You may be feeling run down, gaining weight, having trouble sleeping, or experiencing other symptoms that just don’t seem to go away. It’s not always easy to tell whether you’re dealing with a temporary issue or something more serious like a hormone imbalance. If you’re feeling off, it’s important to get checked out by a professional. At Premiere Center for Health and Wellness in Cincinnati, OH, we offer comprehensive hormone therapy services designed to restore balance and improve your hormone health.
What Are the Signs of a Hormone Imbalance?
Symptoms Related to Menopause
Menopause usually occurs around age 51, when a woman’s ovaries stop producing eggs and her body’s production of estrogen and progesterone slows down. This can cause a hormone imbalance, which can lead to a variety of symptoms, including hot flashes, chills, night sweats, vaginal dryness, sleep problems, slowed metabolism, painful sex, and more. While these symptoms can be challenging to deal with, there are treatments available, such as MonaLisa Touch™ and hormone therapy, that can help ease the transition into menopause.
Difficulty Concentrating or Focusing
Hormones are chemicals that are produced by the endocrine glands. They travel through the bloodstream and act as messengers to target cells. They help to regulate many of the body’s functions, including growth and brain function. As we age, our hormone levels begin to decline. This can lead to a number of changes, including difficulty concentrating or focusing.
When hormone levels are off, it can affect the brain’s ability to receive and process information. This can make it difficult to focus on tasks or pay attention for long periods of time. If you are experiencing difficulty concentrating or focusing, we recommend visiting our health and wellness center. We can order tests to check your hormone levels and determine if they are the cause of your symptoms.
Unexplained Weight Gain or Loss
Hormones play a vital role in regulating many of the body’s processes, including metabolism, weight, and appetite. When these hormones are out of balance, it can lead to unexplained weight gain or loss. For example, an excess of the hormone insulin can cause the body to store more fat, resulting in weight gain. Similarly, an imbalance in the hormone thyroid can also lead to weight gain, as the thyroid controls the body’s metabolic rate.
Conversely, a deficiency of the hormone leptin can lead to increased hunger and cravings, leading to weight loss. In addition, an imbalance in the hormone ghrelin can lead to weight loss, as ghrelin regulates hunger signals. Therefore, unexplained weight gain or loss could be a sign of a hormone imbalance and should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
Changes in Sleep Patterns
There are two main hormones involved in sleep: cortisol and melatonin. Cortisol is a stress hormone that helps to keep us alert and awake during the day. Melatonin is a hormone that makes us feel sleepy and is released when it starts to get dark outside. When these hormones are in balance, we usually have no trouble falling asleep and staying asleep throughout the night. However, when there is an imbalance, it can cause disruptions in our sleep patterns.
If someone has too much cortisol in their system, they may find it difficult to fall asleep at night. On the other hand, if someone has too little melatonin, they may find themselves feeling sleepy during the day — a condition called daytime somnolence. There are many different things that can cause hormonal imbalances, including stress, caffeine, alcohol, and medication.
Mood Swings and Irritability
The hormones involved in regulating mood, such as serotonin and dopamine, can be thrown off by changes in levels of other hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone. This can lead to drastic changes in mood, from feeling happy and energetic to feeling depressed and sluggish.
Hormone therapy can help to restore balance by delivering targeted doses of hormones. This can help to reduce the frequency and severity of mood swings, making it easier to manage daily life.
Depression or Anxiety
Depression and anxiety are common mental health disorders that can have a profound effect on an individual’s quality of life. While there is no single cause of these conditions, a hormone imbalance can cause feelings of depression or anxiety. For example, if levels of the hormone cortisol are too high, it can cause feelings of overwhelm and anxiety.
Conversely, low levels of serotonin can lead to feelings of sadness and despair. Keeping track of your hormone health is an important part of maintaining your mental health. With proper treatment, many people are able to manage their symptoms and live happy and fulfilling lives.
Low Libido
Hormones play a vital role in regulating sexual desire, and an imbalance can lead to a drastic reduction in libido. Testosterone is the hormone most closely associated with sexual desire, and levels can decline with age or as a result of certain medical conditions.
Low testosterone can cause problems with arousal, erectile dysfunction, and reduced interest in sex. However, it’s essential to remember that there are many other factors that can affect libido, so it’s always best to speak to us if you’re concerned about your sex drive.
Fatigue
There are two different types of fatigue: acute and chronic. Acute fatigue is the type of fatigue you feel after a long day or week. This is normal and usually goes away after a good night’s sleep. Chronic fatigue, which can be more serious, is usually characterized by feelings of exhaustion that don’t go away with rest. This can have a big impact on your overall well-being and productivity.
If you’re struggling with chronic fatigue, it’s important to talk to us. We can help you determine if there is an underlying cause, such as a hormone imbalance. Treating the underlying cause can help to reduce or eliminate fatigue.
Dry Skin, Thinning Hair, or Brittle Nails
It’s not uncommon for women to experience changes in their skin, hair, and nails as they age. In addition to the natural aging process, fluctuations in hormone levels can also cause these changes. When estrogen levels decrease, the skin can become thinner and less elastic. This can lead to dryness, wrinkles, and a loss of radiance.
Similarly, declining levels of testosterone can result in thinner, weaker hair. Moreover, lower levels of thyroid hormone can cause the nails to become brittle and dry. While these changes are often subtle, they can be a source of frustration and even distress. If you’re concerned about the way your skin, hair, or nails are changing, we can help you identify the cause of the problem and recommend treatment options.
Joint Pain or Stiffness
When our hormones are imbalanced, it can affect the function of our joints in a number of ways. For example, imbalanced hormones can lead to inflammation, which can then cause joint pain or stiffness. Imbalanced hormones can also interfere with the production of collagen, which is necessary for healthy joint function. Additionally, imbalanced hormones can cause the body to retain water, leading to swelling in the joints.
Bleeding or Heavy Periods
Heavy or prolonged bleeding during menstruation is called menorrhagia. This condition can be caused by a hormone imbalance, particularly an excess of the hormone estrogen. Estrogen plays a critical role in regulating the menstrual cycle, and when levels are too high, it can cause the lining of the uterus to thicken excessively. This can lead to heavier than normal bleeding during menstruation. Menorrhagia may also be caused by an underlying medical condition, such as thyroid dysfunction or blood disorders.
Hormone Health
Hormone therapy is an effective way to help men and women achieve a state of hormone balance. When hormones are in balance, the body can function optimally. However, when hormones are out of balance, it can lead to a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, weight gain, mood swings, low libido, and hot flashes.
Bio-equivalent hormone therapy is a type of therapy that uses hormones that are identical to the hormones produced by the body. This type of therapy can be very effective in treating hormonal imbalances and achieving optimal hormone health.
Get Back To Feeling Your Best with Professional Hormone Treatment!
If you’re not feeling like yourself and you think it might be due to hormonal changes, come see us. We offer bio-equivalent hormone replacement therapy to help improve your hormone health. We also offer MonaLisa Touch™ laser treatment, which is a gentle, FDA-approved way to rejuvenate the vaginal tissue and improve moisture levels. Contact us at Premiere Center for Health and Wellness in Cincinnati, OH, for a consultation so we can develop a treatment plan that’s right for you.