Hormone Imbalance Symptoms And Signs
Female hormone imbalance symptoms are commonly experienced during a woman’s menstrual cycle and in other periods of her life, such as menopause. Technically speaking, a hormonal imbalance occurs as an allergic reaction to the elevated level of estrogen of progesterone within a woman’s body. This allergic reaction occurs to nearly all women, most commonly during the menstrual cycle, but the condition can happen at any time. As a woman ages and enters puberty, the levels of certain hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, are increased. Additionally, the male hormone testosterone is increased and is responsible for hair growth during this period of a person’s life. As women grow older, the hormones become more balanced, but during times of menstruation, the female hormones are decreased, causing the problems associated with a hormonal imbalance.
The changing levels of a person’s hormones can be manifested in a number of different symptoms of hormone imbalance. Hormonal imbalance symptoms can include the following:
* Hot and cold flashes
* Abnormal heart beat
* An increased irritability
* Mood swings
* A loss of sexual appetite
* Bloating
* Changes in body odor
* A burning sensation on the tongue or roof of the mouth
* Pronounced hair loss or growth
* Urinary tract infections
* Weight gain or the retention of water
* Insomnia that may include night seating
* Abnormal menstrual cycles (shorter or longer, lighter or heavier)
* Increased dryness in the mouth, eyes, joints, skin, or vagina
* Depression or anxiety
* Lapses of memory
* Breast tenderness
* Aching muscles and joints
* Flatulence or pain caused by excessive gas
* Nausea
* Dizziness or loss of equilibrium
* Concentration lapses or disorientation
* Changes in fingernail firmness
Perhaps the most common cause of hormonal imbalance symptoms is birth control pills. These pills can cause a dramatic shift in a woman’s estrogen levels, thus causing symptoms. In addition, the following may be causes of problems due to an imbalance of hormones: stress, cosmetics, or the ingestion of animal products that contain estrogen. Environmental poisons may also be responsible for the change in a woman’s hormone levels. Disinfectants, pesticides, and dry cleaning fluids are capable of altering hormones. Women who have chosen to undergo hormone replacement therapy may be at higher risk for hormonal imbalances. This therapy is used to help women deal with the condition of menopause and uses a combination of synthesized progestogens and progestins to achieve a relief of symptoms common to women in menopause.
Knowing about the symptoms of hormone imbalance is extremely as important. Recognizing the signs of an imbalance can alert a woman to the possibility of migraine headaches or other conditions. Also, a woman who pays attention to her body will be able to deal with such conditions as hair loss and unwanted hair growth as soon as an imbalance has been discovered. Armed with knowledge, female hormone imbalance symptoms should not be a cause of troubles, but rather an indicator that something should be done to correct the imbalance.