Hormone Imbalance Symptoms in Women: Which Test Is Right?

By Jordan Stachel, MS, RDN, CPT

Many women experience hormone imbalances. The causes of these imbalances vary, and there can be symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances. Dealing with symptoms can be uncomfortable, and it is crucial to identify the root cause of the symptoms. There are several tests that you can take to measure hormones in the body. Read this article to learn more.

What Are Hormonal Imbalances?

Hormones have several functions and roles in the body. They help to carry messages to the tissues and send signals to tell the body how to function best. Hormonal imbalances occur when there is too much or too little of any hormone.

Hormonal imbalances are important to address because they can cause issues for women and can cause other medical conditions to arise or worsen if left undiagnosed or untreated. Hormones work specifically within the endocrine system in the body. If this system is disrupted due to hormonal imbalances, women can be at risk for several other medical conditions. Some of these include:

• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis
• Thyroid disorders
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

It should also be noted that having these conditions can cause hormonal imbalances to occur, so optimizing health with a whole-person approach is essential.

What Are Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalances?

There can be many different symptoms of hormonal imbalances in women due to the number of functions hormones play in the body. This is why it is so important to get your hormone levels tested to ensure that the symptoms you are experiencing are due to a hormonal imbalance and not from some other cause.

Some symptoms of hormonal imbalances in women can include:

• Weight changes. Since hormones can impact metabolism, hormonal imbalances may lead to unexplained weight changes, or weight changes may take place due to changes in gastric functioning, like having diarrhea or constipation.
• Mood changes, like feeling more depressed or anxious.
• Tiredness or increased feelings of fatigue.
• Changes to heart rate, either too slow or too fast.
• Skin tags.
• Changes to skin tone, skin hydration, or skin temperature.
• Having extreme thirst.
• Acne.
• Changes to the menstrual cycle.
• Hair loss.
• Vaginal dryness or lack of desire for sexual activity.

While it is normal for hormone levels to fluctuate during the menstrual cycle and during specific life stages, such as pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause, it is essential to have these levels tested if you suspect you may be experiencing symptoms of a hormone imbalance (either during these times or at other times). A healthcare provider can help you get to the root cause of why you are experiencing these symptoms and determine if hormone imbalances are to blame.

What Can Cause Hormonal Imbalance?

There can be several causes of hormonal imbalances in women. Getting to the root cause with the help of a care provider is important to ensure that your overall health and well-being are being taken into consideration. Some causes of hormonal imbalances can include:

• Addison’s disease is a rare condition that causes hormonal imbalances as the body does not make enough of certain hormones. This disease usually happens slowly over time, and symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and upset stomach are often associated with it.
• Eating disorders. Disordered eating can cause changes to hormones, specifically the reproductive hormones, including estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone. This requires care and treatment with a team of qualified providers to help remedy and/or improve.
• Diabetes can cause hormone imbalances, as diabetes occurs when the body can’t or isn’t using insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone in the body that helps to regulate blood sugar levels.
• Thyroid diseases. The thyroid gland affects several hormones in the body. Issues with the thyroid, whether it is overactive or underactive, can cause hormonal imbalances to occur.

What Kind of Tests Are for Hormonal Imbalances?

Hormonal imbalance symptoms in women may leave you wondering which test is right to take to get started. If you think that you may have a hormonal imbalance, a healthcare provider will likely order blood tests to see where your hormone levels are. Additionally, several factors contribute to hormone testing, which can impact the results. Some of these include:

• Age, if you are pre- or post-menopausal
• If you have a regular menstrual cycle
• If you are breastfeeding or postpartum
• If you are taking or have recently taken hormonal birth control

If you are in perimenopause or are post-menopausal, it is still possible to have a blood test done to check hormone levels; a healthcare provider may just be looking at different hormones than those in a premenopausal woman.

Many different hormones can be tested for in a blood hormone test. A healthcare provider may look at follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, estrogen, and/or thyroid hormones.

During a blood test to measure your hormones, the process will look the same as any other blood test. There are no outsized risks associated with taking a hormone blood test, and it is usually completed within a few minutes. Everlywell offers an at-home women’s health test for hormones and wellness. This test measures eleven biomarkers (ten hormones and one antibody) that can help paint a picture of whether you have any hormonal imbalances.

The hormones measured in this at-home test option include:

• Estradiol: This is the main form of estrogen that is measured.
• Progesterone: This is a hormone that helps stimulate the lining of the uterus.
• Luteinizing hormone: This hormone helps to control the production of eggs and sperm.
• Follicle-stimulating hormone: This hormone helps with the maturation of the ovarian follicles.
• Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS): This hormone acts as a precursor to other hormones in the body.
• Cortisol: This is the body’s major stress hormone.
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): This hormone is responsible for controlling some of the other thyroid hormones and keeping them in balance.
• Triiodothyronine (Free T3): This hormone is the most active thyroid hormone.
• Thyroxine (Free T4): This is the more dominant hormone of the thyroid gland.
• Free testosterone: This is the amount of testosterone in the body that is not bound to any proteins.

Ultimately, it is recommended to get your hormones drawn if you are experiencing any symptoms of hormonal imbalance. This is a straightforward, simple step toward seeing why you are experiencing undesirable symptoms and whether a hormonal imbalance is to blame. If you begin by using Everlywell’s at-home testing option, you can take this blood test from the comfort of your own home. Your results are then sent for analysis, and a qualified care provider will be in touch with the next steps toward the optimization of your health and well-being.

How to Balance Hormones

Once you get to the bottom of why you are experiencing a hormonal imbalance, you can work with a provider to come up with a personalized treatment plan. There are several treatment options, including:

• Hormonal replacement
• Oral medication
• Optimizing diet and lifestyle
• Managing stress
• Adjusting your exercise routine
• Surgery
• Management of other health conditions
• Optimizing sleep hygiene
• Limiting the use of drugs and alcohol

Overall, the cause of the imbalance determines the treatment, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to the balancing of hormones.

Take Control of Your Hormonal Health Today

Living with a hormonal imbalance may feel confusing or isolating. The good news is that you do not have to get to the bottom of it alone. If you are experiencing symptoms of a hormone imbalance, consider taking an EverlyWell hormone panel test to get started today. This is a good place to start, as it is an easy and objective step that will provide you with data points to work with. From there, you can better determine why your hormones are imbalanced and the best steps for you to take toward health optimization. Take control of your hormonal health today with Everlywell.