What happens in a woman's body when there is a hormonal imbalance?
Hormonal balance is key to a woman's health, well-being, and overall energy. Imbalance occurs when certain hormones drop or rise outside of optimal ranges.
Estrogen and progesterone are the most important female sex hormones. Women also have testosterone, but in much lower amounts than men (the exception may be PCOS, where testosterone is often elevated)¹.
When these sex hormones are out of balance, it’s rarely just about them. Research confirms that the causes of hormonal imbalances are often also related to adrenal function, thyroid, liver, gut microbiome, and lifestyle, including chronic stress².
Therefore, it is important to address hormonal imbalance comprehensively, focusing not only on female sex hormones, but on the entire body system.
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The most common causes of hormonal imbalance:
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Chronic stress, fatigue and poor sleep³
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Thyroid disorders (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism)⁴
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Insulin resistance, PCOS¹
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Long-term use of hormonal contraception⁵
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Inadequate nutrition and impaired digestion (gut dysbiosis)⁶
Symptoms of sex hormone imbalance:
Increased estrogen⁷:
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Fibrocystic breasts
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Weight gain (especially hips and thighs)
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Heavy, painful, or irregular menstruation
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Migraines or headaches
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Significant mood swings, irritability
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Sensitive to painful breasts
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Bloating and water retention
Low estrogen⁸:
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Night sweats and hot flashes
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Depression and anxiety
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Vaginal dryness, decreased libido
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Sleep disorders (insomnia)
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Incontinence
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Hair loss or thinning
Increased progesterone⁹:
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Increased sensitivity and moodiness
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Easy crying
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Breast tenderness
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Fatigue to exhaustion
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Headaches
Low progesterone¹⁰:
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Fibrocystic breasts
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Mid-cycle spotting
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Anxiety, irritability, moodiness
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Insomnia and trouble falling asleep
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Menstrual cramps
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Heavy, painful, or irregular menstruation
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Difficulty getting pregnant
If you identify with several of the symptoms from the list above, your body is probably showing signs of hormonal imbalance.
Diagnosis of hormonal imbalance includes¹¹:
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Blood tests (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, thyroid hormones)
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Symptom consultation and a comprehensive lifestyle view
The key to healthy hormones is a comprehensive approach with an emphasis on supporting the ovaries, adrenals, thyroid, digestion, and psychological well-being².
Clinical studies and expert resources:
¹ Goodman, N.F., et al. (2015)
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists guidelines on PCOS diagnosis and management.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26459710/
² Cleveland Clinic (2023)
Hormonal Imbalance in Women.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22673-hormonal-imbalance
³ Mariotti, A. (2015)
The effects of chronic stress on health: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of brain-body communication.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26076852/
⁴ Chaker, L., et al. (2017)
Hypothyroidism: Clinical overview and management.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28740582/
⁵ Dragoman, MV, & Tepper, NK (2019)
Hormonal contraception and health risks.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30878521/
⁶ Kunc, M., & Gabrych, A. (2022)
Gut microbiota dysbiosis and hormone-related disorders.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35955406/
⁷ Del Rio, JP, et al. (2018)
Steroid hormones and their action in women's brains: the importance of hormonal balance.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30494163/
⁸ Santoro, N., & Randolph, J. F. (2011)
Reproductive hormones and the menopause transition.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21961713/
⁹ Sitruk-Ware, R. (2020)
Pharmacology of progestins and progesterone.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32209568/
¹⁰ Prior, J.C. (2018)
Progesterone for the prevention and treatment of menstrual cycle-related issues.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29550144/
¹¹ Vannuccini, S., et al. (2016)
Diagnosis of endocrine disorders: Hormone assays and tests in endocrinology.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27811819/
