Hormone Imbalance

Hormone imbalance is a very common condition among women in our society these days and the root of many undesirable and disruptive psychological and physiological symptoms. It used to occur most often for women in their 30's and 40's as hormone levels begin to fluctuate with age, but it is now impacting even teenagers and women in their twenties as well largely because of the high level of environmental toxins we are all exposed to and poor diet.

Hormones have a profound impact on the brain and body and play a major role in our physical and psychological health and well-being. Among other things, they regular mental processes, mood, metabolism, growth, prenatal development, sexual development and function, metabolism and tissue function. Hormone imbalance occurs when the two primary female hormones, estrogen and progesterone do not remain in balance as they should. There may also be problems with testosterone, but the most common imbalance occurs in estrogen and progesterone. Many women think that testosterone is just a male hormone, but testosterone is also a crucial female hormone but is produced in lower levels than males.

During a woman's natural monthly menstrual cycle a particular level determined by the body of estrogen is produced during the n to twelve days. When ovulation occurs then progesterone is produced. When all is functioning as it should, the body produces the amount of estrogen and progesterone that is needed for the body at the precise time it is called for. However, if something interferes in this cycle and estrogen or progesterone are not produced in the amounts they are supposed to or at the time they are supposed to then hormone imbalance occurs.

This imbalance may be in the form of too much estrogen or too much progesterone or not enough estrogen or progesterone. When this occurs a variety of psychological and physiological symptoms can occur.

Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance

The symptoms of hormone imbalance are numerous and may vary from woman to woman. They can range in severity anywhere from mildly annoying to completely debilitating. Symptoms may also vary within each individual from month to month depending on a variety of factors. Here are some of the most common hormone imbalance symptoms, but this list is not exhaustive:

Symptoms of too much estrogen not enough progesterone:

When a woman has too much estrogen and not enough progesterone this is commonly referred to estrogen dominance. This is the most common imbalance found in women today, because of environmental toxins and diet that alter and disrupt estrogen.

• Tender breasts
• Breast swelling
• Heavy menstrual flow
• Fibrocystic breasts
• Rapid and erratic mood swings - mild to severe
• PMS
• Irritability
• Get angry quick and easy
• Cyclical headaches or migraines
• Increase in PMS symptoms
• Cysts on the Ovaries
• Retaining water
• Extra weight in the abdominal area
• Anxiety
• Dizziness
• Insomnia or disrupted sleep
• Low libido
• Difficulty concentrating
• Elevated triglyceride levels
• Uterine fibroids
• Painful menstrual cramps
• Leg cramps
• Short term memory loss
• Sugar cravings
• Hypoglycemia
• Gallbladder problems
• Irregular menstrual cycle
• Lack of ovulation
• Infertility
• Acne
• Extreme inability to cope
• Feel like you'll lose your mind or you're going crazy
• Breast cancer

However, it's important to keep in mind that it is possible to have not enough estrogen and still be estrogen dominate if you have low levels of estrogen, but even lower levels of progesterone.

Symptoms of not enough estrogen:

• Brain fog
• Depressed state
• Vaginal dryness and irritation *one of the primary symptoms of not enough estrogen
• Incontinence
• Irregular menstrual cycle
• Headaches
• Hot flashes
• Bone loss
• Memory problems
• Disrupted sleep
• Frequent vaginits and/or vaginal infections
• Loss of sex drive
• Joint pain, stiffness and swelling
• Heart palpitations
• Hot flashes
• Rapid pulse
• Night sweats
• Recurring bladder infections
• Excessive perspiration
• Low self-esteem or sense of well-being
• Loss of breast fullness
• Intolerance to exercise

Symptoms of not enough testosterone:

• Abdominal weight gain - a pot belly
• Hair loss
• Fatty breasts
• Depression
• Low sex drive
• Fatigue
• Concentration problems
• Cognitive
• Decrease in bone mass
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Disrupted sleep
• lack of vitality
• Men may have smaller and softer testes and inability to obtain and maintain an erection
• Decreased muscle strength and mass

You'll also note that many of the symptoms of hormone imbalance overlap from one imbalance to another, so that's why it's important to do a hormone saliva test like that found below to measure your hormone levels and know for certain which imbalance you have.

It's also important to note that the symptoms of hormone imbalance overlap with many other health conditions like:
hypoglycemia
nutritional deficiencies
adrenal fatigue
neurotransmitter imbalances or deficiencies
thyroid disorders
candida overgrowth
and many more, so once again this is another reason it's crucial to perform hormone saliva testing and a comprehensive approach covering all bases to be sure what you're dealing with.

Causes of Hormone Imbalance

The two primary causes of hormone imbalance are environmental toxins and diet.

1. Environmental Toxins

Common everyday chemicals found in our food, homes, work place, air and water, like personal care products, plastics, pesticides, herbicides, household cleaning products etc., contain toxins called hormone disruptors, also known as endocrine disruptors. As the name implies, these hormone disruptors disrupt, alter and impede normal functioning of our hormones.

A particularly damaging subclass of hormone disruptors, called xenoestrogens, actually mimic the natural estrogens in the b body and/or prevent hormones from performing the jobs they are required to do. They also alter the way that our natural hormones are generated, discharged and metabolized.

When this occurs, a variety of abnormal reaction occur in the body and result in symptoms such as those found in hormone imbalance as well as other detrimental impacts to the entire endocrine system, nervous system, immune system, reproductive system and metabolic system.

Once endocrine disruptors enter the body they are very difficult to excrete, because the body is incapable of breaking them down. Instead they accumulate in our tissues and fat cells and continuously recirculate throughout the body.

We are all exposed to a vast number of hormone disruptors on a daily basis.

2. Diet

The second biggest contributor to hormone imbalance is a diet that is high in white flour and other refined carbohydrates, sugar and caffeine and lacking in nutritional value. These types of foods alter and destroy the endocrine system and metabolic functioning. Hormones are regulated by the endocrine system.

Additionally, hormones, the endocrine system and all other organ systems in the body require proper nutrition to function properly and produce hormones in adequate amounts. A diet high in sugar, white flour etc., does not provide the body with nutrients it needs to perform it's functions.

Unless you're eating organic then your food is contaminated with toxic pesticides, which we established in the previous section are hormone disruptors. The meat supply and all meat byproducts like milk, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese etc., are contaminate with hormones, because the meat supply is pumped with hormones to make the animals grow bigger. When these foods are eaten these hormones disrupt the natural hormones in the body.

Three Other Very Common Causes of Hormone Imbalance

1. Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers used in the communication system of the brain and body. They are involved in regulating basically all systems in the body in one way or another and play a crucial role in hormone balance.

Neurotransmitter deficiencies or imbalances are extremely common in the population today and when this occurs results in numerous psychological and physiological symptoms we find in society today. Hormone imbalance is one of the most common symptoms to develop. When an imbalance or deficiency of neurotransmitters occurs, the body is not capable of producing and maintaining hormones in the body as it should. This can result in creating a hormone imbalance or exacerbating an already existing hormone imbalance.

2. Too Much Stress

High levels of ongoing stress put too much demand on the endocrine system and deplete neurotransmitters, which as we already learned are highly involved in the regulation of hormones. When the endocrine system and neurotransmitters are not functioning adequately hormones are not produced or regulated adequately.

3. Menopause

Menopause is the condition most often associated with hormone imbalance, because during this time there is a natural fluctuation of hormones as the body prepares to end menstruation. However, although a certain degree of imbalance may be expected, the severe and disabling imbalances we so commonly in society today is not natural or normal. The fact that so many women experience severe and debilitating menopause symptoms is once again due to the fact of poor diet, environmental toxins and too much stress as already discussed above.

Other causes of hormone imbalance may include birth control pills, candida overgrowth, nutritional deficiencies, heavy metal toxicity, thyroid problems and problems in other areas of the endocrine system such as the pituitary, hypothalamus or adrenals.

Treatment of Hormone Imbalance

Before treatment of hormone it is important to identify with a saliva hormone test explained below, so know which imbalance you have. Diet would be different, herbs would be different. Although some steps listed below such as no sugar, caffeine or alcohol and avoidance of environmental toxins will be beneficial for any imbalance combination, some of the steps one will take to address hormone imbalance are dependent on which imbalance you have. You wouldn't want to replace estrogen or progesterone if you already have too much and there will be variations in the diet as well depending on which imbalance you are trying to correct.

• Avoid environmental toxins
  This is "the" most important factor. Eat organic, switch to green, environmentally friendly cleaning products and household cleaning products, drink filtered water, avoid air fresheners, don't use pesticides or herbicides. Switch to a green lifestyle.


• No sugar


• No caffeine


• No alcohol or drugs


• Regular exerciseGet plenty of exercise, but not too extreme. Exercise that is too extreme can put hormones and neurotransmitters further out of balance.


• Reduce stress and use stress management techniques, like mediation, exercise and deep breathing exercises to deal with that which can't be eliminated.


• Nutritional supplements and herbs
  There are a variety of nutritional supplements and herbs that are helpful for some women with a hormone imbalance and may include some of the following: dong quai, chasteberry, licorice, flax seed, borage seed oil, black currant seed oil and evening primrose oil, black cohosh, wild yam and vitex.
  
  However, once again, nutritional supplement and herbs are highly individualized and don't work the same for everyone. Women who are estrogen dominant must be very careful with herbs and supplements because they contain phytoestrogens, which are natural ingredients in the plant that mimic estrogen.
  
  For example, if I eat any of the foods or herbs that have phytoestrogens in them, such as flax seed and evening primrose oil, I have so much anxiety and aggression I feel like I may explode.
  
  The best way to identify which vitamins and minerals you need is with biochemical testing and then having a custom nutritional formula designed personally for your unique needs, such as that found in the Privatest and Custom Essential vitamins.


• Eat a Healthy Diet Rich in Nutrients
  All diets should avoid the big no no's - sugar, alcohol, caffeine and white flour. However, depending on your particular body type or metabolic type and which imbalance you are trying to correct, then diet needs will vary.
  
  Some women who aren't estrogen dominant find relief with foods like peas, soybeans and chickpeas, but estrogen dominant women often have an exacerbation of symptoms with these foods.
  
  While, whole grains are rich in nutrients and beneficial to some women, other women should avoid foods with gluten or grains all together, because they damage their gastrointestinal tract or they have an unidentified sensitivity.
  
  Many women must also limit even the healthy and complex carbohydrates, because a lot of people have difficulty metabolizing carbohydrates and when eaten in excess can disrupt and alter neurotransmitters, hormones and the endocrine system.


• Neurotransmitter testing
  Neurotransmitter deficiencies or imbalances can be easily identified with a simple at home testing kit that you mail to a lab. Then can be corrected with amino acids and specified co-factors. Many women find improvement in their hormone imbalance by addressing neurotransmitter issues.


• Bioidentical hormones
  Many women are able to bring their hormones into balance with bioidentical hormones. Unlike traditional hormone replacement, these are natural hormones that are more compatible with body and don't carry the same health risks. Most often they are used in the form of a cream which is applied to the body. Depending on which hormone imbalance you are trying to correct, this may involve using a progesterone, estrogen or testosterone.
  
  Before beginning bioidentical hormones, a hormone saliva test such as the one found below should be performed to identify which imbalance you are dealing with. These tests can be performed by a physician who is knowledgeable about natural hormone replacement or you can use a simple test kit you perform in the privacy of your own that I describe below.

Saliva Hormone Test

The saliva hormone test is the preferred test to measure hormone levels, because it is the most reliable and accurate. Blood tests measure the serum levels of hormones, while saliva tests the "free" or bioavailable level. Serum levels do not provide accurate results because they do not measure the bioavailable hormones, which are the "true" levels.

As you've seen me mention a variety of times throughout this page, hormones are do not function independently. They are a part of a complex, intricate and interconnected system that is influenced, impacted and regulated by a variety of other organ systems. It is rare that hormonal imbalances occur in and of themselves. They often are accompanied by a variety of other issues like adrenal fatigue, neurotransmitter imbalances and thyroid disorders and candida overgrowth.

The most effective way to approach hormone imbalance is to have a comprehensive evaluation of all the factors that may be playing a role in the imbalance.

The saliva hormone test such as you see below, will measure levels for not only your primary hormones, but your adrenal glands and your thyroid as well, which have been established to be crucial factors in maintaining hormone balance.

Comprehensive Saliva Hormone Test Price $299.00

The Comprehensive Saliva Hormone Test will measure levels of hormones, adrenal function and thyroid hormones. This test is indicated for those who suspect a thyroid disorder as well as adrenal and hormone imbalance. It consists of a simple saliva sample and blood spot sample that you collect at home and send to a professional lab in a prepaid envelope. Your receive a coy of the results.

The Comprehensive Hormone Saliva Tests for the Following:

-- Progesterone
-- Estradiol
-- Testosterone
-- DHEAS
-- Cortisol 4 times in one day
-- TSH
-- Free T3
-- Free T4
-- TPO antibodies

Includes Free 15-minute Phone Consultation

NeuroEndocrine Test -- Price $385.00

As we discussed above, neurotransmitters and adrenals play a profound role in regulating hormone imbalance. This test allows you to measure levels of the primary hormones as well as adrenal hormones and neurotransmitters. They have a reciprocal relationship with each other and in order to restore balance to hormones it is often necessary to bring balance to these areas as well. This too is an at home, easy to perform test kit that collects a saliva sample for the hormones and adrenal glands and a urine test for the neurotransmitters. You receive a copy of the test results and recommendations. Lab test and recommendations come from NeuroScience, the leading authority in neurotransmitter and endocrine system testing and correction through nutrition. Includes a 15-minute phone consultation.

The NeuroEndocrine Test Assesses the Following:

-- Progesterone
-- Estardiol
-- Estrogen
-- Testosterone
-- Dihydrotestosterone
-- DHEA
-- Cortisol 4 times throughout the day
-- Serotonin
-- Dopamine
-- Norepinephrine
-- Epinephrine
-- GABA
-- Glutamate
-- PEA
-- Histamine
-- Creatinine

Includes Free 15 minute phone consultation