Key Takeaways
- Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate several processes like metabolism, fertility, and growth.
- Hormone imbalances stem from too much or too little of certain hormones in your blood, often caused by treatable health conditions.
- Common symptoms of hormonal imbalance include weight gain, difficulty losing weight, irregular menstrual cycles, along with skin, hair, and mood changes.
Hormone imbalances generally happen when there is too much or too little of certain hormones in your blood.
Hormones are chemicals produced by the endocrine system that send messages to your body to perform certain actions.
For example, hormones tell the body to grow or how to digest food for energy.
Side effects can occur when the endocrine glands don’t produce the correct amount of hormones.
Commonly reported symptoms are weight gain or difficulty losing weight, irregular menstrual cycles, or skin and hair changes.
Take our hormone imbalance quiz to see if your symptoms might be hormone-related..
Learn how a registered dietitian can teach you which foods can help with hormone balance and create a sustainable plan.
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What is Hormonal Imbalance?
In men, hormonal imbalance symptoms are usually related to lower testosterone and thyroid hormone levels.
Testosterone levels tend to decline as men age.
In women, hormonal imbalance is often related to a corresponding stage of life.
Common hormonal stages of life include child-bearing or gestational stage, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal.
Within those stages of life, certain conditions may cause hormonal imbalances in estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone levels.
Health conditions related to hormone imbalance
1. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects up to 18% of women.
PCOS is a hormonal disorder that causes menstrual irregularities, high levels of hormones like testosterone, and insulin resistance that lead to extra hair growth, acne, or weight gain.
Additionally, PCOS-related hormonal imbalances affect the whole body.
PCOS can impact a woman’s ability to get pregnant and put someone at a greater life-long risk for type 2 diabetes, heart attack, depression, and anxiety.
2. Another common hormone deficiency is hypothyroidism, affecting about 5% of adults, more frequently in women or individuals over 65 years old, but still affects men.
In hypothyroidism, the thyroid makes inadequate thyroid hormones.
Fatigue, cold intolerance, weight gain, constipation, and dry skin are the most common symptoms.
Getting a diagnosis for your hormonal imbalances can help you take proactive steps to manage your health, preventing side effects and possible complications.
Free Quiz: Do I Have Hormonal Imbalance?
Our hormonal imbalance quiz can help you review your symptoms and how they might be a sign of hormonal imbalance.
If you have many symptoms, discuss them with your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment options.
This hormonal imbalance quiz is not intended to replace a medical diagnosis and is not a validated tool for diagnosing hormonal imbalances.
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1. Do you experience irregular menstrual cycles or missed periods?
Many women with hormonal imbalances have irregular or missed menstrual cycles due to mistimed hormone release.
An alteration in those hormones can affect the regularity or cause a missed period.
A healthcare provider can run tests to determine which hormones are out of balance and why.
Causes could range from excessive stress or exercise, the body preparing for menopause, too little or too much thyroid hormone, uncontrolled diabetes, PCOS, hormonal birth control, or endometriosis.
More than one irregular menstrual cycle or a missed period not caused by pregnancy warrants a deeper look.
2. Do you have difficulty losing weight or unexplained weight gain?
PCOS can cause excess insulin levels, leading to weight gain (specifically stomach weight gain), extreme difficulty losing weight, low blood sugar levels, and intense cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods.
Often, women with PCOS can make beneficial diet, lifestyle, or exercise changes and still see minimal weight loss.
With hypothyroidism, metabolism can slow down without adequate thyroid levels, leading to weight gain.
If you notice weight gain that does not seem related to diet or physical activity changes, hormonal imbalances may be a factor.
3. Are you experiencing mood swings, irritability, or anxiety?
Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent with PCOS due to high androgen (testosterone) hormones, high insulin, and possibly poor sleep.
Interestingly, women with PCOS have an almost twofold increase in sleep disturbances.
Researchers think that poor sleep linked to hormonal imbalances may predispose an individual to more mood disorders.
As women approach menopause, hormone levels shift, causing “brain fog,” mood changes, and poor sleep.
Changes in estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels can lead to mood swings, irritability, and increased anxiety.
In men and women, hypothyroidism can lead to impaired memory and depression.
Hyperthyroidism can lead to feelings of anxiety.
It’s well documented that hormonal shifts can show up as mood changes or increased irritability or anxiety.
Monitor your emotional health and track any changes to share with your healthcare provider.
4. Do you struggle with acne or other skin issues?
Appropriate oil (sebum) levels protect and moisturize the skin and hair. Hormone imbalances can affect your skin two-fold:
- Excess testosterone in both men and women can promote excess oil formation, which can lead to acne breakouts.
- On the opposite spectrum, dry skin is a sign of hormonal imbalance. Coarse, thin, scaly skin is a symptom of hypothyroidism.
With hypothyroidism, the hands and feet may feel colder than the rest of the body, known as cold intolerance.
Thyroid hormones regulate the skin and body temperature.
Therefore, acne, skin changes, and skin temperature are related to hormonal imbalances—and should be assessed.
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5. Are you experiencing hair loss or thinning hair?
Hair loss or thinning hair is an unpleasant side effect of hormonal imbalance for men and women.
Excess testosterone can cause a receding hairline and baldness on top, or it can present as thinning hair starting at the top or center part of the hair.
Thyroid hormones regulate the hair growth process, and hair loss is present in about 30% of individuals with hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) and 50% of people with hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone).
Other conditions beyond testosterone and thyroid can impact hair loss.
Work with your healthcare provider to address conditions.
6. Do you have low libido or sexual dysfunction?
Hormone levels can cause low libido, low sex drive, or dysfunction.
Researchers have linked declining testosterone levels to low sex drive.
Testosterone levels at menopause are a quarter of those in women in their twenties.
Men’s testosterone levels start to decline around age 40. In men, the drop is slower than in women.
By age 70, testosterone levels are 30% of their peak, with three-quarters of men maintaining testosterone levels in the normal range.
Additionally, lower estrogen levels are associated with low libido.
Estrogen levels fluctuate wildly during menopause and decline to a more steady state after menopause.
7. Have you been diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)?
As mentioned above, PCOS impacts up to 18% of women and can cause many of the symptoms listed on our hormonal imbalance quiz.
Misconceptions about foods or strict eating plans for individuals with PCOS are prevalent on social media.
An RDN specializing in PCOS can provide education on how to fuel a body impacted by hormonal differences and prioritize holistic wellness over weight loss.
8. Do you have a family history of hormonal imbalances?
Ask your family if there’s a history of hormonal imbalances.
Thyroid issues, PCOS, and other hormone imbalances can be genetically passed down.
Women whose mother or sister has PCOS or type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop PCOS.
Share results from this quiz and learn more about your family history to determine the best treatment plan for your hormonal imbalances.
Interpreting Your Results
If you answered yes to more than one of the questions, you should seek guidance from your healthcare provider about the likelihood of hormone imbalance.
Treatment can help alleviate your symptoms and improve your overall health.
Hormone imbalances are not the only cause of the quiz symptoms.
Your healthcare provider can help address any other health conditions causing some of these symptoms.
Diagnostic Testing for Hormonal Balance
Most general practitioners can diagnose and treat basic hormonal conditions using laboratory tests to assess hormone levels.
An endocrinologist is a specially trained doctor in hormonal conditions and the best treatment options.
They are a specialist and can help with more complex hormonal imbalances.
Share symptoms from this quiz and others you notice, as they will help determine your best treatment plan.
You may start with a general practitioner and need the help of an endocrinologist.
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Takeaway
Hormones regulate many functions like metabolism, growth, and fertility.
As you age, your hormone levels will change, which can affect all areas of your well-being.
Hormone imbalances can cause a wide range of side effects, including weight gain, menstrual cycle irregularities, mood swings, and skin or hair changes.
Consider working with a healthcare provider to diagnose your hormonal imbalances, which can reduce your side effects and improve your health.
How a Dietitian Can Help
Partner with a knowledgeable and compassionate hormone dietitian.
They can help you develop an eating plan that makes sense and manages your hormonal symptoms.
Find a dietitian near you through Nourish, an online nutrition service provider.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Hormone imbalances can cause a wide range of side effects, including weight gain, menstrual cycle irregularities, mood swings, and skin or hair changes.
The best way to check is to make an appointment with your healthcare provider.
Keep track of your symptoms and ask for testing to determine the root cause.
Afterward, you can develop an individualized treatment plan.
General health care practitioners can diagnose and treat basic hormonal conditions.
They use laboratory tests to check the levels of various hormones.
Treatment may include medications, supplements, optimized nutrition, and lifestyle changes.
Low progesterone symptoms can cause irregular menstrual cycles, spotting, headaches, the ability to get pregnant, increased appetite, and anxiety.
