Our hormones are responsible for a lot of changes in our body. They change rapidly in the run up to the menopause, and even fluctuate day-to-day, depending on stress, our monthly cycle, and a whole host of other things.
They’re also responsible for keeping everything together, so when they’re working in harmony, it’s great. When they’re not however, you’ll probably notice it.
And while they’re certainly not the only thing that could be causing changes and problems in our body, they are likely to be one of the potential culprits.
As such, it’s always good to keep an eye on them and what they’re doing, as there definitely are some moments where it could be worth getting your hormones properly checked out – as this could be a sign of a more serious or underlying hormone imbalance problem that needs treatment.
So when, and why, would we need to get our hormones checked? And what are some of the key hormone imbalance symptoms?
1. If your periods are completely debilitating
If you feel completely normal during the first two weeks of your cycle, but struggle to even get out of bed when your period comes, you should definitely get your hormones checked out by the doctor.
Severe cramps and stomach pain around that time could mean something more serious – such as endometriosis, a condition that affects the lining of your womb.
Similarly, if you’re experiencing exceptionally heavy periods, this could be another sign that you may be suffering from the condition.
2. You’re experiencing low libido
Low levels of the hormone oestrogen could well be responsible for your declining sex drive. Symptoms include vaginal dryness and an unstable mood, which, inevitably, doesn’t lend itself well to getting intimate with your partner.
If you find yourself suffering from a low sex drive – and you’re not within, or approaching the menopause – you could well have imbalanced levels of the hormone. Oestrogen therapy is available and can certainly help, but of course, your doctor would first need to check your hormones to see whether or not this is the case. Get checked out if you’re feeling unsure.
3. If you’re feeling low, anxious or depressed
If your hormones are imbalanced, you could go through huge mood swings that leave you feeling confused and anxious.
While feeling anxious or stressed can of course be a symptom of a busy and hectic life, if there’s no evident reason for feeling this way, it could be worth checking your hormones and seeing if you can suss out the problem.
ALSO SEE: Signs of, and treatment for, depression
4. If you’ve noticed dry skin and brittle hair and nails
Low thyroid levels can cause changes in your skin, hair and nails, and if you notice these parts of your body suffering, it’s worth seeing your doctor to investigate whether or not it’s because of a thyroid problem.
5. If you’ve been feeling way more tired than usual
Much like the above reason, extreme fatigue (for no other reason that you’re aware of) could be as a result of a hormone imbalance.
Like your skin, feeling extremely tired could be linked to a problem with your thyroid – namely, hypothyroidism. This is an underactive thyroid, and it occurs when your thyroid isn’t producing enough of the hormones it needs to.
Although you can’t prevent an underactive thyroid from happening, it can often be successfully treated by taking daily hormone tablets, if yours isn’t regulating itself.
6. If you’ve noticed more fat around your middle than usual
The hormone insulin – yes, the same one associated with diabetes – could be responsible for a growing stomach. It’s the hormone responsible for allowing blood glucose to enter tissues in the body, and if it’s not working properly, an expanding waistline is one possible place you’ll notice it.
So if you’ve been eating healthily, exercising, and are perhaps experiencing other diabetes symptoms such as frequent urination, fatigue, and excessive thirst, you could well have an imbalance with your insulin hormone.
ALSO SEE: Everything you need to know about menopause
7. If you’re experiencing weight gain, hot flushes, muscle pain and changes in your menstrual cycle
If you recognise any of these, it could simply be that you are coming up to the menopause – a time when our hormones are as frazzled as we feel.
If you’re finding any, or all, of these symptoms completely debilitating, it’s worth chatting to your doctor and seeing if there are any treatments that can help you. A popular option is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which can help to ease some of the most severe symptoms.
