SYMPTOMS OF A HORMONE IMBALANCE

• Weight Changes

• Mood Swings• Brain Fog

YOUR HORMONES, YOUR HEALTHFeeling bloated, irritable, or

just not your best? A hormone imbalance could be to blame.

Hormones are chemical “messengers” that impact the

way your cells and organs function. It’s normal for your

levels to shift at different times of your life, such as

before and during your period or a pregnancy, or during

menopause. But some medications and health issues

can cause them to go up or down, too.

IRREGULAR PERIODSMost women’s

periods come every 21 to 35 days. If yours doesn’t arrive around the same time every month, or you

skip some months, it might mean that you have too much or too

little of certain hormones (estrogen and progesterone). If

you’re in your 40s or early 50s -- the reason can be per menopause -- the time before menopause. But

irregular periods can be a symptom of health problems like

polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Talk to your doctor.

SLEEP PROBLEMSIf you aren’t getting enough shut-eye, or if the sleep you

get isn’t good, your hormones could be at play.

Progesterone, a hormone released by your ovaries,

helps you catch Zzz's. If your levels are lower than usual, that can make it hard to fall

and stay asleep. Low estrogen can trigger hot flashes and night sweats, both of which can make it tough to get the

rest you need.

CHRONIC ACNE

A breakout before or during your period is normal. But acne that won’t clear up

can be a symptom of hormone problems. An excess of androgens

(“male” hormones that both men and women have) can

cause your oil glands to overwork. Androgens also affect the skin cells in and around your hair follicles. Both of those things can

clog your pores and cause acne.

MEMORY FOGExperts aren’t sure exactly how

hormones impact your brain. What they do know is that changes in estrogen and

progesterone can make your head feel “foggy” and make it harder for you to remember things. Some experts think

estrogen might impact brain chemicals called

neurotransmitters. Attention and memory problems are especially common during pri -menopause and menopause. But they can also be a symptom of other

hormone-related conditions, like thyroid disease. Let your doctor

know if you're having trouble thinking clearly.

BELLY PROBLEMS

Your gut is lined with tiny cells called receptors that respond to estrogen and

progesterone. When these hormones are higher or lower than usual, you might notice

changes in how you're digesting food. That’s why

diarrhea, stomach pain, bloating, and nausea can

crop up or get worse before and during your period. If

you’re having digestive woes as well as issues like acne and fatigue, your hormone

levels might be off.

ONGOING FATIGUE

Are you tired all the time? Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of a

hormone imbalance. Excess progesterone can make you sleepy. And if your thyroid -- the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck -- makes too little thyroid hormone, it can sap your energy. A

simple blood test called a thyroid panel can tell you if your levels are too low. If

they are, you can get treated for that

MOOD SWINGS AND DEPRESSION

Researchers think drops in hormones or fast

changes in their levels can cause moodiness and

the blues. Estrogen affects key brain

chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and

norepinephrine. But other hormones, that travel the

same paths as neurotransmitters, also play a part in how you

feel

APPETITE AND WEIGHT GAIN

When you’re feeling blue or irritated, as you

can be when your estrogen levels dip, you may want to eat more.

That might be why drops in the hormone are linked to weight

gain. The estrogen dip can also impact your

body’s levels of leptin, a hunger-revving

hormone.

HEADACHES

Lots of things can trigger these. But for some women, drops in estrogen bring them on. That’s why it’s common for headaches to strike right before or during your period,

when estrogen is on the decline. Regular headaches or ones that often surface

around the same time each month can be a clue that

your levels of this hormone might be shifting.

LOSS OF LIBIDO

Most people think of testosterone as a

male hormone, but women’s bodies make

it, too. If your testosterone levels

are lower than usual, you might have less of an interest in sex than

you usually do.

BREAST CHANGES

A drop in estrogen can make your breast

tissue less dense. And an increase in the

hormone can thicken this tissue, even

causing new lumps or cysts. Talk to your

doctor if you notice breast changes, even if you don’t have any other symptoms that

concern you.

VAGINAL DRYNESS

It's normal to have this occasionally. But if you often notice that you're

dry or irritated down there, low estrogen may

be the reason. The hormone helps vaginal tissue stay moist and comfortable. If your

estrogen drops because of an imbalance, it can reduce vaginal fluids and cause tightness.