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Your body has more than 50 different hormones, chemical messengers that control the majority of your body’s functions. Your organs and tissues release hormones, which then direct them to their intended destinations, regulating processes such as metabolism, sexual function, mood, and reproduction.
Each hormone is like a different instrument in an orchestra. If even one instrument is out of tune, you’ll notice the imbalance and disharmony pretty quickly. So, when your hormones aren’t balanced, your overall wellness can be significantly impacted.
A common indicator of a hormonal imbalance is unexplained weight gain, especially if you haven’t made any noteworthy changes to your everyday habits.
At the Center for Women’s Health in Sugar Land and Richmond, Texas, our team understands how frustrating it can be to deal with unexplained weight gain or other health changes right before the holiday season.
So, we’re exploring what could be behind your off-kilter hormones and how we can help in this month’s blog.
Common causes of hormone imbalances
Our hormones tend to fluctuate at different times in our lives. Puberty, pregnancy, and menstruation can all cause spikes and drops in certain hormones, such as estrogen, and lead to telltale hormonal symptoms, including changes in sex drive, vaginal dryness, mood swings, and hair and skin changes.
However, as you get older and you approach menopause (perimenopause), that hormonal roller coaster can become more aggressive and noticeable. Drops in estrogen levels can lead to hot flashes, insomnia, irritability, and gut changes. Weight gain is also commonly part of low estrogen due to perimenopause, since your metabolism starts to slow down.
Other hormone-related issues that can lead to weight gain and decreased overall wellness include polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), hypothyroidism, and Cushing’s syndrome.
How to address hormone imbalances
The first step in addressing hormonal imbalances and any subsequent symptoms is discovering the underlying cause. While finding the root cause isn’t always possible, running tests and gathering as much information as possible allows us to create an effective treatment plan.
If your symptoms are caused by low estrogen due to aging or perimenopause, undergoing BioTe® hormone replacement therapy can boost your hormone levels in a natural way, which reduces your uncomfortable symptoms as a result.
If you have irregular insulin or other appetite-related hormones, you can go through our medical weight management program, which can include prescription weight loss medications to balance those appetite hormones.
No matter what’s causing your hormone imbalance, our Center for Women’s Health team is here to help. Schedule an appointment to assess your hormones so you can enjoy the holiday season by calling your nearest office location or using our online booking feature today.