Causes of Hormone Imbalance in Women

While some hormonal shifts are normal, like monthly fluctuations of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone (responsible for menstruation, ovulation, and occasionally pregnancy), a persistent hormone imbalance can cause a range of uncomfortable, debilitating symptoms, including:

• Bloating
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Headaches
• Heart palpitations
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)
• Infertility
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Mood swings
• Vaginal dryness

The first step to alleviating these symptoms is understanding what’s causing them and treating the root cause, not just the symptoms.

What causes hormonal imbalance in women?

Many conditions and diseases can cause a hormonal imbalance; it largely depends on which hormones or glands are affected. Here are some common causes of hormonal imbalance in women:

• Cancer
  Any type of cancer that affects the endocrine (hormone) system (e.g., thyroid, ovarian, or breast) can affect hormone levels and cause an imbalance.
• Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
  Chemotherapy medications and radiation are known to lower the levels of estrogen and progesterone in women, which can lead to hot flashes, irregular periods, or a sudden onset of menopause.
• Diabetes (type 1 and type 2)
  Diabetes affects blood sugar levels in the body, which can hasten or slow the onset of menopause, which is a natural decline in reproductive hormones in women.
• Endometriosis
  Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease, which means it occurs along with a hormonal imbalance. Excess estrogen in the body increases your risk of endometrial lesions in the body as well as mood swings that interfere with your daily life.
• Excess body fat
  Extra body fat increases the levels of estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones in the body. These higher hormone levels can increase your risk of breast cancer.
• Excessive stress
  Chronic stress leads to higher levels of cortisol, which then causes estrogen to drop. This can lead to an imbalance and symptoms of hormonal imbalance, like heavy or frequent periods, stopped or missed periods, hair loss, vaginal dryness, weight gain, and night sweats.
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or hyperthyroid (overactive thyroid)
  When your thyroid produces too many or too few hormones, it can cause several symptoms of hormonal imbalance.
• Menopause
  During menopause, your body begins to naturally make fewer hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone.
• Primary ovarian insufficiency (premature menopause)
  Primary ovarian insufficiency can often lead to infertility. It occurs when your ovaries stop producing normal amounts of estrogen or release eggs regularly. 
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
  PCOS is a hormonal imbalance that causes women to overproduce male hormones (e.g., testosterone), causing the body to skip menstrual periods and have difficulty with conception.
• Unhealthy diet
  Poor gut health is linked to inflammation, the primary cause of many health issues, including hormonal imbalance.

The skilled specialist providers at SynergenX can determine what is causing your hormonal imbalance with a simple blood analysis. Once they understand exactly what’s causing your hormonal imbalance, they can suggest specific lifestyle changes, prescribe medications, or recommend hormone replacement therapy, depending on your unique needs.