Hormone imbalances can be hard to pinpoint
As we get older and experience different types of illnesses, we become really good at recognizing symptoms and comparing those symptoms to past illnesses to try and identify a cause. For example, if you have a cough and a runny nose, you probably associate that with a common cold or the flu, or if you have a headache, you may associate it with dehydration.
Despite how good humans are at recognizing and self-diagnosing minor symptoms, many people experience symptoms of hormone imbalance and don’t even realize it’s an issue or be able to identify the cause as being a hormone imbalance.
Hormone imbalances happen to nearly everyone as we age, but the symptoms can start gradually, and most people don’t seek help for those symptoms until they become disruptive to their daily lives.
What are hormone imbalances?
By definition, a hormone imbalance is when hormone levels in your body are lower – or higher – than the standard level your body needs to carry out key processes.
Hormone imbalances can happen at any time throughout your life with any hormone in your body, and they can be temporary or permanent, but, in the context of hormone replacement therapy, we’re mainly talking about imbalances with sex hormones – estrogen and testosterone.
As we age, normal levels of these sex hormones decline in both men and women, and that can lead to a lot of uncomfortable signs and symptoms.
What are some common symptoms of hormone imbalances?
Hormone imbalances can present in many forms, and, while some symptoms are similar in both men and women, each sex has its own set of symptoms that may indicate a hormone imbalance.
In women, common signs of a hormone imbalance include:
- Mood swings
- Hot flashes
- Irregular menstruation
- Infertility
- Pain in the abdomen or back during menstruation
- Low libido
- Insomnia
- Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
- Brittle bones
In men, common symptoms of a hormone imbalance include:
- Low libido
- Erectile dysfunction
- Loss of muscle mass
- Hair thinning or reduced hair growth
- Tenderness in the chest
Of course, these are not exhaustive lists, and there are many other symptoms that may be signs of a hormone imbalance, too. But the only way to truly confirm a hormone imbalance is to get a comprehensive blood test that provides a full hormone panel and can help identify any levels that may be lower than the norm.
Hormone replacement therapy and hormone imbalance symptoms
While not everyone will experience symptoms from a hormone imbalance, many people will, and hormone replacement therapy is the most effective treatment for these symptoms in both men and women.
Hormone replacement therapy (sometimes abbreviated HRT or TRT) is essentially replenishing key sex hormones to the optimal level for your body to continue carrying out bodily processes and functions. Hormones can be given to the body in the form of oral supplements, creams, patches, and more.
While hormone imbalances are much more common in older adults, individuals can start feeling the effects of declining hormone levels as early as their mid-to-late 40s, and the sooner treatment is started, the easier it will be to rebalance hormones and mitigate symptoms before they become too bothersome.
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While aging is inevitable, the discomfort that can come with aging doesn’t have to be. Thanks to hormone replacement therapy, managing symptoms and rebalancing your hormones is possible.
If you’re suffering from any of these symptoms and want to see if a hormone imbalance is to blame, contact the team at 10X Health to get started with a comprehensive gene and blood test and meet with one of our top-notch hormone specialists!
