Top 7 Signs you are experiencing Hormonal Imbalance

Hormonal imbalance can occur in women between puberty and 75 years of age. Hormonal imbalance in men can start as young as 30 depending upon lifestyle, health and career. Everyone experiences a different combination of symptoms related to hormonal imbalance. We are all uniquely wired as individuals and thus no 2 people will experience the same constitution of symptoms.

These are the top 7symptoms of hormonal imbalance I see daily in my office:

1. New or Worsening Anxiety and/or Depression

New or Worsening Anxiety and/or Depression
Antidepressants and anxiety medications are a very common prescription medication in the United States. The 2 biggest populations of people in America prescribed these medications: teenagers and women ages 40-60.  What do these 2 populations have in common? They are both going through hormonal transitions in life.
Unfortunately we have separated mental/psychological health and physical health in our country.  This is a big mistake as many conditions, like anxiety or depression, which are actually caused by a physical imbalance.  Low Testosterone in men and women can cause anxiety and depression. Imbalances in estrogen and progesterone in women can do the same. The root cause is not a deficiency in Prozac. It is an imbalance in hormones.

2.  Fatigue

Fatigue
It’s true we are overworked and overstressed as a society, but there are so many aspects to a good energy level. Under-functioning thyroid and low sex hormone levels in both men and women are the most common cause for fatigue in my practice today.

​3. Low Libido & Sex Drive

Low Libido & Sex Drive
I hear daily how much peoples sex drives have changed. I also hear excuses for low libido like, “Oh I’m just too busy to care” or “I’m too old to care about sex anymore”.  Both of these are not real reasons for a low libido. Low Testosterone in men will cause a low sex drive. In women, both low progesterone and low testosterone can produce these same symptoms.

4. Inability to Lose Weight

4. Inability to Lose Weight
It is true that we can’t always have the metabolism that we did at age 21, but good eating and exercise should be effective!  So why isn’t it just as easy as “calories in, and calories out”? If you have an imbalance in your sex hormones, thyroid function, adrenals or a mixture of the 3, weight loss is an uphill battle. If you get these components balanced, it will make reaching and maintaining a healthy weight a much easier feat.

5. Joint & Muscle Pain

Joint & Muscle Pain
I hear all too often from patients that they wake up with generalized joint stiffness and pain on a regular basis. The follow up comment to this from patients is “I’m just getting old”. A large amount of joint stiffness and pain is actually caused by low testosterone and/or low estrogen. Cells lining joint spaces have both receptors for estrogen and testosterone. When these receptors bind either of these hormones, they produce fluid which lubricates the joint space. Thus when Testosterone and Estrogen levels fall, you start to feel like the Tin Man prior a good oiling. ​

6. Insomnia

Insomnia
Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep is the second most common symptom I see outside of fatigue in my day to day practice. While there are numerous natural ways to treat insomnia, more often than not the root cause of sleep disturbances are imbalances in testosterone for men and progesterone and estrogen imbalance in women. Working to naturally correct these imbalances can easily regulate a healthy sleep cycle and circadian rhythm.  ​

7. Brain Fog

Brain Fog
Brain fog, trouble concentrating, foggy brain: whatever you want to call it, this symptom is far too common. I hear it everyday. Sure things like lack of sleep, eating an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise can contribute to foggy thinking, but sex hormones in both men and women as well as thyroid function play a huge role in mental clarity. One of the first symptoms I see improve in patients when balancing their hormones is brain fog!

These above symptoms can be accompanied by many others. See the (Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy page) to see a more extensive list of possible symptoms. Balancing hormones is unique to each person. We often use a combination of diet, exercise therapy, herbs, vitamins, minerals and sometimes plant based hormones to achieve this balance.  Call Elevated Natural Health today to schedule your free 15 minute consult with specialist Dr. McKenzie J. Timmer to discuss hormone balance for you!

Written by

Dr. McKenzie J Timmer ND 
Hormone and  Adrenal Specialist