Signs You Have Hormone Imbalance

What is hormonal imbalance?

Produced by our endocrine glands—the parts of the endocrine system including adrenals, thyroid, pancreas, and female or male reproductive system that communicate with our nervous system—hormones perform essential functions, relay important warnings, and communicate messages throughout the body. Everything from your appetite and metabolism to heart rate, sleep patterns, reproduction, and mood is dictated by your hormones. That means your hormones make sure everything is running smoothly and that your rhythms stay in sync.

When your hormones aren’t communicating properly, and your body incorrectly produces too much or too little of any hormone, this is what’s known as a hormonal imbalance. If the production of just one hormone in any of these glands is thrown off, it can affect all the others, quickly creating a snowball effect that leaves you feeling off. For example, a thyroid hormone imbalance , which is very sensitive to changes in stress levels, can contribute to a cortisol imbalance, and a cortisol imbalance can contribute to a thyroid hormone imbalance. And either of these imbalances can cause symptoms such as fatigue , mood changes, digestive issues, and unexplained weight gain or weight loss. Since all of our hormones are so closely interrelated and often bidirectional in nature, the symptoms of hormonal imbalance of each one can look very similar. This is why maintaining balance in our endocrine system as a whole is essential to keeping our system running smoothly.

These are some of the major symptoms of hormonal imbalance to look out for.

 1. Fatigue

Everyone is tired sometimes. If you feel you are taking care of yourself but are still exhausted or just can’t seem to get back to your best, consider having a comprehensive evaluation of your hormone levels . Hormone imbalances are more prevalent in our high-paced society than you may think. It is always best to test instead of guess.

2. Anxiety

Nope, it’s not all in your head. Nearly 18 percent of Americans suffer from an anxiety-related disorder and 7 percent from a major depressive disorder each year. Women may be at a higher risk because changes in estrogen during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or menopause are associated with worsening depression . A study on the effect of estrogen receptors in the brain found that estrogen calms the fear response and anxiety in both humans and rodents. Higher levels of estrogen were correlated with less fearful responses when stimulated by fear-inducing scenarios. Men with low levels of testosterone are more prone to developing anxiety or major depressive disorder when compared to those with normal levels.

3. Weight gain or difficulty releasing weight

So many people struggle with weight loss and maintenance. Usually, it’s because they are eating nutrient-poor foods and working too hard. The body processes this hard work as stress and when the body is stressed, it goes into survival or “fight or flight” mode, producing cortisol. When you’re chronically stressed, your cortisol is always high and in an effort to protect itself from whatever danger it senses, your body holds onto fat as a form of energy.

4. Trouble sleeping

Insomnia can be linked to a dysregulated hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, which is your central stress response system, where your endocrine system and central nervous system interact. It’s also responsible for regulating the sleep-wake cycle through the release of hormones, such as melatonin and cortisol. Melatonin works on the part of the brain that controls our circadian rhythm, allowing us to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. An inability to secrete melatonin may result in difficulty falling asleep or adjusting to a new sleep pattern. Similarly, when your cortisol levels are too high in the evening, you may have trouble falling asleep and feel wired but tired in the evening.

40 percent of women going through perimenopause , the phase in which your body is nearing menopause, also report sleep disturbances, such as waking up in the middle of the night with chills and drenched in sweat.

5. Digestive issues

There are more neurotransmitters in the gut than there are in the brain, so it should be no surprise that hormonal imbalance and anxiety and depression are sometimes accompanied by digestive symptoms . Hormones influence gut function through the microbiome and bacterial system in our intestines, so a hormone imbalance can impact the population and function of the bacteria in your gut, leading to symptoms like bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or nausea.

6. Skin and hair changes

Acne. A sudden increase in acne is one easy way to identify a possible hormonal imbalance. One of the few hormones involved is androgens. Androgens, typically referred to as “male hormones,” but found in both males and females, regulate your skin’s sebum production. If your body produces androgens in excess, sebum can build up in your pores and cause a pimple to surface.

Hair loss. The quality and vitality of your hair is also directly related to your hormones. Thyroid abnormalities, for example, may cause dry hair or skin, thinning hair, or brittle nails. 

7. PMS and low sex drive

Low testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone are all associated with a decreased sex drive in both men and women. This is especially common after age 50 when estrogen and testosterone production declines. Since estrogen is one of the main hormones regulating a woman’s menstrual cycle a decrease in production can also lead to irregular periods that are too long, too short, unpredictable, heavy, or painful, infertility, hot flashes, mood swings, or painful intercourse.

8. Muscle weakness and joint pain

If you feel like it takes extra effort to move your body, or your joints are stiff and uncomfortable, this may be a symptom of hormonal imbalance. There are several different hormones that contribute to the strength of your muscles—think estrogen, testosterone, even your thyroid hormone—and could be behind your muscle weakness. Declines in both estrogen and testosterone have been associated with loss of strength, and muscle weakness and stiffness are often signs of a thyroid disorder , due the thyroid’s role in breaking glycogen into glucose, a main source of energy for your muscles.

9. Changes in blood pressure

Your hormones play a major role in heart health , primarily due to one of your body’s largest hormone-producing glands, the pancreas. The pancreas is responsible for producing insulin, which regulates the amount of glucose in the blood. Without proper regulation of this hormone, your body could end up with too much glucose in the blood, leading to cardiovascular problems like high cholesterol or high blood pressure. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, has also been linked to thyroid dysfunction, testosterone deficiency, growth hormone excess or deficiency, and more.

10. Puffy, swollen, or rounded face

Though this symptom of hormonal imbalance isn’t talked about much, for those who experience it, it can be a major concern. And while this symptom is relatively painless, besides possible tenderness due to the swelling, it may be negatively impacting your quality of life. Sometimes referred to as “moon face,” this gradual rounding or swelling of the face is a common sign of high cortisol characterized by Cushing’s syndrome. If your adrenal glands release too much cortisol, they’re unable to properly regulate your blood pressure and inflammatory response . As a result, your body has a hard time keeping your blood vessels functioning appropriately, leading to swelling and a puffy appearance around your face or shoulders.

Final thoughts on hormonal imbalances.

• Some of the most common symptoms of hormone imbalances include unexplained weight gain, fatigue, insomnia, and changes in hair, skin, and nails.

• Root causes of hormonal imbalances include compromised gut health, elevated inflammation, and high stress levels.

• Natural ways to balance your hormones include eating anti-inflammatory polyunsaturated fats, reducing your exposure to endocrine disruptors, getting adequate sleep, and using supplements to fill in any nutritional gaps related to gut health and vitamin D levels.

Looking for help with hormone imbalance?

Schedule an exploratory session with Coach Dee to learn more.