Effects of Hormone Imbalance

Hormones are chemicals that work together to regulate your body's systems and organs, and their functions. They all can be impacted if there is too much or too little of any one hormone. The imbalance also has an effect on you.

Symptoms

• Common symptoms associated with hormone imbalance related to menopause include fatigue, hot flashes, weight gain, insomnia, loss of libido, headaches, joint pain, depression, mood swings, hair loss, dizziness, osteoporosis and fibrocystic breasts. (It is important to note that hormonal imbalance does not affect only women.) If your hormone imbalance is chronic, it can result in more rapid aging, an impaired immune system and a higher risk of disease. A thyroid that is not functioning properly results primarily in fatigue and cold intolerance.

Immune System

• Your immune system can be compromised if you have an imbalance in testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, thyroid or adrenal hormones. Estrogen can cause a decrease in thyroid hormone production, which results in a deficiency in your thyroid. Your thyroid hormones prompt your immune cells to become active. In addition, the adrenal glands can produce an excessive amount of cortisol, which decreases the function of your immune system and inhibits your body's immune response.

Estrogen Dominance

• According to John R. Lee, a medical doctor and the author of numerous books related to hormone imbalance, including "Natural Progesterone: The Multiple Roles of a Remarkable Hormone," estrogen dominance is a condition where there is too little progesterone to balance the amount of estrogen. In such cases estrogen can be harmful to your body and cause problems such as allergies, dry eyes, fatigue, insomnia and memory loss. It can also lead to other conditions including lupus, breast cancer, uterine cancer, stroke, prostate cancer and gallbladder disease. Progesterone may be used to correct the balance for both men and women. Testosterone helps to correct the balance for men.

Xeno-Hormones

• Xeno-hormones are synthetic hormones that are very similar to estrogen and can cause a hormonal imbalance. These chemical hormones are found in many everyday products, making them extremely difficult to avoid. They may be found in plastic wraps, plastic water bottles and food containers, hair spray, body lotion, shampoo and conditioner, nail polish and paper products. They are used to treat lumber and are often added to foods such as dairy and meat products. You may also get them from pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables. This means that a hormone imbalance can occur at any age.

Natural vs. Synthetic Hormones

• The difference between a natural hormone and a synthetic hormone is whether it can be found in nature or is artificially produced. Hormones that are produced from plants would be considered natural even though they are processed in a laboratory. An example of such a natural hormone is estrogen that is taken from soybeans or wild yams and is made available by prescription. Hormone replacement therapy is often linked to cancer, most likely due to the use of synthetic hormones. Lee recommends that only bio-identical (natural) hormones be given to patients, and only to those who really need them, in doses that are just enough to restore their normal levels.

Considerations

• For your own health and safety, you should be aware of the hormone products you are taking. If you are not certain, ask your doctor about your medication and how it is made. Herbal remedies may not be advisable as they are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Before taking any such remedies you should consult your doctor as they may cause adverse reactions with other medications you are taking.