Understanding Hormone Imbalance: Symptoms and Solutions

Hormonal imbalance can cause several health issues. The most common issue is irregular menstruation. Hormonal imbalance can also result in acne, weight gain, and fatigue.

What is Hormonal Imbalance?

Hormones are a series of chemical messengers that are responsible for triggering specific actions in the body. They are secreted by glands and travel through the bloodstream to targeted tissues to help perform their jobs. At any given time, the body has dozens of different hormones being produced at varying levels. When there’s an imbalance of these vital chemicals in the body, one may experience complications like mood changes, weight gain, fatigue, and chills/sweats, among others. Furthermore, some types of hormone imbalances can cause more serious health problems, such as osteoporosis or infertility. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to treat hormone imbalances and prevent them from worsening over time. The first step is to make an appointment with your doctor to go over your symptoms and determine the cause behind your issue. Visit us as we offer hormone testing for women. From here, you can work with the doctor to develop a treatment plan that’s right for you.

Types of Hormonal Imbalance

Hormones are naturally occurring chemical messengers in the body that control a number of processes, including mood, appetite, sleep, and metabolism. When an imbalance occurs, it can have negative consequences for your overall health. While a hormonal imbalance cannot be cured like a disease, there are many treatments available to help you feel better.

• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) – This condition is usually caused by an autoimmune disorder known as Hashimoto’s Disease, which attacks the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is responsible for producing hormones that regulate your metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and more.
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) – This occurs when the body produces too much of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4. It is typically caused either by Graves’ disease or by a condition called a toxic multinodular goiter. Your thyroid may also become enlarged if you have hyperthyroidism. Symptoms of this condition include exhaustion, a rapid heartbeat, weight loss, anxiety, muscle weakness or pain, tremors, difficulty sleeping, and changes in your voice. Your doctor will likely prescribe medication to treat your overactive thyroid. You may also need to take blood-thinning medications to prevent your blood from clotting.
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) – This condition causes women to produce more androgens than necessary. As a result, an egg will not be released on a monthly basis as it should. Instead, many women with PCOS experience irregular periods or no periods at all as a result of having too many hormones. Other symptoms can include acne, hair loss, weight gain, facial hair growth, pelvic pain, and fertility issues. 
• Osteoporosis - This is a disease that is caused when bones lose density, causing them to become fragile and even break under normal strain or pressure.
• Heart Disease – The risk of heart attack increases for women with unstable estrogen levels.
• Weight gain/weight loss – Changes in hormone levels can result in changes in appetite which can lead to weight gain or weight loss, depending on the hormone levels involved.
• Mood Swings and Depression – Women suffering from hormone imbalances are more likely to experience mood swings and depression than women with normal hormone levels.

Treatment To Balance Hormones

There are several options for treating hormone imbalance offered by an endocrinologist near me, including lifestyle changes, medications, and certain medical procedures. It’s important to work with an endocrinologist near me accepting new patientsṭ to develop an effective treatment plan for your specific needs. Lifestyle changes often include losing weight, eating a healthy diet, and reducing stress. Medications such as birth control pills, vaginal creams, contraceptive injections, and pills are also available. At our practice, we offer 

What is Hormone Replacement Therapy Near Me?

Women will experience hormonal fluctuations throughout their lifetime, but the most dramatic of these hormonal changes occur during menopause and pregnancy. Hormonal therapy can help relieve the uncomfortable symptoms associated with these transitions. It is usually prescribed when a patient has experienced a significant drop in hormone levels without having another condition or disease that can explain her altered hormone levels. 

How is Hormone Replacement Therapy Performed By The Endocrinologist Near Me Accepting New Patientsṭ?

The steps involved during hormone replacement therapy vary depending on each individual patient, but some basics remain the same. Most patients will begin therapy on a low dose of estrogen and progesterone, which will gradually be increased at the physician’s discretion until reaching an appropriate dose. Small doses of testosterone are then added for male patients. Oral, transdermal patches and topical creams are all available methods of administering hormone therapy. Patients generally will continue this regimen for the rest of their lives.

With hormone replacement therapy, many patients are able to experience a significant reduction in the severity of their symptoms and maintain a higher quality of life as they age.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Hormonal replacement therapy provides an effective treatment for hormone imbalance, particularly for women going through menopause or women who cannot conceive due to reduced ovulatory function. However, there are several advantages and disadvantages to HRT that must be weighed by patients to determine if this option is the right one for them.

Some of the advantages of HRT include the following:

• Increased bone density
• Reduced risk for fractures
• The lowered risk of cardiovascular diseases
• Prevention of Alzheimer’s disease
• Prevention of cancer
• Improved libido
• Reduction in hot flashes
• Reduced depression symptoms
• Reduction in sleep problems

To learn about the healthcare services we offer at MediPro Pain & Performance, Beaverton, OR, call (503) 828-9265 or schedule an online consultation. You can also visit us at 17933 NW Evergreen Place, Ste 285, Beaverton, OR 97006.