Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMenstrual SymptomsSkin SymptomsDigestive SymptomsMood SymptomsWeight SymptomsHair SymptomsSleep SymptomsSex SymptomsFertility SymptomsMedication CausesTestsTreatmentNatural Remedies
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Menstrual Symptoms
Skin Symptoms
Digestive Symptoms
Mood Symptoms
Weight Symptoms
Hair Symptoms
Sleep Symptoms
Sex Symptoms
Fertility Symptoms
Medication Causes
Tests
Treatment
Natural Remedies
Hormones are chemical messengers that affect many body processes, such as sexual function, reproduction, metabolism, and mood. You can develop an imbalance due to natural hormonal transitions or certain medical conditions. This can lead to a variety of symptoms such as menstrual irregularities, skin changes, and weight fluctuations.
This article addresses hormonal imbalance symptoms, what causes them, and how to get them back in balance.
Jena Ardell / Getty Images
1. Hormonal Imbalance Menstrual Symptoms
Hormonal imbalance can lead to menstrual symptoms such as:
In addition to breastfeeding, pregnancy, and menopause, other conditions that can disrupthormones related to menstruationinclude:
Terms for Sex or GenderIn this article, “female/women” and “male/men” refer to people with the typical reproductive organs of cisgender females and males. Verywell Health recognizes that some people who identify as women or men do not have the same anatomy as described in this article. When research or a health authority is cited, the terms for sex or gender from the source are used.
Terms for Sex or Gender
In this article, “female/women” and “male/men” refer to people with the typical reproductive organs of cisgender females and males. Verywell Health recognizes that some people who identify as women or men do not have the same anatomy as described in this article. When research or a health authority is cited, the terms for sex or gender from the source are used.
2. Hormonal Imbalance Skin Symptoms
What Is a Hormonal Imbalance?Glands throughout your body make over 50 different hormones.Many of these hormones respond tofluctuationsin other hormones to maintain stability. Ahormonal imbalanceis when you have too little or too much of one or more hormones. Even a small imbalance can lead to big changes.
What Is a Hormonal Imbalance?
Glands throughout your body make over 50 different hormones.Many of these hormones respond tofluctuationsin other hormones to maintain stability. Ahormonal imbalanceis when you have too little or too much of one or more hormones. Even a small imbalance can lead to big changes.
3. Hormonal Imbalance Digestive Symptoms
Hormonal imbalance digestive symptomsmay include:
Sex hormones help regulate the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Estrogen and progesterone in particular may influenceirritable bowel syndrome (IBS).GI symptom changes related to the menstrual cycle are common.
Lessons in Gut Health: Why Balancing Bacteria Matters
4. Hormonal Imbalance Mood Symptoms
When estrogen levels drop during perimenopause, so doserotoninlevels.Serotonin is a chemical messenger (neurotransmitter) that helps brain and nervous system cells communicate. A drop in estrogen can also happen postpartum. These changes can result in symptoms such as:
Other hormonal conditions, such asoveractive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), can also cause mood symptoms.
5. Hormonal Imbalance Weight Symptoms
Weight changes are sometimes the result of a hormonal imbalance. For example, hormone changes due to menopause or having too much cortisol, as inCushing’s syndrome, can result inweight gain.Conditions such as hyperthyroidism can lead to weight loss.
6. Hormonal Imbalance Hair Symptoms
Hormones have a big impact on thehair growth cycle and hair follicle structure.Anything that affects your hormone levels can affect your hair, causing:
7. Hormonal Imbalance Sleep Symptoms
Hormonal imbalance sleep symptoms can include:
Poor sleep can make it 10 times more likely that you’ll develop depression.While hormonal imbalances can cause sleep problems, it’s also true that sleep problems can upset hormonal rhythms.
8. Hormonal Imbalance Sex Symptoms
Lowsexual desirecan be a symptom of a hormonal imbalance.
Endocrine (hormonal) abnormalities are common in people with sexual dysfunction. Several hormones, primarily testosterone, can affect the male sex drive.Estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone all help modulate sexual desire in females.
Other sex symptoms include:
9. Hormonal Imbalance Fertility Symptoms
Infertilityis defined as not being able to conceive after 12 months of regular sex without birth control.
Conception depends onovulation(release of an egg from an ovary). Ovulation depends on the timing of certain hormones, such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).Infrequent or irregular periods could mean that you’re not ovulating.
It’s rare, but hormonal imbalance due to low LH and FSH levels can cause fertility symptoms in males.
Medications That Cause Hormonal Imbalance Symptoms
Certain medications can also cause changes to hormone levels. Some of these are:
Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Hormonal Imbalance Symptoms
Hormones can get out of balance due to natural transitions in life, such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Many medical conditions also affect hormones. That’s why it’s important to see a healthcare provider and find the cause. Your specific symptoms and clinical examination will determine the next steps.
Hormone blood testsmay include:
How to Treat Hormonal Imbalance Symptoms
Treatment depends on the specific diagnosis.
For example, low estrogen and low progesterone in females can be treated withhormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT is typically used to treat menopausal symptoms. There are many ways to take it, including tablets, patches, and gels. It’s not for everyone, though. It may not be safe if you’ve had certain conditions, such as:
Hypothyroidism treatment usually involves taking synthetic hormones to substitute for those your thyroid can no longer make.Any underlying conditions, such as diabetes, must be treated as well.
Treatment for PCOSand some other conditions may require more than one type of therapy. In addition to balancing hormones, there are therapies to address particular symptoms.
Natural Ways to Balance Hormonal Imbalance Symptoms
You might be able to affect hormone levels through diet. Certain plants contain compounds that mimic estrogen. Foods that may help boost estrogen include:
Vitamins B and D can help boost estrogen, and a mineral calledboroncan help the body absorb estrogen and testosterone. If you’re considering taking dietary supplements, it’s a good idea to speak with a healthcare provider first.
Other natural ways to keep hormones in balance include:
Summary
Symptoms such as unexplained weight changes, menstrual irregularities, and skin problems may be related to hormonal imbalance. Natural changes, such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, can cause dramatic hormonal changes, as can medical conditions, such as thyroid problems and PCOS.
Hormonal imbalance is treatable, so it’s important to see a healthcare provider for diagnosis. Blood tests can usually determine if your levels are within the normal range.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Environmental Protection Agency.Overview of the endocrine system.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Hormones.Mulak A, Taché Y, Larauche M.Sex hormones in the modulation of irritable bowel syndrome.World J Gastroenterol.2014;20(10):2433-2448 doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i10.2433Columbia Health.Why do my bowel movements change when I get my period?.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Can menopause cause depression?.Kozakowski J, Gietka-Czernel M, Leszczyńska D, Majos A.Obesity in menopause—our negligence or an unfortunate inevitability?.Prz Menopauzalny. 2017;16(2):61-65. doi:10.5114/pm.2017.68594Hewagalamulage SD, Lee TK, Clarke IJ, Henry BA.Stress, cortisol, and obesity: a role for cortisol responsiveness in identifying individuals prone to obesity.Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2016;56(Suppl):S112-S120. doi:10.1016/j.domaniend.2016.03.004Ríos-Prego M, Anibarro L, Sánchez-Sobrino P.Relationship between thyroid dysfunction and body weight: a not so evident paradigm.Int J Gen Med. 2019;12:299-304. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S206983Hasan R, Juma H, Eid FA, Alaswad HA, Ali WM, Aladraj FJ.Effects of hormones and endocrine disorders on hair growth.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32726. doi:10.7759/cureus.32726Kim TW, Jeong JH, Hong SC.The impact of sleep and circadian disturbance on hormones and metabolism.Int J Endocrinol. 2015;2015:591729. doi:10.1155/2015/591729Corona G, Isidori AM, Aversa A, Burnett AL, Maggi M.Endocrinologic control of men’s sexual desire and arousal/erection.J Sex Med. 2016;13(3):317-337. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.01.007Cappelletti M, Wallen K. Increasing women’s sexual desire:The comparative effectiveness of estrogens and androgens.Horm Behav. 2016;78:178-193. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.11.003Endocrine Society.Reproductive infertility.National Health Service (U.K.).About hormone replacement therapy (HRT).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hypothyroidism (underachieve thyroid).UCLA Health.3 Ways to increase estrogen naturally.Additional ReadingAmerican Academy of Dermatology Association.Caring for your skin in menopause.National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD).Cushing syndrome.Office on Women’s Health.Period problems.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Environmental Protection Agency.Overview of the endocrine system.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Hormones.Mulak A, Taché Y, Larauche M.Sex hormones in the modulation of irritable bowel syndrome.World J Gastroenterol.2014;20(10):2433-2448 doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i10.2433Columbia Health.Why do my bowel movements change when I get my period?.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Can menopause cause depression?.Kozakowski J, Gietka-Czernel M, Leszczyńska D, Majos A.Obesity in menopause—our negligence or an unfortunate inevitability?.Prz Menopauzalny. 2017;16(2):61-65. doi:10.5114/pm.2017.68594Hewagalamulage SD, Lee TK, Clarke IJ, Henry BA.Stress, cortisol, and obesity: a role for cortisol responsiveness in identifying individuals prone to obesity.Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2016;56(Suppl):S112-S120. doi:10.1016/j.domaniend.2016.03.004Ríos-Prego M, Anibarro L, Sánchez-Sobrino P.Relationship between thyroid dysfunction and body weight: a not so evident paradigm.Int J Gen Med. 2019;12:299-304. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S206983Hasan R, Juma H, Eid FA, Alaswad HA, Ali WM, Aladraj FJ.Effects of hormones and endocrine disorders on hair growth.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32726. doi:10.7759/cureus.32726Kim TW, Jeong JH, Hong SC.The impact of sleep and circadian disturbance on hormones and metabolism.Int J Endocrinol. 2015;2015:591729. doi:10.1155/2015/591729Corona G, Isidori AM, Aversa A, Burnett AL, Maggi M.Endocrinologic control of men’s sexual desire and arousal/erection.J Sex Med. 2016;13(3):317-337. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.01.007Cappelletti M, Wallen K. Increasing women’s sexual desire:The comparative effectiveness of estrogens and androgens.Horm Behav. 2016;78:178-193. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.11.003Endocrine Society.Reproductive infertility.National Health Service (U.K.).About hormone replacement therapy (HRT).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hypothyroidism (underachieve thyroid).UCLA Health.3 Ways to increase estrogen naturally.Additional ReadingAmerican Academy of Dermatology Association.Caring for your skin in menopause.National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD).Cushing syndrome.Office on Women’s Health.Period problems.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Environmental Protection Agency.Overview of the endocrine system.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Hormones.Mulak A, Taché Y, Larauche M.Sex hormones in the modulation of irritable bowel syndrome.World J Gastroenterol.2014;20(10):2433-2448 doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i10.2433Columbia Health.Why do my bowel movements change when I get my period?.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Can menopause cause depression?.Kozakowski J, Gietka-Czernel M, Leszczyńska D, Majos A.Obesity in menopause—our negligence or an unfortunate inevitability?.Prz Menopauzalny. 2017;16(2):61-65. doi:10.5114/pm.2017.68594Hewagalamulage SD, Lee TK, Clarke IJ, Henry BA.Stress, cortisol, and obesity: a role for cortisol responsiveness in identifying individuals prone to obesity.Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2016;56(Suppl):S112-S120. doi:10.1016/j.domaniend.2016.03.004Ríos-Prego M, Anibarro L, Sánchez-Sobrino P.Relationship between thyroid dysfunction and body weight: a not so evident paradigm.Int J Gen Med. 2019;12:299-304. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S206983Hasan R, Juma H, Eid FA, Alaswad HA, Ali WM, Aladraj FJ.Effects of hormones and endocrine disorders on hair growth.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32726. doi:10.7759/cureus.32726Kim TW, Jeong JH, Hong SC.The impact of sleep and circadian disturbance on hormones and metabolism.Int J Endocrinol. 2015;2015:591729. doi:10.1155/2015/591729Corona G, Isidori AM, Aversa A, Burnett AL, Maggi M.Endocrinologic control of men’s sexual desire and arousal/erection.J Sex Med. 2016;13(3):317-337. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.01.007Cappelletti M, Wallen K. Increasing women’s sexual desire:The comparative effectiveness of estrogens and androgens.Horm Behav. 2016;78:178-193. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.11.003Endocrine Society.Reproductive infertility.National Health Service (U.K.).About hormone replacement therapy (HRT).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hypothyroidism (underachieve thyroid).UCLA Health.3 Ways to increase estrogen naturally.
Environmental Protection Agency.Overview of the endocrine system.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Hormones.
Mulak A, Taché Y, Larauche M.Sex hormones in the modulation of irritable bowel syndrome.World J Gastroenterol.2014;20(10):2433-2448 doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i10.2433
Columbia Health.Why do my bowel movements change when I get my period?.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Can menopause cause depression?.
Kozakowski J, Gietka-Czernel M, Leszczyńska D, Majos A.Obesity in menopause—our negligence or an unfortunate inevitability?.Prz Menopauzalny. 2017;16(2):61-65. doi:10.5114/pm.2017.68594
Hewagalamulage SD, Lee TK, Clarke IJ, Henry BA.Stress, cortisol, and obesity: a role for cortisol responsiveness in identifying individuals prone to obesity.Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2016;56(Suppl):S112-S120. doi:10.1016/j.domaniend.2016.03.004
Ríos-Prego M, Anibarro L, Sánchez-Sobrino P.Relationship between thyroid dysfunction and body weight: a not so evident paradigm.Int J Gen Med. 2019;12:299-304. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S206983
Hasan R, Juma H, Eid FA, Alaswad HA, Ali WM, Aladraj FJ.Effects of hormones and endocrine disorders on hair growth.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32726. doi:10.7759/cureus.32726
Kim TW, Jeong JH, Hong SC.The impact of sleep and circadian disturbance on hormones and metabolism.Int J Endocrinol. 2015;2015:591729. doi:10.1155/2015/591729
Corona G, Isidori AM, Aversa A, Burnett AL, Maggi M.Endocrinologic control of men’s sexual desire and arousal/erection.J Sex Med. 2016;13(3):317-337. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.01.007
Cappelletti M, Wallen K. Increasing women’s sexual desire:The comparative effectiveness of estrogens and androgens.Horm Behav. 2016;78:178-193. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.11.003
Endocrine Society.Reproductive infertility.
National Health Service (U.K.).About hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hypothyroidism (underachieve thyroid).
UCLA Health.3 Ways to increase estrogen naturally.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Caring for your skin in menopause.National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD).Cushing syndrome.Office on Women’s Health.Period problems.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Caring for your skin in menopause.
National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD).Cushing syndrome.
Office on Women’s Health.Period problems.
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