Are you experiencing a puffy face, unintended weight gain or loss, fatigue, and depression? If yes, then you might have a hormonal imbalance. Hormones are chemicals used to transfer messages from one organ to another to perform necessary functions. When your body produces either too much or too little of a hormone it causes many symptoms in the body. Learn about hormonal imbalance and common symptoms of hormone imbalance in this article. At Doral Health & Wellness, we have all the answers you need.

Symptoms of hormone imbalance

Hormonal imbalance symptoms can cause a variety of symptoms based on the hormone affected. Common symptoms of hormonal imbalance in both men and women are:

• Memory problems
• Sudden weight gain
• Anxiety, depression, and mood swings
• Fatigue and sleep problems
• Hair loss
• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Infertility
• Decline in sex drive

In women, a hormonal imbalance can cause many symptoms related to irregular or heavy periods, frequent periods, and a stopped period. Other symptoms of hormonal imbalance in women include:

• Hair changes involve hair loss, and hirsutism (which means excessive hair growth on parts like chin, face, arms, legs, etc.
• Night sweats.
• Pain during sex.
• Skin changes like acne on your face, chest, or upper back, skin darkening especially on neck creases, groin, and under your breasts, and skin tags.
• Vaginal dryness.
• Premenstrual syndrome.

In men, a hormonal imbalance causes symptoms including:

• Concentration problems.
• Erectile dysfunction.
• Breast problems involve gynecomastia (breast tissue swells and becomes larger than normal) and tender breasts.
• Hot flashes.
• Osteoporosis (a decrease in bone density causes this condition, it is also known as brittle bones).
• Loss in muscle mass.
• Loss of hair growth on face and body.

Common hormone tests

Doctors use common hormone tests to find what causes your hormonal imbalance. It involves hormones like:

1. Estrogen:

Estrogen is a combination of three forms of hormones including estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3). These hormones play an essential role in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Besides that, it also plays an essential role in maintaining healthy bones, female characteristics, and other health aspects. As you age, its levels start decreasing.

Your doctor may recommend an estrogen test if you have symptoms of estrogen imbalance or estrogen-related condition, which includes:

• Trouble getting pregnant.
• Getting irregular periods.
• Puberty gets delayed, regardless of biological sex.
• Having menopause symptoms.
• Vaginal bleeding after menopause.
• You develop characteristics of a female but you’re biologically a male.

When doctors check your estrogen levels for fertility, they test your levels in 3 phases of the menstrual cycle:

• Follicular phase: In this phase, your estrogen levels should range from 19.5 to 144.2 picograms (one-millionth of a gram) per milliliter (pg/mL).
• Periovulatory phase: In this phase, your estrogen levels should range from 64.9 to 356.7 pg/mL.
• Luteal phase: In this phase, your estrogen levels should range from 55.8 to 214.2 pg/mL.

During the postmenopausal stage, your estrogen levels drop to 32.2 or lower. Your test results show whether you have normal, low, or high estrogen levels. Low estrogen is a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), decreased pituitary function, anorexia nervosa, and low body fat. High estrogen is a sign of obesity, light or heavy menstrual bleeding, worsened premenstrual syndrome, fatigue, and loss of sex drive.

2. Progesterone:

Progesterone is an essential hormone for menstruation and fetal development. It helps to prepare the uterus to receive a fertilized egg. In case the egg is not fertilized, then progesterone levels drop and a new menstrual cycle begins. In case the egg is fertilized, progesterone levels remain high to prepare the uterus lining to release nutrients to nourish the developed embryo.

Doctors may perform a progesterone test to find:

• Are you ovulating normally or not?
• What are the issues with your pregnancy?
• Risk of miscarriage or other pregnancy complications.
• If pregnancy happens outside of the uterus (ectopic pregnancy).

Similar to estrogen, progesterone levels are tested during your body’s fertile window, and its levels are tested in 3 phases of the menstrual cycle. Progesterone levels rise in the midway of the menstrual cycle for 6 to 10 days later, if fertilization happens, it levels stay high. Otherwise, its levels drop and a new menstrual cycle begins. Its levels are measured in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) and nanomoles per liter (nmol/L).

• Follicular phase: It ranges from 1 or lower (ng/mL) or 3.18 or lower (nmol/L).
• Mid-cycle: It ranges from 5 to 20 (ng/mL) or 15.9 to 63.6 (nmol/L).
• 1st trimester: It ranges from 11.2 to 90 (ng/mL) or 35.62 to 286.2 (nmol/L).
• 2nd trimester: It ranges from 25.6 to 89.4 (ng/mL) or 81.41 to 284.29 (nmol/L).
• 3rd trimester: It ranges from 48 to above 300 (ng/mL) or 152.64 to above 954 (nmol/L).

During the postmenopausal stage, it ranges similar to follicular phase levels. Your test results show whether you have a normal, high, or low progesterone level. If your progesterone levels are low during pregnancy, then you’re at risk of miscarriage or premature labor. Doctors may give you a synthetic form of progesterone level to prevent early labor. High progesterone levels are generally safe unless it continue for a long time. It can increase the risk of breast cancer.

3. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH):

This hormone is necessary to stimulate the growth of an egg in the ovary for fertilization. Its levels increase when estrogen and other hormone levels drop before menopause and ovaries lose their reproductive potential.

Doctors may check your FSH levels if you have signs of:

• Abnormal menstrual bleeding
• Infertility
• Perimenopause and menopause symptoms
• Ovarian function issues and PCOS
• Pituitary gland tumors
• Ovarian cysts

Similar to the above hormones, this hormone is also tested during the menstrual cycle. It is measured in milli-international units per milliliter (mIU/mL).

• Follicular phase: It ranges from 3.5 to 12.5 mIU/mL.
• Ovulatory phase: It ranges from 4.7 to 21.5 mIU/mL.
• Luteal phase: It ranges from 1.7 to 7.7 mIU/mL.

During the postmenopausal stage, it ranges from 25.8 to 134.8. Your test results will tell whether you have normal or abnormal FSH levels. Abnormal FSH levels are often caused by pituitary gland or hypothalamus issues like PCOS, cancer treatment, and a congenital defect or some other diseases and disorders.

4. Testosterone and DHEA levels:

While testosterone is a male sex hormone, it is also part of the female hormonal system. For females, this hormone gets converted to estrogen with the help of an enzyme called aromatase. Testosterone helps females maintain bone health, regulate hormone balance and fertility, and help with cardiovascular function and blood cell formation.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is known as androgen,  a group of steroid hormones that help testosterone in several functions like maintaining reproductive function, muscle mass, and physical performance.

Doctors check testosterone and DHEA levels when you have signs of:

• Irregular or missed periods.
• Possible ovarian conditions like PCOS and ovarian cancer.
• Weight gain
• Acne
• Development of male characteristics like excess hair growth, deep voice, etc.
• Infertility
• Decreased sex drive

Usually, testosterone doesn’t fluctuate in females like other hormones, so it can be tested at any time. It is measured in nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) or nmol/L. Normal testosterone range is 15 to 70 ng/dL and 0.5 to 2.4 nmol/L.

Normal DHEA levels depend on your age and are measured in micrograms per deciliter (mg/dL) or micromoles per liter (mmol/L).

• Age 18 to 19: It ranges from 145 to 395 mg/dL or 3.92 to 10.66 mmol/L.
• Age 20 to 29: It ranges from 65 to 380 mg/dL or 1.75 to 10.26 mmol/L.
• Age 30 to 39: It ranges from 45 to 270 mg/dL or 1.22 to 7.29 mmol/L.
• Age 40 to 49: It ranges from 32 to 240 mg/dL or 0.86 to 6.48 mmol/L.
• Age 50 to 59: It ranges from 26 to 200 mg/dL or 0.7 to 5.4 mmol/L.
• Age 60 to 69: It ranges from 13 to 130 mg/dL or 0.35 to 3.51 mmol/L.
• Age 69 to older: It ranges from 17 to 90 mg/dL or 0.46 to 2.43 mmol/L.

Your test results will tell whether you have normal, high, or low testosterone levels. High testosterone levels indicate steroid abuse, PCOS, cancers of the adrenal glands or ovaries, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Low test levels may indicate low libido and perimenopause.

5. Thyroid hormones:

Thyroid hormones play an essential role in the body, both in men and women. It has 3 main hormones- thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T3), and triiodothyronine (T4). It regulates other hormones and helps in metabolism, heart rate, body temperature, fertility, pregnancy, etc.

Your doctor may recommend a thyroid hormone test if you have symptoms of either an underactive or overactive thyroid.

Underactive thyroid symptoms are:

• Fatigue
• Unintended weight gain
• Puffy face
• Constipation
• Dry skin
• Intolerance of cold
• Decreased sweating
• Muscles and joint pain
• Hair thinning
• Fertility problems
• Heavy or irregular periods
• Slow heart rate
• Depression
• Goiter

An overactive thyroid gland may cause symptoms such as:

• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Feeling cold or hot
• Irregular or light period
• Hair loss
• Unintended weight loss or gain
• Tremors
• Rapid heart rate
• Bulging eyes
• Hyperactivity
• Goiter

Doctors may test on TSH alone or a combination of all thyroid hormones to find thyroid disorders. TSH is measured in milli-international units per liter (mIU/L).

• Non-pregnant women: It ranges from 0.5 to 5 mIU/L.
• First trimester: It ranges from 0.1 to 2.5 mIU/L.
• Second trimester: It ranges from 0.2 to 3 mIU/L.
• Third trimester: It ranges from 0.3 to 3.5 mIU/L.

T4 is measured in micrograms per deciliter (ug/dL) and T3 in nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). The normal range of T3 is 80 to 220 ng/dL and T4 is 5 to 12 ug/dL. Your test results test show whether you have normal, high, or low thyroid hormones. Low thyroid hormones mean an underactive thyroid and high thyroid hormone levels mean an overactive thyroid. In case your result comes out low TSH and high thyroid hormones and then gets reversed, then you need further testing, which indicates thyroiditis, which means thyroid gland inflammation.

6. Luteinizing hormone (LH):

This hormone helps to regulate the menstrual cycle. It triggers the ovulation or release of an egg. If you have too much LH, then you may have difficulty getting pregnant because it interferes with menstruation and causes irregular periods.

Your doctor may test LH for a few reasons:

• To find the cause of infertility.
• To find the time during your menstrual cycle when most likely to get pregnant.
• If you have irregular periods.
• To determine the start of perimenopause, the transition period before menopause.

It is tested during the menstrual cycle and LH is measured in international units per millimeter (IU/mL).

1. Follicular phase: It ranges from 1.68 to 15 IU/mL.
2. Midcycle phase: It ranges from 21.9 to 56.6 IU/mL.
3. Luteal phase: It ranges from 0.61 to 16.3 IU/mL.

During postmenopausal the range of LH is 14.2 to 52.3 IU/mL. Your test results show whether you have normal, high, or low levels. High LH levels indicate the beginning of perimenopause, PCOS, and Turner syndrome. Low LH levels indicate eating disorders and pituitary gland issues.

Other hormones you should consider checking are cortisol, ghrelin, melatonin, serotonin, growth hormone, leptin, and insulin.

Hormones play an essential role in the body by helping necessary functions. A hormonal imbalance happens when you have either too much or too little of a specific hormone. Hormonal imbalance causes many symptoms in the body. Noticing the hormonal imbalance symptoms and taking treatment is necessary to prevent severe complications.

Having signs of hormonal imbalance, visit our endocrinology clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!!

Visit our endocrinology clinic in Brooklyn to get the finest specialists who evaluate your condition and give you the best treatment. Call us to book your appointment now and give the attention that your body needs to get better. Call us on +13473845690 and get answers for all your queries. Log on to  www.doralhw.org or visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212 to book an appointment with our endocrinologist to get the best treatment. We have the best endocrinologists who treat these kinds of diseases and helpful staff to aid you during your treatment.