Everything you need to know about hormonal imbalance

At least once in our lives we all have suffered from that stubborn acne which would not go away no matter how many DIYs you try or that fatigue which doesn’t leave you alone.

Well if you’re someone who has gone through all this and are wondering the cause behind this unwanted fatigue, obstinate acne, sudden weight gain and other such issues like stiff joints then these could be the signs of hormonal imbalance.

Hormonal imbalance can turn into a serious issue as it can affect the most important functions of our body.

Here is everything you need to know about this condition from its symptoms to causes and some commonly available treatment options.

What is hormonal imbalance?
We have learnt this all our lives that everything feels good in moderation as if there is too much or too little of something it can cause an imbalance in the whole system. This simple rule applies to our hormonal system as well, but in order to understand the imbalance in the hormonal system let us quickly understand what these hormones actually are.

The chemicals produced by the glands present in our endocrine system which are then released into our bloodstream are known as hormones.

As these hormones are important for regulating the different process going on in our body like a persons mood, sleep cycles, sexual functions and many such functions the imbalance occurs when too much or too little of the hormones are produced and released into the bloodstream which impacts all the important and major body systems which has some direct and some indirect effects on our overall health.

Symptoms of hormonal imbalance
No disease or health issue shows up out of the blues but comes with some early signs and symptoms which we tend to ignore on a regular basis. Here are some common symptoms of hormonal imbalance-

Weakness in muscles
Stiffness, swelling or pain in joints
Fatigue
Sudden weight loss or weight gain
Frequent urination
Decreased sex drive
Brittle or fine hain
Increased thirst and decreased hunger
Anxiety
Puffy Face
Although these are the most common symptoms of hormonal imbalance which are observed in both the gender there are some signs that are specially observed in the women of reproductive age like Irregular Periods, Heavy Bleeding, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Acne of back, chest and face, Hair Loss, Painful Sex, Frequent Headaches, Dry Vagina and Skin darkening in areas like groin, neck creases and the area underneath the breast.

The commonly observed symptoms of Hormonal imbalance in men are Tender breasts, Hot Flashes, Decreased Body Hair, Difficulty in concentrating, Loss of bone and muscle mass, erectile dysfunction and development of breast tissues.

What causes hormonal imbalance?
By now we know that hormonal imbalance can actually affect our overall health in ways we couldn’t even think of. Now it’s time to ponder upon the root cause of the issue and understand where the problem starts from. Although there can be different causes of hormonal imbalance affecting men and women as this problem is faced by both the genders, here are some of the major causes of this health problem.

1. Birth control pills
After all those side effects, these little pills have a lot more to offer and hence they can be the culprit behind all the issues you have been experiencing due to the hormonal imbalance in your system. As these birth control pills have hormones in them they can affect the hormones secreted by your body which might lead to a hormonal imbalance. These birth control pills have a potential to cause heavy bleeding, sudden weight gain, irregular periods and some digestive problems.

2. Stress
The root cause of hormonal imbalance which is observed in both men and women, stress causes your body to produce cortisol which is a steroid hormone. As a long term stress can expose your body to high levels of cortisol which leads to hormonal imbalance causing decreased libido in both men and women, and infertility and irregular periods in women. The hormonal imbalance caused due to stress can be the reason behind a person’s personal problems as it triggers irritability and mood swings.

3. Eating disorder
A common known cause behind the hormonal imbalance in a person’s body, eating disorders such as anorexia known as the loss of appetite can lead to the production of very little estrogen in the body, creating an imbalance and issues like low bone density.

Treatment for hormonal balance
As there are various treatment options available for a single health problem, the one you should opt for depends upon various conditions like your medical history, your genes, diet plan, degree of illness and various other aspects. Although your physician is the best person to go for advice in order to get treated for a certain health problem like hormonal imbalance, here are some treatment options that can be considered in order to treat and overcome hormonal imbalance.

Hormonal Birth Control
Metformin
Testosterone therapy
Vaginal estrogen
Thyroid Hormone Therapy
Anti-androgen medications
Estrogen Therapy
Eflornithine