9 Signs of Hormonal Imbalance
Hormones are chemical messengers that travel to all parts of the body to promote many different functions like hunger, satiety, reproduction, growth, emotions, and metabolism. Almost every part of the body is impacted by hormones and almost all hormones work together in a balance. When one is low, another will become high. Over time, hormone imbalances can cause chronic issues that can lead to diseases or even cancer.
The female reproductive system especially relies on hormone balance. When hormone imbalances occur you may notice some negative symptoms. These signs of hormonal imbalance may occur prior to the menstrual cycle, defined as premenstural syndrome (PMS). While PMS is common, it is not normal to have intense symptoms. This is because while hormone shifts are supposed to happen throughout the cycle, these shifts should not be imbalances. It is important to note if you experience any of the following signs of hormonal imbalance in intense or life-disrupting circumstances. Here we will identify what these signs of hormonal imbalance are.
Source: NIH
Here are 9 signs of hormonal imbalance:
1. CRAMPS
Cramps in the pelvic region are one of the signs of hormonal imbalance. In the uterus high amplitude contractions of the muscle create the feeling of cramps during PMS. The contractions are caused by increased uterine tone and high levels of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are sex hormones that work in a direct relationship with estrogen. As prostaglandins rise, so does estrogen. Prostaglandins in the reproductive system aid in contractions for labor, but during a menstrual cycle these contractions are labeled as cramps. Prostaglandins are pro-inflammatory hormones and can make cramps one of the more unpleasant menstrual cycle symptoms if levels are elevated and cause an imbalance with other hormones.
Source: 28944048
2. BLOATING
PMS is often associated with ‘gaining weight’ or ‘feeling heavy’. In reality, feeling this way is actually a result of holding onto water making bloating one of the signs of hormonal imbalance. Bloating is when our outer skin expands in response to water retention or aggravation in the gut. It is due to a water balance shift that can make you appear larger than a week ago which can lead to a common false conception that gaining weight is just part of what is premenstrual syndrome. If bloating is a major issue for you throughout your cycle, this can be caused by estrogen dominance and/or gut issues. High estrogen or estrogen dominance has been associated with increased water retention. This happens because the estrogen lowers the osmotic threshold for which water is reabsorbed in the body.
Additionally, if we have low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) or decreased functioning of the pancreas resulting in a low output of digestive enzymes we can experience bloating. This is because adequate stomach acid and digestive enzymes are needed to break down and digest our food. If they are low bloating can occur. Imbalances in gut bacteria can also contribute to bloating.
Source: 18580296
3. Hirstusim
Hirsutism is another one of the signs of hormonal imbalance. Affecting 5-10% of females, it is defined as the male-like pattern of hair growth on a female, typically around the face, back, and upper stomach. This is the result of high testosterone and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Hirsutism can be caused by past drug use from anabolic steroids, oral contraceptives, or high blood pressure medications. The reason for the hair growth is from the hair follicles becoming overstimulated as a result of high testosterone levels, and they will therefore grow at a rapid rate and will also increase pigmentation of the hair.
4. ACNE
Acne is another one of the signs of hormonal imbalance. The common hormones that affect acne production are estrogen, progesterone, and androgen levels. Gut issues can also play a strong role in acne due to the gut-brain axis. Our gut bacteria can help with digestion which promotes healthy hormone levels, and the bacteria within the gut can help with metabolizing nutrients to promote hormone production too.
In each pore of our skin, we have sebaceous glands that produce sebum, an oil-like liquid, which helps to moisturize and protect our skin. When too many dead skin cells collect on the top of the skin in conjunction with high amounts of sebum, this can create a clog in our sebaceous glands and will result in inflammation. Our body will respond to this inflammation by sending white blood cells to the site of the clog which forms the white-headed pimples called acne.
If you have elevated androgens (male-like hormones) during your cycle this can increase acne because testosterone gets converted into an enzyme called DHT. This enzyme has the ability to increase the production of sebum in the sebaceous glands to further produce acne.
When estrogen is produced too much in ratio to progesterone, called estrogen dominance, you can develop overly dry skin, which causes inflammation, irritation and the sebaceous glands will respond by producing an excess of sebum.
Poor gut health is another reason that acne is one of the signs of what is premenstrual syndrome. As mentioned before, estrogen dominance or high estrogen is a cause for acne. The gut is actually a mechanism for excreting estrogen from the body to prevent recirculation. If you are constipated, not eating enough fiber, there will be an increase in estrogen before your cycle that can cause acne.
Source: 25506579, European Journal, 31284694
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5. MOOD SWINGS
Mood swings are another one of the signs of hormonal imbalance. Mood swings can cause you to get irritated and angry at the slightest inconvenience and then super happy and joyful within the hour due to something else. Mood and cognition stability are both heavily reliant on estrogen balance. Estradiol and estrone are different forms of the estrogen molecule that we produce. It has been shown that estradiol is more beneficial to regulate stable mood patterns and has antidepressant effects when taken in normal limits, but with low levels, it can cause unstable emotions which are another one of the symptoms for what is premenstrual syndrome. Your hormones must be balanced so that depression can be avoided as one of the menstrual cycle symptoms.
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6. Hair Loss
If notice that you are shedding more hair than usual, this can be another one of the signs of hormonal imbalance. Hair loss specifically is common in those with PCOS. Female hair loss is due to the miniaturization of the hair follicle so the strand can not fit anymore on scalp and therefore falls out. DHT, as mentioned, is made from the conversion between testosterone and the enzyme DHEA. DHT is an opponent of hair follicles and the more it is produced the more it will create hair loss and miniaturize the hair follicle. High levels of testosterone, an indicator of PCOS, will catalyze this reaction to form DHT and therefore lose hair. Another reason for hair loss can be due to low levels of estrogen and progesterone from over exercising or under nourishing. The nutrients in food are building blocks for our hormones, and they help to promote hair strength and growth. When there are not enough nutrients coming into the body, this will decrease reproductive hormone levels and causes hair loss.
Source: 18044135, American Hairloss
7. BREAST TENDERNESS / PAIN
Estrogen dominance is a root cause of breast tenderness. This is why it is another one of the signs of hormonal imbalance due to elevated estrogen which causes low production of progesterone. Usually, breast pain occurs a little bit before ovulation around day 12-15 of your cycle. Additionally, progesterone is at an all-time low during this time while estrogen is high, causing estrogen dominance, and because of the difference in hormone levels, this puts stress on the breast tissue causing them to hurt. Remember to note the intensity of your breast pain.
Source: 27493619
8. HORMONAL HEADACHES / MIGRAINES
Another one of the signs of hormonal imbalance is headaches and migraines. When progesterone is low, estrogen is usually high and it has been shown that estrogen can interfere with cellular responsiveness and cerebral vessels. Through passive diffusion, estrogen can cross the blood-brain barrier very easily, so this causes the brain levels of estrogen to reflect the levels within the rest of the body’s circulation. When levels of estrogen are high in circulation in the body, this causes an increase of estrogen in the brain and a low level of progesterone. These imbalances are what can cause cyclic headaches to be one of the signs of what is premenstrual syndrome.
9. INSOMNIA
Insomnia is the difficulty of falling asleep at night and can be a sign of hormonal imbalance. Balanced hormone levels are extremely important for good sleep. A study found that in both perimenopausal and postmenopausal women who were administered a low dose of estradiol there was an increase in sleep quality and insomnia was decreased. The study concluded that balanced estrogen and progesterone can have positive effects on sleep quality.
Source: 25325454
