How to Know If You Have a Hormonal Imbalance

Hormonal imbalances can affect both men and women, with symptoms ranging from barely noticeable to extremely severe. Many sufferers of a hormonal imbalance may not even realize they have a hormonal problem, blaming their symptoms on other medical problems or even lifestyle choices. But when problems persist and standard medical treatments do not fix the issue, it is important to look at the patient’s symptoms and see if hormone replacement therapy could provide a solution to their troubles. So, how can you recognize a hormonal imbalance in both men and women?

Hormone Changes in Women vs. Men
For women, an imbalance in hormones is usually tied to naturally occurring life events such as pregnancy, pre-menopause or post-menopausal changes. Since such a noticeable change is happening, women are more likely to know they are experiencing the side effects of fluctuating and changing hormones. But for men, a change in hormones may be harder to recognize. Hormone changes in men can happen gradually over time, making it hard to know if an imbalance is responsible for the problems they are experiencing. Here are some of the common symptoms of a hormone imbalance for men and women.

Women: Symptoms of a Hormone Imbalance
Typical symptoms for women with changing hormones can vary based on their age, menstrual cycle and life events. For menopausal women, most symptoms of a hormonal imbalance include the "classic" night sweats, hot flashes, weight gain and mood swings. These symptoms are well known because of their prominence in social discussions, television shows, advertisements and gender studies. For women with a hormone imbalance, the signs are usually easy to recognize. But, there are also symptoms associated with changing hormones that are less noticeable. For example, digestive problems, severe acne, sleeping disorders and fatigue can be signs of changing hormones, but also can be signs of other medical problems. In these cases, it is harder for women to know if they are experiencing an imbalance.

Men: Symptoms of a Hormone Imbalance
For men with changing hormones, the symptoms can happen slowly over time, making the problem less noticeable and harder to diagnose. For example, loss of hair, low libido, increased body fat and muscle weakness can happen as gradual changes in a man’s body, and may also be associated with age, genetics or other medical conditions. But these symptoms can also be signs of a hormone imbalance. Other common symptoms experienced by men include memory loss, night sweats, constipation, erectile dysfunction, irritability and more.

Correcting a Hormone Imbalance
For both men and women experiencing a hormonal imbalance, there are many treatment options available. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most common form of treatment. For men with symptoms, the cause is normally a loss of testosterone that happens naturally over time. By using the latest HRT testosterone, many men are able to reverse the affects of hormone imbalance and start living a normal, healthy life again. For women with changing hormones, HRT can be beneficial in lessening the strong side affects of menopause, helping them overcome depression, anxiety and other bodily changes. Using HRT can be life changing for many patients, and an excellent alternative to other strong prescription medications or mood altering drugs. If you think you are experiencing symptoms of a hormone imbalance, contact a doctor specializing in HRT to learn more about correcting your imbalance and stabilizing your hormones.

How To Combat Hormonal Imbalance After a Hysterectomy

After running the necessary tests, your doctor recommends that you undergo a partial or maybe even a full hysterectomy.  Fortunately, this means that the bleeding, pain in the pelvis, and some of the other issues you’ve been experiencing will go away.  It also means you will have a few new matters to deal with, including a hormonal imbalance.  The good news is that by working closely with your physician, the right course of treatment will restore your balance and make life a lot easier.

Evaluating Your Condition

Before attempting to treat you for a hormonal imbalance after the hysterectomy, your doctor will need to determine exactly what type of imbalance is taking place.  If you underwent a full hysterectomy, that means both of your ovaries are now gone.  Part of the therapy will certainly focus on providing the estrogen that your body is no longer making.  Even with a partial hysterectomy where your body retains some ability to produce estrogen, the situation may be more complex.

For example, you may find that your levels of testosterone are also outside of normal limits.  While low levels of testosterone are usually associated with men who are experiencing a hormonal imbalance, it is possible for women to not produce this hormone in necessary quantities. Since you do need a proper balance of all hormones to enjoy a higher level of health, the approach will involve more than providing you with a reasonable supply of estrogen.  The activity will also include some form of HRT testosterone treatments designed to correct the imbalance.

What About Side Effects?

You’ve probably heard about side effects of undergoing any type of Hormone Replacement Therapy.  While there are some possible effects like mood swings that seem a lot like what you were experiencing before the hysterectomy, rest assured that these indicate that the HRT needs some adjustment.  No two people are exactly alike, so the dosage and frequency may be different for you.  By keeping your doctor up to date on how you are feeling, it won’t take long to determine how much you need in order to bring your balance back in line.

Will It Take Long?

Remember that any type of invasive procedure does result in trauma to the body.  You will need time to heal from the hysterectomy, and that may or may not mean putting off treatments for hormonal imbalance for a time.  A lot depends on how quickly you heal and your general state of health.  Typically, the replacement therapy can begin soon after the procedure.

In the best case scenario, you'll begin to notice positive changes that provide you with a more positive outlook, restore your ability to concentrate, and in general help you feel in control of yourself.

The fact that the therapy used to correct the hormonal imbalance does not make you feel better immediately is not a sign that it isn’t working. As with most types of therapy, it will take a little time for your body to respond to the presence of those balanced hormones.  Don’t expect to wake up one morning and feel like you did before all the madness started.  The more likely scenario is that you will notice things getting a little better over a period of weeks.  

Remember that even after the right approach to the replacement therapy is identified, your needs may change over time.  That makes it all the more important to communicate with your doctor if you notice any reversals in your health, including your emotions.  Adjusting the therapy may be all it takes to get things back on the right track.

Signs of Hormone Imbalance in Women

Recognizing a hormone imbalance in women can sometimes be difficult. The normal signs of hormone imbalance usually start with symptoms that can mimic other health issues or be caused from lifestyle choices, such as sleeping problems or fatigue. Although it may be common for many women to “blame their hormones” for many symptoms, recognizing a serious problem may be more difficult. When a hormone imbalance begins to affect your quality of life, sleeping patterns or overall health – then the problem must be addressed. Here are some signs to look for when recognizing a hormone imbalance in women.

You’re not as active as you were.
Fatigue is a common sign of a hormone imbalance in women and is sometimes confused with lack of sleep, aging or other health issues. If your once-easy daily routine suddenly starts feeling exhausting or your normal run to the gym is knocking you off your feet… check your hormones. The thyroid hormone, which controls your body’s metabolism, could be to blame for a lack of energy and constant fatigue.

Resting soundly proves to be difficult, if not impossible.
Sleeping disorders are another common symptom of hormonal imbalances. In women, restlessness or insomnia is usually due to a lack of the progesterone hormone. When this hormone drops, it can cause a lack of sleep. Many women experience this feeling before their period, and it can appear again later in life as hormones decrease in the body.

 Your face looks like a teenager’s again.
Acne is an unwelcome but unfortunately common sign of a hormone imbalance in women. You may have thought those pimple days were over after your teens… but changing hormones in the body can make your pores flare up again. These nasty side effects can be caused by too much testosterone in the body.

The room is never cool enough.
Hot flashes are a signature sign of a hormonal imbalance, and even the subject line of many television shows, movies and Broadway musicals. If you’re experiencing hot flashes, however… you’ll hardly be singing a happy tune. Many different hormones could be to blame for the feeling of fluctuating temperatures, including an imbalance of estrogen, progesterone and even thyroid hormones.

You can’t stop popping aspirin.
Headaches and migraines are a painful and very real side effect of hormonal imbalances in women. For women that have experienced migraines most of their life, realizing the association between hormones and head pain may be hard to recognize. Hormonal changes can cause an onset of pain in the forehead, temples and behind the eyes. Balancing these hormones may be the key to relieving reoccurring headaches.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be a sign that you are suffering from a hormonal imbalance. Recognizing a hormone imbalance in women can be difficult at times – it is always important to consult with a healthcare professional first to diagnose your problem and decide on the right course of action. Many hormone imbalances can be treated with hormone replacement therapy. By balancing the levels of hormones in the body, many symptoms can be relieved and you can start living a normal, healthy life again.

If your quality of life or overall health is affected by any of these symptoms, contact a hormone replacement therapy specialist to learn about options for treating your condition. Start feeling balanced, happy and back to normal today.