The Importance of Hormone Balance
For men and women, the sex hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone perform several important processes. Both men and women begin to produce less of these hormones as they age, which can start as early as someone’s mid 20s or early 30s. Most women see a significant drop in estrogen and testosterone during menopause, while many men may experience a similar phenomenon relating to testosterone, known as andropause. Hormonal imbalances occur when there is too much or too little of a hormone in the bloodstream. Hormones are important for regulating most major bodily processes. Because of their essential role in the body, even the smallest hormonal imbalance can cause side effects throughout the body.
Hormone Imbalance Symptoms for Women:
- Fatigue
- Night sweats
- Hot flashes or flushes
- Decreased sex drive
- Weight gain
- Trouble sleeping
- Irritability
- Anxiousness
- Mood swings
- Low mood
- Discomfort during intercourse
- Joint and tendon pain
Hormone Imbalance Symptoms for Men:
- Low sex drive
- Fatigue
- Loss of muscle mass
- Increased body fat (especially in the waist area)
- Decreased bone mass
- Mood changes
- Low mood
- Irritability
- Brain fog
- Elevated blood sugar
- Stress
- Anxiousness
- High cholesterol
- Joint and tendon pain