Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) involves introducing external hormones into the body to balance out levels of estrogen and progesterone that may have gone awry. There are a number of factors that cause hormonal imbalance: amongst these are menopause, removal of the ovaries, obesity, stress, and a lack of vitamins B6 and magnesium.
During times of fluctuating or imbalanced hormones, women may experience a range of uncomfortable symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Symptoms include fatigue, hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, and mood swings. If you are experiencing severe symptoms of hormonal imbalance, you may want to consider HRT to treat them.
Keep reading to learn more about symptoms of hormonal imbalance to help you decide whether or not you should take HRT.
Do I Have a Hormonal Imbalance?
There are a number of different symptoms of hormonal imbalance, depending on which hormone is in deficiency or excess. The principle symptoms of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone imbalance are listed below. If you find that you are suffering from a number of the following symptoms, it is possible that you are suffering a hormonal imbalance.
Estrogen Imbalance
Symptoms of low estrogen levels include:
- Fatigue
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Memory lapses
- Difficulty concentrating
- Joint pain
- Vaginal dryness
- Dry skin
- Loss of libido
- Atherosclerosis
- Headaches or migraines
- Vaginal infection
- Arthritis
- Depression
- Panic attacks
- Low self-esteem
Symptoms of high estrogen levels include:
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Loss of libido
- Insomnia
- Weight gain
- Breast tenderness
- Irregular periods
- Water retention
- Hypoglycemia
Progesterone Imbalance
Symptoms of low progesterone levels include:
- Infertility
- Thyroid dysfunction or disorders
- Depression
- Fibrocystic breasts
- Weight gain
- Gallbladder disease
- Low blood sugar
- Panic attacks
- Water retention
- Irregular menstrual cycle
- Blood clots during menstruation
- Magnesium deficiency
- Vaginal dryness
- Breast tenderness
Symptoms of high progesterone levels include:
- Drowsiness
- Acne
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Weight gain
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal and urinary infections
- Loss of libido
- Headaches
- Incontinence
Testosterone Imbalance
Symptoms of low testosterone levels include:
- Depression
- Mood changes
- Lack of energy
- Decreased strength
- Weakened bones and muscles
- Increased fat storage
- Loss of libido
- Lack of sexual responsiveness
Symptoms of high testosterone levels include:
- Increased hair growth
- Deepening of the voice
- Change in body shape
- Skin problems
- Mood swings
- Baldness (in men)
Whether you should begin treatment for your symptoms using HRT or not is a personal decision. It should depend on your individual symptoms, their severity, and how you react to other treatments that might be available. However, when making the decision, it is important to keep in mind that there are a number of health risks associated with the HRT process.
For more information on HRT, its advantages and disadvantages, and alternative treatments for hormonal imbalance, click here.
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