Hormones play a critical role in your overall health affecting both your physical and mental health. Hormones also affect how you feel, the kind of food you want to eat, and even your weight. They regulate many different processes in the body. It is natural for hormone levels to fluctuate throughout your lifetime, however, too much or too little of a certain hormone can have serious effects throughout your body. Here are some signs of hormonal imbalance in women.
1. Persistent fatigue and mood swings
This is a common symptom of hormonal imbalance. Hormonal changes in the brain control the thyroid which can cause fatigue as well as depression. Excess progesterone makes you feel tired and sleepy all the time. When your thyroid makes too little thyroid hormone, that can sap your energy leaving you lethargic.
Rapid mood changes or frequent anger can be caused by low estrogen levels in the body. Estrogen has a direct effect on neurotransmitters in the brain affecting serotonin, the feel-good hormone.
Disturbed estrogen levels can also cause PMS and depression. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to the physical and emotional symptoms experienced days before a woman’s period. It usually presents through mood swings, food cravings, fatigue, irritability, tender breasts, and depression among others.
2. Irregular periods
This refers to getting periods that are heavier than usual or irregular or missing altogether which can contribute to health issues such as heart disease and diabetes. In some cases, hormonal imbalance results in excessively heavy and painful periods.
Check out: Foods to eat and those to avoid during your period
3. Low sex drive
Women’s sexual desire is influenced by many factors including hormones. A drop in your estrogen levels can cause a loss of desire for sexual intercourse. This imbalance can also cause vaginal itching and dryness which makes sex painful which further decreases the desire for sexual intercourse.
4. Infertility
Hormonal imbalance reduces the chances of conceiving naturally for women and is the leading cause of female infertility. It can affect your menstrual cycle or disrupt ovulation which then makes it harder to get pregnant.
5. Unexplained or constant weight gain
Low levels of thyroid hormones, high levels of cortisol, and other hormonal imbalances can cause unexplained weight gain. If you notice difficulty in losing weight or persistent unexplained weight gain, hormonal imbalance may be the culprit.
6. Insomnia
Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which the person has trouble sleeping. When estrogen levels fall, they cause a disruption of sleep as well as contribute to fatigue and lack of energy. This is a common symptom in menopausal and peri-menopausal women. 4 Common Insomnia Causes & How To Prevent Them
7. Bloating and digestive issues
Cells in the digestive tract have receptors for estrogen and progesterone. Changes in the levels of these hormones may affect your digestion leading to bloating. It can also cause digestive and bowel problems like abdominal pain, constipation, and/or diarrhoea.
8. Night sweats
Reduced estrogen levels can cause night sweats and hot flashes during sleep or even when you wake up. Occasional night sweats may be normal but if it is a regular occurrence, there is a problem.
9. Hair loss and skin issues
Low levels of estrogen and progesterone can lead to skin problems including dry, itchy, and flaky skin. Some women get acne and experience hair loss. 7 Ways To Avoid Losing Your Hairline
10. Brittle bones
Hormonal imbalance can also make weaken women’s bones leading to problems such as osteoporosis.
Here’s hoping this information has been helpful to you. If any of the symptoms persist, consider getting a proper diagnosis. Stay safe.
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