We often hear women complaining about hormonal imbalance. But what does it mean? Hormones are chemicals released by the glands into the blood to carry out various functions. While more than 50 hormones are released in the body, sex hormones are different for both men and women. For instance, the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone released by the ovaries are responsible for regulating periods and maintaining pregnancy. While some hormone levels keep changing with age, fluctuations in other hormones may require medical attention. You will be surprised to know around 50% of women experience hormonal imbalance at least once in their lives, which affects their overall health.   

What are the signs of hormonal imbalance in women?

The signs of hormonal imbalance can vary for each individual. However, the most common signs include:

• Mood swings
• Hot flashes
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss or gain
• Inability to sleep (insomnia)
• Irregular periods (missing, frequent or stopped periods)
• Increased menstrual cramps (pain in the abdomen, lower back and legs)
• Low sex drive (low libido)
• Vaginal dryness
• Increased hair growth on the face, chest and back (hirsutism)
• Thinning of hair and hair loss
• Drying of skin
• Persistent acne
• Pain or stiffness in the joints
• Weak bones
• Infertility 

What are the causes of hormonal imbalance?

Some of the common causes of hormonal imbalance in women include:

1. Menopause: Most women attain menopause in the age group of 45 to 55 years. Menopause occurs when the ovaries stop releasing eggs and the body stops producing sex hormones, resulting in a hormonal imbalance. 

2. Stress: Research shows that excessive stress can prevent the release of eggs from the ovaries (anovulation), ultimately resulting in absence of periods (amenorrhoea). 

3. Pregnancy: Women experience a dramatic rise in estrogen and progesterone levels after getting pregnant. These hormones help in sustaining the pregnancy and nourish the baby. This is a temporary change as the levels of hormones get back to normal after the baby is delivered.

4. Thyroid disorders: Studies show that hypothyroidism lowers the levels of estradiol, a type of estrogen that helps women conceive. It has also been found that abnormally high or low levels of thyroid hormone can cause irregular, heavy or absence of periods.  

5. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): PCOS is a condition in which the ovaries start producing excessive male sex hormones (androgens), thus resulting in an imbalance.

Recommended read: Menopause: The different stages

How to deal with hormonal imbalance?

Self-management measures that can help in dealing with hormonal imbalance in women include: 

• Managing weight: Research shows that losing even 10% of their current body weight can help in the regulation of periods and increase the likelihood of getting pregnant. Practise any moderate-intensity exercise such as brisk walking, cycling, or swimming for 30 minutes, 5 days a week to maintain a healthy weight.
• Making dietary changes: Adding soybeans, chickpeas, lentils, flaxseeds, whole grains, fruits, and green vegetables to the diet can help reduce the frequency of hot flashes. Avoid the consumption of sugary foods and beverages as they can add extra kilos. 
•  Getting enough sleep: Sleep for at least 7 to 8 hours a day to ensure overall well-being.
  
• Dealing with hot flashes: Avoid the consumption of hot beverages, caffeine, spicy food, and alcohol as they can trigger hot flashes. Practice deep breathing, meditation, and stay in a cooler environment to reduce the frequency of hot flashes to almost half. 
• Relieving vaginal dryness: Use estrogen vaginal gels or rings that can be applied inside the vagina to reduce dryness.  
• Improving mental health: Practice mindfulness, and meditation, and indulge in things that give you joy as it would help in reducing stress and keep your hormone levels balanced. 
  

Recommended read: Health Tips For Women Living With PCOS

Medical therapies that can help manage the hormonal imbalance are:

• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): In HRT, the affected woman is given supplements of progesterone and estrogen to maintain bone health, skin temperature, vaginal moistness, and relieve hot flashes and mood swings.
• Hormonal birth control: Doctors may prescribe estrogen and/or progesterone-containing medications to regulate the period cycle and relieve symptoms such as acne and unwanted hair growth.
• Androgen-blockers: In some cases, the doctor may also prescribe anti-androgen medicines to block the activity of androgens, which are otherwise responsible for acne, hair loss, and unwanted facial hair growth.

While for most women hormonal imbalance is temporary, some of them may need medical attention. Women experiencing signs of hormonal imbalance should consult a gynaecologist for further investigation.

Consult An Apollo Gynaecologist

Medically reviewed by Dr Sonia Bhatt.