The complex systems of organs, bones, muscles, and other soft tissue in your body rely on a lot of different things to function correctly. The hormones your endocrine system produces are a vital part of this, a loose network of organs, glands, and tissues.
The three primary types of hormones are peptides, steroids, and amines, which serve a range of functions, including stabilizing mood, regulating metabolism, promoting growth, and maintaining reproduction.
The human body contains over 50 different hormones. Because they are so prevalent and crucial to bodily functions, imbalances in hormone levels can create problems that could significantly affect your life.
Women in the Lake Mary, Florida, area experiencing hormonal imbalances can find relief with board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Christopher Quinsey and our dedicated medical staff.
So, how do these problems happen, what signs should you look for, and what can be done to treat them? Continue reading to learn more.
While fluctuations of hormones are normal and happen frequently during puberty, menstrual cycles, and menopause, the problems with hormone imbalances can result from too much or too little of what you need. Among the causes of hormone imbalances are:
Since these imbalances can affect different parts of your endocrine system, signs of the issues can take multiple forms. Examples include weight gain, sudden weight loss, hair loss, muscle weakness, fatigue, aches, stiffness, changes in bowel movements, and dry skin.
Hormonal imbalances affecting the reproductive system can also lead to lowered sex drive, anxiety, irritability, infertility, and depression, as well as some of the earlier symptoms mentioned.
Fortunately, restoring normal hormone levels is possible, and there are several ways to do it:
If you don’t want to have a child, contraceptives with forms of estrogen and progesterone can help manage irregular periods and other issues that imbalances can bring.
Estrogen level changes can cause vaginal dryness. Estrogen creams directly treat the issue without altering overall hormone levels.
Women with higher levels of androgen (a male sex hormone) can experience severe acne, facial hair growth, and hair loss. Anti-androgen medications reduce the amount of androgen in the body.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects your cycles and fertility. Medications that manage it can help with issues related to hormone imbalances.
HRT is commonly used for women dealing with signs of menopause, like night sweats and hot flashes, to reduce the severity.
Issues with your hormone levels can cause a range of problems, but we have several options to treat them. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Quinsey and our team today to learn how we can assist you.
