10 signs of hormonal imbalances in women
What does it mean to have a hormonal imbalance?
Basically, it means there is too little or too much of a particular hormone in the bloodstream, which has knock on effects across the body. Hormones are basically chemicals that act like little messengers throughout your body to help your systems function properly. The main hormones women produce are progesterone, estrogen, FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinising hormone).
It is very common for women to experience hormonal imbalances at different phases of their life. With 1 in every 10 women suffering with PCOS, 1 in every 8 women having thyroid disorders and 1 in every 10 women suffering with endometriosis - it is so important that women are educated on hormone health and how to help their bodies function at their best possible state.
To be more aware as to what hormonal imbalances could look like, here are 10 potential signs of a hormonal imbalance in a woman:
DISCLAIMER - I am not a medical professional, please seek medical advice if you genuinely think you have issues with your hormones, this is merely an advisory as to what to look out for. It is meant to educate, not to scare you.
1) Irregular periods
If you suffer with infrequent periods, menstrual cycles that are too short or too long (the average length of a cycle is 21-35 days), or you completely miss bleeding entirely - this could be a sign that your hormones are not being correctly produced to aid your menstrual cycle. Your levels of estrogen and/or progesterone may be completely out of whack, making your periods so irregular.
2) Chronic fatigue
If you feel tired constantly and are always depleted of energy, this could indicate that your thyroid (a gland that produces your hormones), is under-active. Meaning it is not producing enough hormones to help maintain your energy levels.
3) Heightened anxiety/intense mood swings
If your mood is unpredictable and you are hypersensitive to becoming anxious, this is a sign your hormones are fluctuating way too much. This myth of “women are just sensitive”, is dismissive to our health. Yes women are more sensitive than men, but that doesn’t mean you should be unpredictable and easily triggered.
4) Difficulty managing weight
When the hormones are imbalanced, our metabolism can go out of the window. So if you struggle to maintain a healthy weight (either end of the scale, if you struggle to lose or gain weight), this might be a sign of a hormonal imbalance.
5) Inflamed skin (Acne)
If you struggle with persistent acne or have noticed drastic change in your skin barrier i.e it has become a lot more dry or oily than usual, this is a sign of excess androgens (male hormones), like testosterone. Especially if your breakouts are primarily in the jaw and chin area.
6) Strange hair Habits
Losing a bunch of hair? Or maybe you have noticed a significant amount of facial hair recently? This is a sign of excess androgens (male hormones), excess facial and body hair is sometimes linked to PCOS. Whilst hair loss can be a sign of an under-active thyroid.
7) low Libido
It’s normal for libido to fluctuate during different times of the month and due to life changes (if you’re stressed, grieving, tired - it’s normal for libido to be lower), but if your libido never seems to pick up and you lack any interest in sex, this can be a big sign of fluctuating hormones. Specifically the progesterone or estrogen hormones.
8) irregular sleep
If you struggle to stay asleep for a long period of time or you struggle to fall asleep, this can be a sign of a hormonal imbalance. High levels of cortisol (stress hormone), can make it harder for you to enjoy high quality sleep.
9) Digestive issues
Hormonal imbalances can affect the gut health, leading to issues like diarrhoea or constipation. Particularly fluctuating levels of estrogen can cause digestive issues.
10) Hot flushes/night sweats
Hot flushes are the biggest sign of menopause, with up to 75% of women saying they experience them during menopause/perimenopause. This rise in body temperature is a clear indicator of hormonal changes in the female body.
How do you treat a hormonal imbalance?
If any of these resonated with you or you feel something is not quite right with your body - PLEASE seek medical advice, a lot of the conditions like endometriosis, menopause or PCOS are best treated with specific medication and/or lifestyle changes. But if you want a few general and easy ways to help regulate your hormones, here’s 5 of my top tips:
1 - Balanced Diet (Check this blog post where I give 10 foods for happy hormones).
2 - Reduce stress as much as possible in your life. (Start practicing mindfulness, cut toxic people out of your life, stop ingesting stressful media etc).
3 - Exercise according to your cycle. (Listen to your body, when you feel the most energetic - try intense or strong workouts, when energy is low - focus on active rest or gentle yoga. Just make sure exercise and movement is regular).
4 - Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate! (Drinking plenty of water supports the liver and kidneys which in turn eliminates excess hormones and toxins from the body).
5 - Swap out endocrine disruptors where possible. (Start using non-toxic home products and avoid harmful chemicals to keep your hormones and your body in general happy!).
