Hormones — we all have them, and we will all reach a point in our lives where we have to deal with hormonal imbalance.
Even though hormonal imbalance is a condition that impacts many people, it can impact us all in different ways. Just as we all have different reactions to hormonal imbalance, we should have different treatment options.
The truth is there is no blanket treatment for hormonal imbalance. Yet, many in the medical field continuously prescribe the same treatments that don’t always work for all patients. This situation leaves many to deal with symptoms and no answers to their health concerns.
Hormonal imbalance can come from various sources, but no matter the cause when left untreated, the consequences can be severe. One approach many practitioners use to help patients find balance is hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
HRT has been around for years and has provided patients with lasting results, but many patients haven’t heard of this approach!
What should I know about hormones?
Hormones have a big job and are important for everyone! But how much do you know about hormones? Don’t worry, rookies, we’ll tell you everything you need to know!
Hormones are chemical messengers that travel through our bloodstream and enter cells, tissues, and organs, telling them what to do and when to do it.
Hormones can regulate everything from our emotions to reproduction functions to our general wellbeing. Essentially, hormones control and coordinate various activities throughout our bodies.
- Hormones carry messages between cells and organs.
- Hormone levels will naturally decline with age — and do require proper management.
- Hormonal imbalance can impact both men and women of any age.
- Because hormonal imbalance can happen at any time and lead to severe complications, we recommend regular check-ups and monitoring to ensure your body is in balance.
Can I tell if my hormones aren’t balanced?
Yes, and no — well, sometimes. The answer isn’t entirely clear because, as we said before, hormonal imbalance affects everyone differently.
However, because our hormones have such an essential job in regulating our body’s functions, even the smallest change could cause a series of symptoms to pop up.
Both women and men can experience hormonal imbalance, and while symptoms are often unique for each person and can vary greatly. There’s a list of common symptoms experts agree on good signs of potential hormonal imbalance.
Signs of Imbalance in Women & Men
The most common causes of hormonal balance tend to produce the following symptoms in both men and women:
- headaches;
- unexplained weight gain or weight loss;
- brittle or weak bones;
- irritability and anxiety;
- long-term fatigue without reason;
- poor sleep;
- lowered sex drive;
- very dry skin or skin rashes;
- unexplained or excessive sweating;
- changes in sensitivity to cold and heat.
The list of symptoms goes far beyond those listed above, which is why you must speak with your medical provider to see if your symptoms are indicative of hormonal imbalance.
Signs of Hormonal Imbalance in Women
A few more specific symptoms often experienced by women include:
- vaginal dryness;
- breast tenderness;
- deepening of the voice;
- irregular/heavy/painful periods;
- thinning or brittle hair.
Signs of Hormonal Imbalance in Men
Some common red flags for men dealing with hormonal issues include:
- the inability to achieve and maintain an erection;
- changes in blood pressure;
- memory loss;
- gynecomastia (the development of breasts);
- longer recovery times from injuries.
While these symptoms are essential to look for, many patients report noticing hormonal imbalance after feeling “off” for some time. If you don’t feel yourself and you can’t figure out why it may be worth having your hormone levels checked out.
The Causes of Hormonal Imbalance
More times than not, hormonal imbalances are just a natural part of the aging process. Still, some other factors can cause hormonal imbalance like:
- extreme stress;
- thyroid issues;
- poor nutrition;
- environmental factors.
During your consultation with our team, we can walk you through potential causes for your symptoms and assess your lifestyle and environmental factors that may also influence your hormonal health.
Getting an appropriate diagnosis is essential to begin an effective treatment plan because symptoms of hormonal imbalance closely resemble symptoms of other health conditions.
How You Can Restore Balance
Like we mentioned earlier, HRT is a type of hormone therapy that uses hormones that are structurally identical to the substances as they naturally occur in your body. It has been successful for both men and women going through the aging process and dealing with hormonal imbalance.
Other hormone therapy options include pills, patches, and creams, but don’t offer an individualized approach for your unique needs and health concerns.
HRT is the natural alternative to synthetic hormone treatments that often don’t provide relief.
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