Hormones play a very important role in maintaining the health of any woman’s body. When there are fluctuations in hormone levels, mood, sexual desire, fertility, and ovulation are affected.
Each month the female hormones estrogen and progesterone are produced. When their levels are out of balance, their health can suffer.
The brain, the pituitary gland, the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, and the uterus are all affected by the hormone (GnRH) that triggers the release of gonadotropins. Diet, way of life, exercise, stress, emotions, age, and ovulation are a few elements that affect normal gland function and hormone production.
Hormonal disorders occur when there is too little or too much of a particular hormone in the bloodstream. As hormones are essential for the body to function properly, even a small imbalance can have negative effects on overall health.
No one wants to deal with such a health problem, but what can you do when you find your hormones are out of balance?
The endocrine system’s glands create hormones as chemical compounds. They communicate with tissues and organs through circulation, instructing them on how to operate. The majority of bodily functions are regulated by hormones, hence hormonal imbalances can have an impact on many of these functions. Hormones assist in regulating:
-Metabolism and appetite
-Heart rate
-Sleep cycles
-Sexual function
-General growth and development
-Stress levels
-Body temperature.
It’s not only who can be affected by these hormonal imbalances, but men too. While women experience imbalances in estrogen and progesterone levels, men experience imbalances in testosterone levels.
Why hormonal imbalances occur
There will occasionally be hormonal changes throughout a person’s life. But when the endocrine glands aren’t functioning properly, these imbalances can happen. Numerous factors, such as chronic stress, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, an imbalanced diet, anorexia, hormone therapy, and oral contraceptives, can lead to hormonal imbalances.
Hormonal imbalances: how to recognize the symptoms
Lots of symptoms you can’t explain, from fatigue to extra pounds or skin irritations, can be caused by a hormonal imbalance. Bear in mind, however, that the symptoms most commonly associated with a hormonal imbalance may also be related to other conditions, so it’s necessary to see a doctor to find out the exact causes.
How do you recognize the signs of hormonal imbalance?
– You suffer from sleep disorders
– You have severe acne
– You feel daily that you have no energy
– You have digestive problems
– You get irritable easily and show symptoms of depression
– You are hungry all the time, have uncontrolled cravings and gain weight
– Your libido is low
– You often have palpitations
– As a woman, you grow hair on your face, neck, or chest
– You have frequent mood swings
– Your cycles are irregular or missing altogether
– During menstruation, you have severe headaches
– You get cysts on your breasts
– You experience infertility
Biofeedback sessions can also help you recognize if your hormones are imbalanced. With the help of special biofeedback devices such as NUCLEUS and ED-X, the therapist can see every imbalance in your body, as well as explain why they started occurring, and what you can do to relieve some symptoms.
How to treat hormonal imbalances
Treatment for these imbalances depends on their cause and is personalized for each patient. Of course, the biofeedback therapy sessions mentioned above will help. Once you find out after the first session that you indeed suffer from hormonal imbalance, it is indicated to continue with more sessions that will relieve the symptoms and regulate the imbalances.
Other treatments may also include metformin (which regulates blood sugar) or levothyroxine (which alleviates symptoms of hypothyroidism).
Treatment options for hormone imbalances indicated for women include:
– For those who do not want to get pregnant, medication containing forms of estrogen or progesterone may be recommended to regulate irregular cycles
– For women who want to get pregnant and suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome, taking medication to help stimulate ovulation or indication for in vitro fertilization
– Estrogen creams used in the vaginal area for women suffering from vaginal dryness associated with changes in estrogen levels
– Hormone therapy to reduce severe symptoms associated with menopause
– Eflornithine cream, to slow facial hair growth or medication to limit hair growth and acne development
Are there natural remedies for hormonal disorders?
Studies to date show that there are no natural remedies that have been fully proven effective for hormonal imbalances. However, for some women, natural supplements such as black cohosh, ginseng, or primrose oil have been shown to help alleviate symptoms associated with hormonal imbalance.
Symptoms can also be reduced by a balanced lifestyle, a healthy diet, regular exercise, good personal hygiene, stress control, limiting exposure to pollutants, and consumption of pesticide-sprayed fruit and vegetables.
Other useful tips
Reduce stress, relax through yoga, painting, and meditation, and make sure you give enough time to rest. Avoid external causes of hormonal imbalance.
Avoiding endocrine disruptors
Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that exist in the air, water, and soil that have adverse effects on hormone synthesis and secretion, metabolism, and cell functions. They can mimic the effects of estrogens/androgens or have anti-estrogenic/anti-androgenic effects, impacting the reproductive system. They may also promote the development of hormone-dependent cancers. Examples of endocrine disrupters: are dioxin, bisphenol A, phthalates, parabens, heavy metals, phytoestrogens, and pesticides.
Choosing the best diet: suggestions
A healthy and balanced hormonal system requires a healthy and balanced diet. Eat less processed meals and stuff that has a lot of unsaturated sugar.
– Increase your intake of fiber to at least 30 grams per day.
– Sip lots of water and limit your intake of alcohol, sugary beverages, and coffee.
Eat as many natural, organic, whole foods as you can, such as raw fruit and vegetables and whole grains. Three times a week, include fish in your diet.
– Opt for organic dairy products.
Everyone experiences a hormonal imbalance at some point, but it is necessary for women who experience these problems on an ongoing basis to adopt a balanced lifestyle and seek appropriate treatment from their doctor.