What are the Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance?

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Our bodies' hormonal imbalances occur when there is either too much or too little of particular hormones in our system. Our bodies rely on a healthy balance of hormones to ensure optimal function. Even the slightest imbalance can cause side effects throughout our bodies.

Hormones are chemicals produced by glands in our endocrine system. These chemicals are secreted by the glands travel throughout our body to organs and tissues using the bloodstream. The hormones are responsible for delivering messages to the different organs that tell them what to do and when they should do it.

The hormones in our body regulate several significant processes in our body, and hormonal imbalance can affect functions such as:

  • Our metabolism and appetite
  • Sleep cycle
  • Mood and stress levels
  • General growth and development
  • Heart rate

Men and women can both go through hormonal imbalances.

The Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance

The signs of hormonal imbalance can differ depending on which hormones and glands are affected. Several of the most common symptoms of hormonal imbalance can include:

  • Challenges in sleeping
  • Changes in sensitivity to heat and cold
  • Changes in heart rate
  • Changes in blood sugar concentration
  • Skin rashes or dry skin
  • Unexpected weight gain or weight loss
  • Excessive sweating
  • Weak or brittle bones
  • Long-term and unexplainable fatigue
  • The need to go to the bathroom too often
  • Changes in appetite
  • Reduced sex drive
  • Brittle hair
  • Depression
  • Headaches
  • Irritability and anxiety
  • Bloating
  • Infertility
  • Blurred vision
  • Breast tenderness
  • Voices of women becoming deeper
  • Puffy face

What Causes Hormonal Imbalance?

People generally experience hormonal balance or fluctuating hormone levels throughout different parts of their life. For instance, women experience hormonal imbalance when they hit puberty, during menstruation, menopause, childbirth, and breast-feeding, among more.

Women are more at risk of developing several types of hormonal imbalance disorders than men because they have different endocrine organs and cycles responsible for the production of hormones.

Symptoms of hormonal imbalance in women

Several medical conditions can cause hormonal imbalances in women, including:

  • Birth control medication
  • Early menopause
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome
  • Primary ovarian insufficiency

Due to the different endocrine organs and cycles, women can experience symptoms of hormonal imbalances that men do not, including:

  • Irregular, heavy, or painful periods
  • Weak and/or brittle bones
  • Night sweats
  • Hot flashes
  • Breast tenderness
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Indigestion
  • The deepening of their voice
  • Clitoral enlargement
  • Infertility
  • Weight gain
  • Increased hair growth on chest, back, neck, or face
  • Uterine bleeding besides menstruation
  • Constipation and diarrhea

Symptoms of hormonal imbalance in men

Men also experience hormonal imbalance during their life. Puberty and aging are normal causes of hormonal imbalance in men. However, they can also experience hormonal imbalance due to certain medical conditions, including:

  • Hypogonadism (low testosterone levels)
  • Prostate cancer

The symptoms of hormonal imbalance in men include:

  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Reduced muscle mass
  • Reduced overall body hair growth
  • Weak or brittle bones
  • Overdevelopment of tissues on the breasts
  • Low sperm count
  • Reduced sex drive
  • Breast tenderness

Final Thoughts

Various factors can lead to hormonal imbalances in men and women. If you experience these symptoms, you should consult with your physician to understand the root cause of the problem and address it before it becomes a major health problem for you.