise a woman’s testosterone levels nicely. Also, progesterone often makes your man look a lot better to you! Progesterone comes to a woman mid-cycle by God’s design…this is when you are ovulating and can become pregnant. So, progesterone or DHEA for this symptom.
#11 Breast Changes
Estrogen dominance can thicken breast tissue and cause lumps or cysts. It used to be called Fibrocystic Breast Disease, but is now so common that it is called Fibrocystic Breast Syndrome. Progesterone is needed here.
#12 Hair Loss
Hair loss in women is almost ALWAYS due to hormones. The minute you see your hair falling out or becoming weak or brittle. take charge. Your androgens (male hormones) may be out of whack and be dominating your other hormones. This can be corrected. Start with progesterone for this symptom.
All right, if you responded “yes” to any of these 12, you can be hormonally unbalanced. The symptoms of hormone imbalance are very real and very treatable. You were not designed to suffer. If you need help pinpointing the hormone or hormones that you need, I urge you to email me. I am here to help! And, the hormones that will help are available without a doctor’s prescription and will NOT empty your wallet.
Women helping women ALWAYS here at Better Health Naturally!
