Hormones, your body’s chemical messengers, control major processes in your body, including reproduction and metabolism. Over time, some hormone levels fluctuate as a natural result of aging. However, other changes occur when there is a problem with your endocrine system, causing hormonal imbalances. A hormonal imbalance means you have too little or too much of a given hormone, and since these chemicals affect your overall health, you should seek help when you notice certain problems. Here are five warning signs you should see a hormone imbalances San Diego specialist.
1. Fertility Issues
Hormonal imbalance is one of the leading causes of infertility. Typically, a woman’s fertility falls after 35 due to changing hormone levels. The top culprits are follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) whose increased levels can lower a woman’s chances of conceiving and luteinizing hormone (LH). LH stimulates ova release and progesterone production in the ovaries and too low levels can cause fertility problems. In most cases, you will notice fertility problems when you try and repeatedly fail to get pregnant.
2. Poor Quality Sleep
Women in menopause or perimenopause naturally produce less progesterone and estrogen – hormones that promote sleep. The reduced estrogen levels can cause symptoms like night sweats, which could affect your sleep and lead to a lack of energy and fatigue. If the symptoms are mild, you can usually improve your quality of sleep by keeping your bedroom dark, sleeping on cotton sheets, and wearing light cotton pajamas. However, severe symptoms that affect your productivity will require treatment.
3. Mood Swings
Estrogen often called the female sex hormone can affect neurotransmitters in the brain like serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical that boosts your mood and fluctuations in its levels can cause mood swings or a depressed mood during periods, perimenopause, and menopause. Usually, you may feel anxious, low, and unable to perform your daily activities as you previously did.
4. Weight Gain
Weight gain can be caused by a myriad of things, including a diet change or pregnancy. However, when weight gain is unexplained – not accompanied by any change in diet or exercise levels – it could be hormone-related. If the thyroid gland produces reduced amounts of thyroid hormones, which regulate body metabolism, you could develop an underactive thyroid. This could lead to weight gain. Menopause also causes hormonal changes that make you more likely to gain weight around the middle.
5. Low Libido
During perimenopause and menopause, women may experience low libido due to reduced levels of testosterone and estrogen. These hormonal changes also cause other symptoms like anxiety, low mood, fatigue, and night sweats, which could further interfere with your sex life.
How Are Hormonal Imbalances Treated?
When you visit a hormonal imbalance expert, they will usually perform a complete medical evaluation and test your saliva or blood to check hormone levels. The results will then determine the type of treatment you receive, which will be customized to your needs. Options include:
- Eliminating toxins from your home
- Weight management
- Nutritious diet plan
- Regular exercise
- Cellular detoxification
- Stress management
In some instances, your doctor may recommend hormone replacement therapy. This treatment involves receiving artificial hormones in the form of injected, topical, or oral medication.
Hormones are crucial to major body functions so hormonal imbalances can cause many disruptive symptoms. If you notice some of these signs, contact the team at Gain Wellness Center in Poway to learn what treatment options are available to you.
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