Do you think that your headache or sudden weight gain is caused by hormonal deficiency? Hormonal deficiency is quite common in women when they go through the phases of perimenopause and menopause. However, you also experience some signs due to hormonal deficiency. Learn about the top 10 signs of Hormone deficiency that you should know to help you take the necessary steps to manage those symptoms.

10 signs of hormone deficiency

When hormonal deficiency happens, then any or some of these 10 signs may occur:

1. Headaches:

Headaches can be triggered by many factors but in the case of women, it may occur due to low levels of estrogen. When estrogen levels drop, it can cause migraine headaches. This usually happens a few days before your period occurs, as estrogen levels drop significantly, and your headaches get worse as you get close to menopause due to hormonal shifts.

This hormonal shift can also occur during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.

2. Fatigue:

Feeling tired after eating heavy meals or intense work is natural but experiencing exhaustion no matter how much rest you get, is a sign of hormone imbalance. Chronic stress can increase your cortisol production and affect your sleep-wake cycle which makes you tired throughout the day. It can also happen when your thyroid gland produces a little thyroid hormone in the body which leads to extreme fatigue.

You can manage your stress by using relaxation techniques such as yoga, deep breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, etc., and if you feel that you are low on thyroid hormone, a simple blood test called thyroid panel can find out whether your thyroid levels are low or not. If they are, take treatment right away.

3. Mood changes:

Researchers found that menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause can trigger hormone changes that impact your mood. It happens because changes in estrogen and other related hormones affect their feel-good neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.

So, this means if your estrogen or other related hormone level drops too low quickly, it can affect your mood. As a result, you may experience depression, anxiety, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and increased irritability. Even thyroid imbalances can also lead to depression and anxiety.

4. Hair loss:

Hair loss can be a significant sign of hormone deficiency. In women, during menopause, pregnancy, and after starting birth control pills, a sudden drop happens in estrogen and progesterone hormone levels which triggers an increase in androgens. Androgens are male hormones that can decrease hair follicles, and lead to hair loss.

Similarly, in males, a drop in testosterone levels can lead to androgen levels, resulting in hair loss. Hair loss can also be triggered by thyroid imbalances (whether you have an underactive or overactive thyroid).

5. Skin problems:

Skin problems such as acne occur when there’s an increase in androgen levels because it can cause oil glands to work overtime, which clog your pores and lead to breakouts.

In case you develop chronic acne, not only is it caused by menopause, but it is also a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome which requires treatment.

Additionally, hormonal imbalances also dry your skin. During menopause, you can experience hormonal shifts that thin your skin, so it can’t hold the moisture as it used to and cause dry skin. It can also happen due to low thyroid function. You can get help from a dermatologist to improve your skin and for skin problems.

6. Sleep issues:

Several hormone imbalances can throw off your sleep cycle. One such hormone is cortisol. The research found people with high cortisol levels develop insomnia. High cortisol levels can also affect estrogen and progesterone levels which can impair sleep too.

During perimenopause or menopause, low estrogen levels can also trigger hot flashes and night sweats, both symptoms can disrupt your sleep and cause fatigue and lack of energy.

Thyroid imbalances can also affect your sleep cycle whether your thyroid is underactive or overactive.

7. Weight gain:

Many factors can lead to weight gain and one of them is hormonal imbalance. It happens because hormones affect your metabolism and appetite. When you suddenly gain weight even when you didn’t make any changes in your diet and workout routine then it’s a sign of hormonal imbalance. For women, menopause is often the reason for their weight gain. When hormonal changes happen in them, they start to gain weight, especially around the belly.

Other hormones can affect your weight too such as thyroid hormone. When your thyroid hormone production is low, it also lowers your metabolism. Similarly, high cortisol levels due to stress can lead to obesity and weight gain. Cortisol can increase your craving for sweet, fatty, and salty foods which leads to overeating.

8. Irregular periods:

Usually, women’s periods come every 21 to 35 days (about 1 month 4 and a half days). However, whether it doesn’t arrive at the same time every month or skips some months, depends on certain hormones (estrogen or progesterone being too high or too low.

Irregular periods happen around perimenopause, before hitting menopause, in your 40s and early 50s. However, it can also happen due to certain health problems such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

You should talk to your doctor when you experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, frequent urination, lower back pain, constipation, painful intercourse, etc.

9. Infertility:

Infertility can be caused by hormone imbalances especially when a woman crosses the age of 35. Their body naturally increases follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and reduces the luteinizing hormone (LH), the hormone that stimulates ovaries to release an egg and start causing fertility problems.

If you experience early menopause or other hormone-related conditions such as PCOS it also decreases your chances of getting pregnant.

• Loss of libido:

Most people think testosterone is mainly a male sex hormone however, both men and women need it. If your testosterone levels get too low, your sex drive may get lower.

Low libido is quite common in women while they go to perimenopause or menopause phase due to their falling levels of estrogen and testosterone. They also experience other menopausal symptoms such as night sweats, fatigue, low mood, and anxiety which also affect their sex life.

When to go to a doctor?

When you start experiencing any/some of the above-mentioned symptoms you should visit the doctor and start hormonal replacement therapy to manage your symptoms, especially during the perimenopause and menopause phases. However, if these signs happen earlier then it’s a sign of other hormone-related conditions such as PCOS and thyroid dysfunction which need early diagnosis and treatment to prevent further complications.

These are the top 10 signs of hormone deficiency that you may experience. While some signs are preventable, others need treatment to manage them. That’s why whenever you experience some of these signs, talk with your primary healthcare provider.

If you need help with your hormonal imbalance symptoms, visit our endocrinology clinic in Brooklyn for professional help. Call us on +1-347-384-5690 and get answers to 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.