Unexplained Symptoms that May be Due to Hormone Imbalance
From Frustrating to Serious, Your Symptoms Could be Hormone Imbalance
Are you experiencing frustrating unexplained symptoms that seem to have no clear cause? Are you dealing with chronic health complaints on a daily basis, that your doctors have failed to diagnose or remedy? If so, you may be dealing with hormone imbalance!
While extremely common, hormone imbalances are often overlooked – leading to symptoms that can wreak havoc on your health and well-being. Fortunately, hormone therapy offers a safe and effective solution for restoring balance and alleviating symptoms – so you can get your life back on track.
In this article, functional medicine Dr. Nishath Hakim, MD in the Southfield area explains how hormones impact every aspect of your health. And she discusses how hormone therapy, specifically bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) pellets, can help bring your body back into harmony to eliminate your symptoms, so you can enjoy life again.
How Hormones Affect Every Aspect of Health
Hormones play a critical role in regulating almost every function of the body: from metabolism and mood, to sleep, sexual function, weight gain, and energy. But when hormones become imbalanced, whether due to age, stress, menopause, andropause (male menopause), or other factors, it can lead to a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, weight gain, mood swings, and more.
For women, fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels can cause issues such as hot flashes, night sweats, painful sex, aging skin, weight gain, irregular periods, bone loss, heart disease, and more. So, as you can see, hormone imbalance can have a profound impact on a woman’s overall health and quality of life.
Causes of Women’s Hormone Imbalance
Menopause is the most well-known cause of hormone decline. But women of any age can suffer symptoms due to hormone imbalance or deficiency. For women, hormone imbalance can also be caused by stress, dietary factors, and underlying health conditions.
As women age, levels of estrogen and progesterone naturally decline, leading to symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. But chronic stress can also disrupt hormone balance by increasing cortisol levels, which can throw other hormones out of whack. And poor diet, lack of exercise, and exposure to environmental toxins can also exacerbate hormone imbalances, making it essential to identify and address these underlying factors.
Hormone Imbalance in Women Under 40
For women under 40, hormone imbalance can manifest in various ways, with conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) being a common culprit. PCOS is characterized by hormonal imbalances that can lead to irregular periods, acne, weight gain, and excess hair growth. Insulin resistance and high levels of androgens, such as testosterone, are hallmark features of PCOS, contributing to its symptoms. Additionally, stress, poor diet, and lifestyle factors can exacerbate hormone imbalance in younger women, making it essential to address these underlying issues alongside hormone therapy for effective treatment.
Signs of hormone imbalance before perimenopause can include:
- Heavy or painful periods
- Fertility issues
- Excessive hair growth on the face or body
- Unexplained or rapid weight gain
- Weight that doesn’t respond to diet or exercise
Hormone Imbalance in Women 40 to 45
Only one percent of women go into the pre-menopausal hormone decline before age 40. But as women approach their early 40s, they may experience perimenopause, the transitional phase leading up to menopause. During this time, hormone levels fluctuate unpredictably, leading to symptoms such as irregular periods, mood swings, and hot flashes. Estrogen levels begin to decline, while progesterone levels may fluctuate, resulting in hormonal imbalance. Stress and lifestyle factors can further disrupt hormone balance during perimenopause, making it crucial for women in this age group to prioritize self-care and seek hormone therapy to alleviate symptoms and support overall well-being.
The earliest signs of perimenopausal hormone imbalance include:
- Sudden and/or unexplained weight gain
- Periods that are lighter than usual
- Three or more missed periods in a row
- Insomnia or sleep problems
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness or itching
And because these symptoms can also be signs of pregnancy or other medical conditions, a hormone imbalance is often missed.
Hormone Imbalance in Women 45-50
Between the ages of 45 and 50, women typically enter menopause, marking the end of their reproductive years. During menopause, estrogen and progesterone levels decline significantly, leading to a wide range of symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and mood changes. Hormone imbalance during menopause can have a profound impact on quality of life, affecting everything from sleep and mood to bone health and heart health. Hormone therapy, such as BHRT pellets, can help restore hormone balance and alleviate menopausal symptoms, allowing women to navigate this transition with greater ease and comfort.
In addition to the symptoms above, hormone decline at ages 45 to 50 often include:
- Irritability
- Fatigue or low energy
- Mood swings or volatile emotions
- Night sweats
- Low sex drive (low libido)
- Memory issues
- Trouble concentrating or
- Thinning hair
- Dry, wrinkled or crepey skin
- Increased or irregular heart rate
- Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Hormone Imbalance in Women 55 and Beyond
By the age of 55 years old, most women have gone through menopause. A year after a female’s last period, a woman is considered to be in the postmenopausal phase. During the postmenopausal phase, a woman’s risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, Type 2 diabetes, and other serious diseases can also increase – influenced in large part by hormone deficiency.
In addition to the symptoms above, the following problems of hormone decline also become more common:
- Bladder leaks (urinary incontinence)
- Increased anxiety
- Osteoporosis (decreased bone density)
- Changes in breast tissue
- Breast tenderness or pain
- Markedly sagging or wrinkled skin
- Painful sex
- Inability or decreased ability to achieve an orgasm
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) can help protect a woman against heart disease, osteoporosis, and many other age-related diseases.
Hormone Imbalance in Women After 55
After the age of 55, women may continue to experience hormone imbalance as they adjust to life post-menopause. Estrogen and progesterone levels remain low, increasing the risk of health issues such as osteoporosis, heart disease, and cognitive decline.
Less Common Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance
While the symptoms above are the most common signs of hormone decline, there are also a number of less common symptoms of hormone imbalance. And while they can be extremely frustrating, because they are less common, they are often misdiagnosed. These can include:
- Tingling in the hands or feet
- Bloating
- Brittle, cracked fingernails
- Dizziness or balance issues
- Panic attacks
- Depression
- Headaches
- Burning tongue
- Digestion issues
- Muscle or joint pain
- Changes in body odor
How Hormone Therapy (BHRT Pellets) Can Balance Hormones
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) offers a natural and personalized approach to hormone balancing that can help alleviate these symptoms and restore vitality. BHRT pellets, which are derived from plant-based sources and designed to mimic the body’s natural hormones, are inserted beneath the skin and release hormones gradually over time.
This steady release of hormones helps maintain stable hormone levels, providing consistent symptom relief without the peaks and valleys associated with other forms of hormone therapy. BHRT pellets are customized to each individual’s unique hormone needs based on comprehensive testing and evaluation, ensuring optimal results and minimal side effects.
Hormone therapy can play a crucial role in supporting women’s health and well-being during menopause as well as many stages of life, restoring hormone balance to promote overall vitality and longevity. By addressing hormone imbalance with personalized treatment and comprehensive care, women can thrive at any age and enjoy a vibrant and fulfilling life.
Hormone Therapy | Southfield
If you’re struggling with unexplained symptoms or suspect you may have hormone imbalance, you do NOT have to suffer in silence. Functional medicine doctor Nishath Hakim, MD, in the Southfield area offers hormone therapy, specifically BHRT pellets, that provides a safe and effective solution for restoring balance to your body so you can reclaim your health and restore your quality of life.
By addressing the root cause of your symptoms with personalized hormone therapy, functional medicine doctor Nishath Hakim, MD in the Southfield area can help you achieve lasting relief and improved quality of life.
If you live in the greater Southfield, MI area, don’t wait any longer to take control of your health—schedule a consultation with functional medicine doctor Nishath Hakim, MD today and learn if the transformative benefits of hormone therapy are right for you.
