Hormonal imbalance: Symptoms, causes, and treatment

Oct 09, 2023

Hormonal imbalances occur when there is too much or too little of a hormone in the blood. Symptoms depend on which hormone is out of balance and the person's natal sex. Common symptoms include weight changes, lower sex drive, and acne.

Hormones are chemicals produced by glands in the endocrine system. Hormones travel through the bloodstream to the tissues and organs, delivering messages that tell the organs what to do and when to do it.

Hormones are essential for regulating most major bodily processes, so a hormonal imbalance can affect many bodily functions. Hormones help to regulate:

Imbalances in insulin, steroids, growth hormones, and adrenaline can affect males and females alike.

Females may also experience imbalances in estrogen and progesterone levels, while males are more likely to experience imbalances in testosterone levels.

Learn more about a hormone imbalance here.

The symptoms of a hormonal imbalance can vary according to which gland is affected and whether the person is male or female.

In women, the symptoms more frequently include:

When a male has low testosterone levels, their symptoms will typically include:

Acne can occur due to the overproduction of oil in the skin's sebaceous glands. This excess oil can clog pores and attract bacteria that further inflame the skin.

The hormones testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone can affect the sebaceous glands in a person's skin. Some ways these hormones can influence acne include:

In addition, females who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are more likely to experience severe and persistent acne. Doctors think increased exposure to androgen hormones, such as testosterone, and resistance to insulin hormones may increase acne risks.

Learn more about hormonal acne here.

Hormone imbalances can affect several processes in the body that lead to weight gain. Some examples include:

Ideally, treating the underlying condition can help reduce weight gain related to hormonal imbalance.

Learn more about estrogen and weight gain here.

Pregnancy results in changing hormone levels to nourish a growing fetus. These include changing levels of the hormones progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone. While the hormone levels may be different, they are not necessarily unbalanced during pregnancy.

However, some hormones that increase during pregnancy can affect how a woman's body uses insulin. This can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes during pregnancy. Learn more about gestational diabetes here.

Male pattern hair loss has links to reduced androgen hormones, such as testosterone. For this reason, doctors also call male pattern hair loss androgenetic alopecia. This condition causes hair loss in the front and crown of the head.

However, not all males experience androgenetic alopecia even though their hormone levels change as they age. Doctors interpret this to mean that some men are genetically predisposed to hair loss.

Learn about female pattern hair loss here.

Testing for hormonal imbalances depends largely on what condition your doctor may think is causing your condition. Some of the tests a doctor may use include:

Some at-home testing kit companies may offer products that allow a person to take a test at home. These could include urine or blood tests. A person should ensure the company is reputable and uses certified laboratories to evaluate testing samples.

Learn about taking a hormone test at home.

Everyone will experience natural periods of hormonal imbalance or fluctuations at particular points in their lives. But hormonal imbalances can also occur when the endocrine glands are not functioning properly.

Endocrine glands are specialized cells that produce, store, and release hormones into the blood. There are several endocrine glands located throughout the body that control different organs, including the:

Several medical conditions can impact the endocrine glands. Certain lifestyle habits and environmental factors can also play a role in hormonal imbalances.Learn more about endocrine disorders here.

Medical conditions that can affect hormone production may but are not limited to:

Other causes of hormonal imbalance may include:

Females naturally experience several periods of hormonal imbalance throughout their lifetime, including:

Females are likely to develop different hormonal imbalance disorders than males because they have different endocrine organs and cycles.

Causes of hormonal imbalance in women include:

Males also experience natural periods of hormonal imbalance during their lifetime, including:

Men may develop different hormonal imbalances than women because they have different endocrine organs and cycles.

Medical conditions causing hormonal imbalances in men include, but are not limited to:

Learn how to balance hormones here.

Treatment for hormonal imbalances may vary depending on the cause. Every person may require different types of treatment for hormonal imbalances.

Treatment options for females with hormone imbalances include:

Treatment options for males with hormonal imbalances include:

Treatment options for hormonal imbalances include:

Metformin extended-release tablets should be taken with care and under the advice of a doctor. In May 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that some makers of metformin extended-release remove some of their tablets from the U.S. market. Further, in June 2021, Viona Pharmaceuticals, a maker of extended-release Metformin pulled their tablets from pharmacy shelves.

Each concern was because an unacceptable level of a probable carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) was found in some extended-release Metformin tablets. If you currently take this drug, call your healthcare provider. They will advise whether you should continue to take your medication or if you need a new prescription.

People have used natural supplements to treat hormonal imbalances for thousands of years.

However, clinical studies have not proven that any natural remedies can treat hormonal imbalances and their causes.

Natural supplements commonly used to reduce symptoms of hormonal imbalances include:

Before taking any natural or herbal treatment, a person should check with their doctor to ensure safety and avoid interaction side effects when taking with other medications.

Lifestyle changes that may help reduce the likelihood and symptoms of hormonal imbalances include:

Most people will experience at least one or two periods of hormonal imbalance during their lifetime.

Hormonal imbalances are more common during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, and aging. But some people experience continual, irregular hormonal imbalances.

Medical conditions that affect or involve the endocrine system or glands can lead to a hormone imbalance. However, external factors, such as stress or hormone medications, can also be a cause.

A person should speak to a doctor about long-term unexplained symptoms, especially those that cause pain, discomfort, or interfere with everyday activities.

Read this article in Spanish.