Hormonal Imbalance Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Hormones are the chemical messenger of your body. They are produced by endocrine glands. They travel throughout your body and give instructions to cells, tissues and organs what to do. They play vital roles in different body processes such as reproduction, heart rate, mood, stress levels, sleep cycles and metabolism. In women, hormonal disorder refers to imbalances in estrogen and progesterone levels. While in men, hormonal disorder refers to imbalances in testosterone levels.

Causes

Hormonal imbalance is caused by a wide range of conditions. The most common causes are hormonal therapy, certain medications, chemotherapy, tumors particularly pituitary tumors, eating disorders, stress, injury or trauma. Certain medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, and hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and thyroid nodules increase the risk of hormonal imbalance. Thyroiditis, adrenal hyperplasia, hypogonadism, Cushing syndrome and Addison’s disease can also cause hormonal imbalance. Hormonal imbalance in females is caused by different conditions such as primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), early menopause, hormone replacement therapies, birth control medications and ovarian cancer. There are natural periods of hormonal imbalance in females during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, breast-feeding, perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. Hormonal imbalance in males is caused by different conditions such as hypogonadism and prostate cancer. They also suffer from hormonal imbalance during puberty and with the process of ageing.

Symptoms

The symptoms of hormonal imbalance in women are different from men. The most common symptoms of hormonal imbalance are listed below,

• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Irregular menstruation
• Painful periods
• Osteoporosis (weak, brittle bones)
• Hot flashes
• Frequent urination
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Breast tenderness
• Indigestion
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Acne flares
• Unexpected weight gain or weight loss
• Dry skin
• Deepening of the voice
• Clitoral enlargement
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Thinning or brittle hair
• Infertility
• Headache
• Abdominal cramps or bloating

Changes in appetite

• Reduced sex drive
• Puffy face
• Blurred vision
• Anxiety
• Headache
• Joint and muscle pain
• Vaginal atrophy
• Gynecomastia and erectile dysfunction (ED) in males
• Increased unwanted hairs
• Low sperm count

Treatment

The treatment of hormonal imbalance depends upon the underlying causative agent. Hormone replacement therapy is proved to be very effective for the treatment of hormonal imbalance. Estrogen replacement therapy and testosterone replacement therapy are the most common types of hormone replacement therapies. Estrogen is very effective for the treatment of hot flashes or other uncomfortable symptoms of menopause. Estrogen in the form of pills, cream, patches and vaginal rings can be given for the treatment of vaginal itching or dryness. If gynecomastia is caused by increased levels of estrogen, then your doctor may prescribe tamoxifen. Tamoxifen blocks the effects of estrogen in your body. Testosterone replacement therapy is recommended for patients with low testosterone levels. Your gynecologist can prescribe supplemental hormonal therapy for the treatment of pain or unusual heavy bleeding due to hormonal imbalance. Hormonal contraceptives can also be prescribed in the form of birth control pills, patches, shots and vaginal rings. Your doctor can also prescribe intrauterine devices (IUDs) for the treatment of hormonal imbalance. This method is very effective for birth control. It is a T shaped device which is placed in your uterus during a small surgical procedure. It is very effective in treating heavy bleeding due to hormonal imbalance. If hormonal imbalance is caused by hypothyroidism, then your doctor can prescribe synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine. Metformin is proved to be very effective for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It is very effective in lowering androgen levels. Flibanserin and bremelanotide are approved by FDA (Food and drug administration) for the treatment of decreased sexual drive. Eflornithine is very effective in lowering the growth of new facial hairs and preventing unwanted hairs in women. In females with PCOS, your gynecologist may prescribe clomiphene. It stimulates the process of ovulation in females. The severe acne and excessive hair growth or hair loss in females is caused by the male sex hormone, androgen. In this case, your doctor will prescribe anti-androgen medications to block the effects of androgen.