Hormonal Imbalances Causes

Hormonal Imbalances Overview

Hormones are chemicals produced by glands in the endocrine system. Hormones travel through the bloodstream to the tissues and organs, delivering messages that tell the organs what to do and when to do it.

Some hormone levels fluctuate throughout your lifetime and may just be the result of natural aging. But other changes occur when your endocrine glands get the recipe wrong.

Hormones are essential for regulating most major bodily processes, so a hormonal imbalance can affect many bodily functions. Hormones help to regulate:

• General growth and development
• Metabolism
• Blood sugar
• Growth
• Blood pressure
• Mood and stress levels
• Reproductive cycles and sexual function

Imbalances in insulin, steroids, growth hormones, and adrenaline can affect males and females alike.

Females may also experience imbalances in estrogen and progesterone levels, while males are more likely to experience imbalances in testosterone levels.

Signs and Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalances

The symptoms of a hormonal imbalance can vary according to which gland is affected and whether the person is male or female.

Symptoms in Females

In women, the symptoms more frequently include:

• Constipation or diarrhea
• insomnia
• irregular menstrual cycle
• Infertility
• Low sex drive
• Mood swings
• pain in the abdomen or the back during menstruation
• Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
  
• Brittle bones
• Hirsutism, or excessive hair growth
• Rashes on the skin

Symptoms in Males

When a male has low testosterone levels, their symptoms will typically include:

• Decrease in sex drive
• Erectile dysfunction
• Loss of muscle mass
• Tenderness in the chest area
• Thinning hair and reduced hair growth

Your hormones play an integral role in your overall health. As a result, there’s a broad range of signs and symptoms that could signal a hormonal imbalance. Your signs or symptoms will depend on which hormones or glands are not working properly.

Symptoms in Children

Children start producing sex hormones during puberty. Many children with delayed puberty will go on to experience typical puberty, but some have a condition called hypogonadism.

Individuals with hypogonadism may experience the following:

• A voice that doesn’t deepen
• Body hair that grows sparsely
• Breast tissue that is not developing
• Excessive growth of the arms and legs in relation to the trunk of the body
• gynecomastia
• Impaired penis and testicular growth
• Lack of development of muscle mass
• Menstruation that doesn’t begin
• The growth rate doesn’t increase

Causes of Hormonal Imbalances

A hormonal imbalance has many possible causes. They can differ depending on which hormones or glands are affected.

Common causes of hormonal imbalance include:

• Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy
• Eating disorders
• Hormone therapy
• Injury or trauma
• Medications
• Pituitary tumors
• Stress
• Tumors, whether benign or cancerous 

While hormonal imbalances may initially cause some of the conditions below, having these conditions can also lead to further hormonal imbalances.

Medical Conditions

Medical conditions that can affect hormone production may but are not limited to:

• Acromegaly, which is overproduction of growth hormones
• Anorexia
• Benign tumors and cysts (fluid-filled sacks) that affect the endocrine glands
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy
• Hereditary pancreatitis
• Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, which are the overactivity and underactivity of the thyroid gland
• iodine deficiency (goiters)
• Addison’s Disease, in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones 
• Cancers that involve endocrine glands
• Diabetes, in which the body does not produce enough of the hormone insulin
• Cushing’s syndrome, in which the adrenal glands produce too many corticosteroids
• Hypoglycemia, which is when the body produces more insulin than there is glucose in the blood 
• Pituitary tumors
• Solitary thyroid nodules
• Hyperglycemia, which is the overproduction of glucagon
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (low levels of cortisol)
• Prader-Willi syndrome
• Turner syndrome, in which females are born with only one functioning X chromosome
• Pituitary gland injury with bleeding and congenital genetic abnormalities in a pregnant person and their fetus

Additional Causes

Other causes of hormonal imbalance may include the following:

• Being overweight
• Chronic stress
• Exposure to toxins, pollutants, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including pesticides and herbicides
• Hormonal replacement or birth control medications
• Misuse of anabolic steroid medications
• Poor diet and nutrition 

Diagnosis of Hormonal Imbalances

There’s no single test available to help doctors diagnose a hormonal imbalance. Begin by making an appointment with your doctor for a physical exam.

Describe your symptoms and the timeline along which they’ve occurred to your healthcare provider. Bring a list of all medications, vitamins, and supplements you’re currently taking.

Your doctor may ask you questions such as:

• Are you more stressed than usual?
• Do you have trouble getting or maintaining an erection?
• How often are you experiencing symptoms?
• Does anything help relieve your symptoms?
• Have you lost or gained weight recently?
• Are you planning to get pregnant?
• Do you have vaginal dryness or pain during sex?
• When was your last period?

Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may suggest one or more diagnostic tests. You can also request that your doctor perform these tests.

Blood Test

Your healthcare provider 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.

Pelvic Exam

If you have a uterus, your doctor may perform a Pap smear to feel for any unusual lumps, cysts, or tumors.

If you have testicles, your doctor may check your scrotum for any lumps or abnormalities.

Ultrasound

An ultrasound machine uses sound waves to look inside your body. Doctors may request an ultrasound to get images of the uterus, ovaries, testicles, thyroid or pituitary gland.

Additional Tests

Sometimes more advanced tests are required. These can include:

• Biopsy
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Sperm count test
• Thyroid scan
• X-ray

At-Home Tests

If you’re experiencing symptoms of a hormonal imbalance, you may also consider using a home testing kit. These kits are available for a variety of conditions.

Home testing kits for menopause measure follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in your urine. FSH levels increase when you enter menopause.

Levels also rise and fall during a typical menstrual cycle. Other factors, such as the use of hormonal birth control, can also affect your FSH levels.

As such, these kits can indicate that menopause may have started, but they can’t tell you conclusively. A healthcare professional’s confirmation may be necessary.

Home testing kits typically use saliva or blood from the fingertip to measure your levels of cortisol, key thyroid hormones, and sex hormones such as progesterone and testosterone. Some tests may require a urine sample.

These kits require you to send the sample off to a lab. Your test results are usually available online within 5 to 9 business days.

The company LetsGetChecked provides at-home tests that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, many at-home tests have not received FDA approval.

Regardless of which at-home test you choose, it’s important to discuss your test results with your healthcare professional. Let them know if you’re concerned about certain symptoms or a possible diagnosis.

Treatment of Hormonal Imbalances

Treatment for a hormonal imbalance will depend on what’s causing it. Some common treatment options are described below.

Treatments for Females

Anti-Androgen Medications

Androgens are male sex hormones that are present in people of all genders. High androgen levels can be treated with medication that blocks the effects of androgens.

These effects include:

• Acne
• Facial hair growth
• Hair loss

One androgen closely tied to hair growth and loss is testosterone. A 2020 study found that when there is not enough testosterone produced, hair loss and lack of growth are common.

• Clomiphene (Clomid) and letrozale (Femara). These medications help stimulate ovulation in patients with PCOS who are trying to become pregnant. Doctors may also give those with PCOS and infertility injections of gonadotropins to help increase the chances of pregnancy.

Estrogen Therapy

If you’re experiencing hot flashes or other uncomfortable symptoms of menopause, your doctor may recommend a low dose of estrogen.

Be sure to discuss the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with your doctor. 

Eflornithine (Vaniqa)

This prescription cream is designed specifically for excessive facial hair. Applied topically to the skin, it helps slow new hair growth, but it does not get rid of excessive hair.

Flibanserin (Addyi) and Bremelanotide (Vyleesi)

Addyi and Vyleesi are the only medications that are FDA-approved for the treatment of low sexual desire in premenopausal people. Addyi is a pill, and Vyleesi is a self-administered injectable medication.

These drugs may come with some serious side effects, such as severe nausea and changes in blood pressure. Talk with your doctor to see if either one could be right for you.

Hormonal Birth Control

Hormonal birth control can help regulate your menstrual cycles. Types of hormonal birth control include the:

• Birth control pill
• Vaginal ring
• Birth control patch
• Intrauterine device (IUD)
• Birth control shot

Some types of hormonal birth control may also help improve acne and reduce extra hair on the face and body.

Metformin

Metaformin is a type 2 diabetes medication that may help some individuals with PCOS symptoms. The FDA has not approved it to treat PCOS, but it might help lower androgen levels and encourage ovulation.

Thyroid Hormone Therapy

If you have hypothyroidism, the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Synthroid, Unithroid) can bring hormone levels back into balance.

Vaginal Estrogen

If you’re experiencing vaginal dryness or pain during sex, you may want to try applying an estrogen cream, tablet, or ring.

This local therapy helps eliminate many of the risks associated with systemic estrogen, or estrogen that travels throughout the bloodstream to the appropriate organ.

Treatments for Males

Treatment options for males with hormonal imbalances include:

• Testosterone medications. Gels and patches containing testosterone can help reduce symptoms of hypogonadism and other conditions that cause low testosterone levels, such as delayed or stunted puberty.

Other Treatments

Treatment options for hormonal imbalances include:

• Metformin is a type 2 diabetes medication that may help some individuals with PCOS symptoms. The FDA has not approved it to treat PCOS, but it might help lower androgen levels and encourage ovulation.  Metformin can help lower both androgens and blood sugar levels.
• Levothyroxine and medications containing levothyroxine, such as Synthroid and Levothroid, can help improve symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Natural Remedies

People have used natural supplements to treat hormonal imbalances for thousands of years.

However, clinical studies have not proven that any natural remedies can treat hormonal imbalances and their causes.

Supplements

Natural supplements commonly used to reduce symptoms of hormonal imbalances include:

• Ginseng, and maca for ED
• Black cohosh, dong quai, red clover, and evening primrose oil for hot flashes caused by menopause
• Ginseng for irritability, anxiousness, and sleep disturbances caused by menopause

Before taking any natural or herbal treatment, a person should check with their doctor to ensure safety and avoid interaction side effects when taking with other medications.

Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle changes that may help reduce the likelihood and symptoms of hormonal imbalances include:

• Avoiding microwaving foods and drinks in plastic containers 
• Buying fruits and vegetables free from pesticides or ripening chemicals
• Eating a nutritious and balanced diet
• Exercising regularly
• Maintaining a moderate body weight
• Practicing good personal hygiene, focusing on washing areas with a lot of natural oils, such as the face, neck, back, and chest
• Using OTC acne washes, rinses, and medicated creams or gels for minor to moderate acne
• Avoiding triggers that cause hot flashes, such as warm weather and spicy, rich, or hot foods and drinks
• Reducing and managing stress
• Practicing yoga, meditation, or guided visualization
• Limiting sugary foods and refined carbohydrates
• Not eating  packaged foods
• Replacing older non-stick pans with ceramic pans
• Using glass containers to store and heat foods and drinks
• Restricting the use of cleaning products that contain toxic chemicals, such as bleach

Hormonal Imbalance and Acne

The primary cause of acne is excess oil production, which leads to clogged pores. Acne is most common in areas with many oil glands, including the:

• Chest
• Face
• Shoulders
• Upper back

Acne is often associated with the hormonal changes of puberty. But there’s actually a lifelong relationship between acne and hormones.

Acne and Menstruation

The menstrual cycle is one of the most common acne triggers. For many individuals, acne develops the week before they get their period and then clears up.

Dermatologists recommend hormonal testing for people who have acne in combination with other symptoms, such as irregular periods and excess facial or body hair.

Acne and Androgens

Androgens contribute to acne by overstimulating the oil glands.

Children of all genders have high levels of androgens during puberty, which is why acne is so common at that time. Androgen levels typically settle down in a person’s early 20s.

Hormonal Imbalance and Weight Gain

Hormones play an integral role in metabolism and your body’s ability to use energy. Hormone conditions, such as Cushing’s syndrome, can cause you to become overweight or develop obesity.

People with Cushing syndrome have high levels of cortisol in their blood. This leads to an increase in appetite and fat storage.

Hyperthyroidism, if the condition is severe, can also lead to weight gain.

Slight hormone imbalances can happen during menopause. During this transition, many people gain weight because their metabolisms slow down. You may find that even though you’re eating and exercising like you usually do, you still gain weight.

The only way to treat weight gain from a hormone disorder is to treat the underlying condition.

Hormonal Imbalance and Pregnancy

During a typical pregnancy, your body goes through major hormonal changes. This is different from a hormonal imbalance.

Pregnancy and PCOS

Hormonal imbalances such as PCOS are among the leading causes of infertility. With PCOS, the hormonal imbalance interferes with ovulation. You can’t get pregnant if you’re not ovulating.

Pregnancy is still possible if you have PCOS. If your doctor recommends it, losing weight can make a big difference in your fertility. Prescription medications are also available that can stimulate ovulation and increase your chances of becoming pregnant.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is also an option if medication doesn’t work. As a last resort, surgery can temporarily restore ovulation.

PCOS can cause problems during pregnancy for both you and your baby. There are higher rates of:

• Admission to and time spent in the neonatal intensive care unit
• Cesarean delivery
• Gestational diabetes
• High birth weight
• Miscarriage
• Preeclampsia

Becoming pregnant while living with PCOS does not mean an individual will definitely deal with any of the above problems. Talking with your doctor and following their advice is the best way to have a safe pregnancy and delivery.

Pregnancy and Hypothyroidism

According to 2018 research, babies born to parents with untreated hypothyroidism are more likely to have development issues. This includes serious intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Managing your hypothyroidism along with your doctor’s advice can help lessen these risks.

Hormonal Imbalance and Hair Loss

Most hair loss, such as male pattern baldness, is hereditary and unrelated to hormonal changes. However, hormonal changes and imbalances can sometimes cause temporary hair loss.

In females, this is often related to:

• Childbirth
• Pregnancy
• The onset of menopause

An overproduction or underproduction of thyroid hormones can also cause hair loss.

Other Complications

Hormone imbalances are associated with many chronic, or long-term, health conditions. Without proper treatment, you could be at risk for several serious medical conditions, including:

• Anxiety and depression
• Breast cancer 
• Diabetes insipidus
• Endometrial cancer
• Goiter
• High Blood Pressure
• Heart disease
• High cholesterol
• Infertility
• Kidney damage
• Neuropathy
• Type-1 and type-2 diabetes
• Loss of muscle mass
• Obesity
• Sleep apnea
• Osteoporosis
• Sexual dysfunction
• Urinary incontinence

Outlook

Most people will experience at least one or two periods of hormonal imbalance during their lifetime.

Hormonal imbalances are more common during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, and aging. But some people experience continual, irregular hormonal imbalances.

Medical conditions that affect or involve the endocrine system or glands can lead to a hormone imbalance. However, external factors, such as stress or hormone medications, can also be a cause.

A person should speak to a doctor about long-term unexplained symptoms, especially those that cause pain, discomfort, or interfere with everyday activities.

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