Dangers of Hormone Imbalance Particularly in women, a hormonal imbalance could indicate early onset of menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome, primary ovarian insufficiency and even ovarian cancer, among other conditions. In men, hormone imbalance could indicate any number of conditions, including prostate cancer.
Infertility: Hormonal imbalances are the leading cause of infertility in people assigned female at birth. Hormone-related conditions such as PCOS and anovulation can cause infertility.
Too much or too little of a certain hormone can throw off your body's balance and have a series of strange effects, including weight gain, depression, anxiety, infertility, thinning hair, or even acne. Thankfully, hormonal imbalance can be treatable.
Women often experience hormonal imbalance at predictable and naturally occurring points in their lives (menstruation, puberty, pregnancy and menopause). Certain medical conditions, lifestyle habits, environmental conditions, and endocrine gland malfunctions can be other causes of hormonal imbalance in females.
How Long Does It Take to Balance Hormones? As you can imagine, this varies. However, research shows that by taking a holistic, well-rounded approach, you can balance your hormones in less than four months. In fact, you can significantly reduce the amount of chemicals and pesticides in your body, in one week.
Hormones are important regulators of most things you do every day like eat or sleep. If they get imbalanced, they can seriously affect your quality of life. So, if you present with common hormonal imbalance symptoms, you should consult an endocrinologist at the earliest to get yourself checked out.
The most common consequence of aging-related hormonal changes is menopause. Around age 50, women's ovaries begin producing decreasing amounts of estrogen and progesterone; the pituitary gland tries to compensate by producing more follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).
When you eat sugar and processed foods, they affect hormone function by increasing inflammation and stress to the adrenal glands, putting you at risk of unintentional weight gain and severe hormonal imbalance. It's best to avoid these foods to improve hormonal health.
In general, blood samples are best taken in the 'first half' of the cycle (the follicular phase) when normal and abnormal hormone levels are more clearly separated. However, progesterone may be deliberately measured on day 21 in the middle of the 'second half' (luteal phase) to see if ovulation has occurred.
Blood test
Your doctor will send a sample of your blood to a lab for testing. Most hormones can be detected in the blood. A doctor can request a blood test to check your thyroid and your levels of estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), menstrual disorders, and menopause are all caused by changes to the female hormone system. These conditions can often be associated with metabolic changes, in addition to affecting your ability to conceive.
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of a hormone imbalance. Excess progesterone can make you sleepy. And if your thyroid -- the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck -- makes too little thyroid hormone, it can sap your energy. A simple blood test called a thyroid panel can tell you if your levels are too low.
Hormonal imbalances may be to blame for a range of unwanted symptoms from fatigue or weight gain to itchy skin or low mood. Hormones are chemicals produced by glands in the endocrine system and released into the bloodstream. An imbalance occurs when there is too much or too little of a hormone.
The only way to confirm a hormone imbalance is to test your hormone levels. Both blood tests and saliva tests are proven techniques in assessing a hormone imbalance. i-screen uses blood tests to accurately determine sex hormone and thyroid hormone levels, but prefers saliva testing to assess cortisol levels.
Speak to your GP if you're concerned about symptoms. They can refer you for a blood test to check for a hormone imbalance.
Blood tests can be used to detect an imbalance of hormones in the bloodstream. Blood tests are commonly used to test the levels of thyroid, estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol hormones. Urine tests, saliva tests, and imaging tests may also be used to diagnose endocrine disorders.
There are many ways in which your gynecologist can help get your hormones back on track. There are medications, lifestyle adjustments and alternative therapies that can all aid in improving your imbalance. The most common medication prescribed for treating a hormonal imbalance is a synthetic or bioidentical hormone.
More Information About Hormone Testing
We often conduct hormone testing using a blood sample, but some tests require urine or saliva samples. We frequently test levels of: Estrogen and testosterone. Adrenal gland hormones, such as cortisol.