9 Signs That Your Hormones Are Out Of Balance

Written by Chandrama Deshmukh  • 

Hormones are special chemical messengers in the body that are created in the endocrine glands. These chemical secretions regulate most bodily functions, from the basic emotions like hunger to complex functions like reproduction.

Hormones control your mood, menstrual cycle, fertility, metabolism, mental health, etc. and also play a big role in how you feel. Hence, you may have heard women often say that they are irritable or moody because they are hormonal or it’s that ‘time of the month.’ Even a slight hormonal imbalance may disrupt your normal functioning and cause noticeable symptoms.

There are various factors like age, activity level, your surrounding environment, habits, diet, medicines you regularly take, etc., which influence hormones in your body. Studies show that a majority of women (up to 80%) will face hormonal abnormalities at least once in the course of their lives.

Some of these hormonal problems may be caused due to inflammation, side effects of certain drugs or autoimmune disorders, which happen when your own immune system destroys tissues in your body by mistake. So, how can you find out if you belong to this vast majority of women who often face hormonal imbalance? Well, we’ve got your back! Here are 9 ways in which your body tells you if you have a hormonal imbalance:

1. Irregular Menstrual Cycles

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One of the most common signs of imbalanced hormones is irregular menstrual cycles. Missed periods or heavy flow during your menstrual cycle indicates a problem with your thyroid or reproductive hormones (1).

2. Acne

One of the most common skin problems amongst young adults. The acne breakout usually starts during your teenage years, when you hit puberty, and it may persist until your early 20s (2). Papules, cysts, whiteheads, and blackheads are all a result of excess secretion of the male hormone called ‘testosterone’ in your body (3).

3. Memory Concerns

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People suffering from hypothyroidism may find themselves forgetting things and may face a lack of concentration in general (4). An imbalance in the secretion of the female sex hormones called ‘estrogen’ and ‘progesterone’ may also cause a foggy memory.

4. A Bloated Tummy

Women usually deal with a bloated abdomen right before the onset of their period. Abdominal bloating is caused due to extreme levels of the female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone in the body. This hormonal imbalance may lead to a tight or hard belly and gassiness.

5. Insomnia

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Sleeplessness and messed up sleep patterns are a result of an imbalance in the levels of the female sex hormone, progesterone in the body (5). It influences the quality and duration of your sleep. Low levels of progesterone may make it harder for you to fall asleep.

6. Fluctuating Weight

As women near menopause, they will see an unavoidable rise in bodyweight due to a dramatic decline in the estrogen levels in their body. A dysfunctional thyroid gland causes an imbalance in the hormonal levels, which could also lead to a loss or gain of weight.

Although estrogen is responsible for uniquely classifying women as women, it is also the hormone that causes most trouble when dealing with fat storage. Normal levels of estrogen help keep your body lean by regulating insulin levels in your body. But when estrogen levels drop, it can turn women into a weight-gaining machine.

7. Poor Libido

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Decreased levels of estrogen in your body may make you feel less interested in lovemaking. Women in menopause usually complain of vaginal dryness, which makes intercourse painful. Doctors have also linked improper function of the thyroid gland with a low libido.

8. Mood Swings

Mood swings are common among everyone, irrespective of their gender; however, they are almost always associated with women on their periods. This is why you may often hear people ask you if you’re ‘PMS-ing’ whenever you get irritable. The female sex hormone, estrogen, affects the brain’s concentrations of substances such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. This, in turn, can make you feel a whirlwind of emotions like depression and anxiety without reason.

Premenstrual syndrome, commonly known as PMS, is mainly associated with mood swings before the onset of a period in women (6). These mood swings are mainly caused because of the fluctuating concentration of estrogen through a menstrual cycle.

9. Extreme Fatigue

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After a long day of work, it is normal for anyone to feel mental and physical fatigue. But if even after a good long nap and rest, you do not feel fresh and still experience fatigue, you may have to get your thyroid gland examined. Hypothyroidism is the most common cause of permanent fatigue and loss of energy.

Thus, it is clear that hormones control most of your bodily functions and also control the way you feel, making it important for you to take care of your body and maintain a hormonal balance. There are a few basic steps you can do to achieve this, like getting the right amount of protein in your diet, exercising regularly, avoiding refined carbs, getting good quality sleep, and practicing how to deal with stress calmly.

Always remember, when you give your body the right nutrition and keep it healthy by exercising, it will take you a long way with your hormonal well-being. Stay healthy!

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