Reasons for Hormonal Imbalance

There are various reasons for hormonal imbalances, from an overactive or underactive thyroid to menopause, pregnancy, diet, physical activity, medications and stress. Fortunately, for those who stay informed about their bodies and keep an open dialogue with their physician, most hormonal imbalances can be corrected.

Thyroid Problems

• Either hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) or hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) can cause a hormonal imbalance. In hyperthyroidism, too much of the hormone thyroxine is produced and can cause symptoms such as rapid weight loss, a rapid heartbeat, tremors, nervousness, lack of appetite, insomnia, fatigue and goiters; in hypothyroidism, too little is produced, and obesity, heart problems, joint pain and infertility problems can result.

Menopause

• During menopause, hormone levels of estrogen and progesterone change dramatically, causing symptoms such as hot flashes, fat gain in the abdominal area, mood swings, hair loss or hair thinning, irregular periods and decreased fertility, among other ailments. (These hormonal changes can also take place during the perimenopausal and postmenopausal stages.) If symptoms are too intense, hormone therapy may help stabilize hormone levels.

Pregnancy or Post-Partum

• Throughout pregnancy and during the post-partum months, hormone levels fluctuate constantly and can take up to a year after birth to regulate. These changes in hormones can cause everything from mood swings and headaches to breast enlargement and digestive-tract upset, including nausea, vomiting and constipation. According to The Merck Manuals, the placenta causes a release of a hormone that can cause heart palpitations and hyperthyroidism, though the percentage of pregnant women this severely affected is quite low.

Lifestyle

• Medication, diet, a lack of physical activity and stress can all contribute to a hormonal imbalance. Long-term use of some medications, such as certain steroids, birth-control pills and pain medications can result in changes in hormone levels. Diets that are lacking in certain vitamins and minerals and are high in bad fats can cause hormones to fall out of balance. A lack of physical activity can cause anabolic hormones to decrease dramatically. Stress can also negatively affect hormone levels. Luckily, correcting the habit that has caused the imbalance should result in hormones rebalancing within a reasonable amount of time.

Hormone Abuse

• The use of anabolic steroids can be helpful in certain instances, such as in patients who have sustained serious injury or illness. However, when used for bodybuilding and athletic-performance enhancement they can cause an imbalance of hormones in the human body, resulting in aggressive behavior, mood swings, impaired judgment, acne, male-pattern baldness and even liver disease or death. Because of this, anabolic steroids should be taken only under the direct supervision of a licensed physician who can monitor the patient regularly.