Sign out
Do you often feel flat or just out of it? Has your body been changing in small ways you can’t quite explain? Hormonal imbalance may be to blame.
Your hormone levels rise and fall depending on factors like age or your menstrual cycle phase. Sometimes it shows up like a tired feeling you can’t shake, or extreme mood swings. Other times, the symptoms feel overwhelming and confusing, like you don’t recognize yourself. If you’ve ever had a period, been pregnant, or experienced perimenopause, you’re pro bably more aware of these changes than most. These are considered normal hormone changes, which you can usually manage with self-care.
How do you know if it’s something more than a normal hormone change? Can you do anything about it? The good news is yes, you can. Here’s a bit of information on causes, symptoms, and treatments of hormonal imbalance — including when to see a doctor. So you can get back to feeling like yourself faster.
What’s a hormonal imbalance?
Your body makes over 50 kinds of hormones to help it function. They’re like little messengers in your bloodstream, telling your tissue and organs how to act. This affects everyday things from sleep and hunger to your mood and sex drive.
When your hormone levels are higher or lower than usual, they can send your body mixed signals and cause discomfort. It’s why you might feel better or worse during certain phases of your menstrual cycle, as your hormone levels fluctuate.
Hormone changes like this can also affect mental health. For example, when estrogen levels drop, serotonin — the feel-good chemical in your brain — can also go down. This may cause anxiety or mood swings.
Because hormonal imbalance can show up in a variety of ways, it can feel particularly frustrating. But these sorts of short-term hormone changes are normal. They usually resolve on their own, or with minor lifestyle changes like diet and exercise.
What causes hormonal imbalance?
Many causes of hormonal imbalance are natural. That’s because everyone’s hormone levels change over time. For example, estrogen levels rise and fall during normal life stages such as puberty, pregnancy, and perimenopause.
- Plenty of other everyday things can affect your hormones too:
- Ongoing stress
- Unhealthy diet
- Lack of physical activity
- Excessive physical activity
- Hormone medications like birth control and steroids
Hormonal imbalances are also linked to some medical conditions, like thyroid disorders and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). If you have any of these, you may be more likely to experience the symptoms below.
How to tell if you have a hormonal imbalance
The first step to recognizing a hormonal imbalance is knowing what signs to look for.
Hormonal imbalance symptoms
When your hormones aren’t balanced, you can experience a variety of symptoms. Some may seem normal. But what’s most important is knowing what’s normal for you. Keep track of your symptoms to see if you notice any patterns or major changes.
Some common symptoms of a hormonal imbalance:
- Sudden weight changes
- Feeling sleepy or tired
- Trouble thinking clearly
- Changes in appetite
- Hair loss
For women and people with female hormone cycles, there are some other common symptoms:
- Night sweats
- Severe acne
- Headaches
- Pain during sex
- Missed or irregular periods
On their own, these symptoms don’t always mean you have a hormonal imbalance. That can make them easy to dismiss or overlook. But all of them provide clues about how well your body is working. Pay close attention to what you’re experiencing so you can tell your doctor about any major changes or concerns. You know your body best — so trust yourself and advocate for your health.
When to talk to a doctor about your hormonal imbalance symptoms
Sometimes it’s hard to know if your symptoms are normal or if you need medical attention. That’s why it’s important to get to know your body and what’s normal for you.
If your symptoms don’t go away and aren’t manageable with minor lifestyle changes, it might be time to see a doctor. Talk to your doctor when you have:
- Sudden or severe symptoms, like rapid hair loss or unexplained weight changes
- Symptoms that won’t go away or that make it hard to do everyday tasks
- Family history of hormone-related medical conditions, like PCOS
A doctor can work with you to find the right care — and catch other medical conditions early, when they’re easier to treat. Untreated medical conditions such as PCOS can increase your risk for other long-term health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and certain kinds of cancer, such as uterine cancer. Don’t hesitate to get help if you need it.
How to test for hormone levels
Depending on your health history and symptoms, your doctor may refer you to an endocrinologist, or hormone specialist. To check for hormonal imbalances, they might order blood tests, sometimes the same one more than once. That’s because hormone levels change often, based on what you eat, how well you sleep, and more. Over time, these tests can also check for things like your sugar tolerance, to rule out conditions like diabetes.
But blood tests may not tell the whole story. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best way to handle your specific needs.
How to fix hormonal imbalances
If your symptoms don’t disrupt your life in any major ways, you can often make basic lifestyle changes to help. If you need medical treatment, your doctor will work with you to find the best care plan.
Medical hormone treatments
Depending on your needs, symptoms, and test results, your doctor can recommend the best care options. Common medical treatments for hormonal imbalances include:
- Hormonal birth control — A common treatment for PCOS. Uses progestin and sometimes estrogen to help control irregular periods and unwanted hair growth.
- Anti-androgen medication — Blocks extra androgen to help with severe acne and unwanted hair growth or loss.
- Hormone therapy — Often used during perimenopause and menopause. Uses estrogen and progesterone to help with hot flashes, night sweats, and poor sleep.
Natural ways to balance hormones
Stress, diet, and exercise can affect your body’s ability to manage hormone levels. Changing a few everyday habits like these can make a real difference. Your doctor may also recommend some of them as part of a larger treatment plan:
- Stress reduction: Do breathing exercises. Meditate. Go for a walk. Even limiting screen time and social media can help you manage stress.
- Moderate exercise: Get at least 20 minutes of physical activity a day.
- Proper sleep: Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.
- Healthy eating: 3 meals and 1 or 2 healthy snacks a day are ideal for most adults.
Good habits like these are also closely related. For example, exercising more can help you reduce stress. Reducing stress can help you sleep better. And better sleep can help curb food cravings. Put them all together, and they can add up to a big step toward getting you — and your hormones — back into a healthy balance.