We need our hormones. Hormones are the body’s messengers, telling it how to regulate mood, energy, metabolism, sleep, reproduction, and everything else that our body needs to survive and function optimally. Hormonal shifts occur in everyone daily; when you eat, sleep, get stressed, or even laugh, our bodies adjust the hormones accordingly. For women, hormonal fluctuations occur regularly as part of their menstrual cycle, but this also leaves women open to more cases of hormonal imbalance.
Women & Hormonal Imbalance
Around 80% of women have a hormonal imbalance of some kind, most are not even aware of it, and for some, the condition comes and goes. They are, however, aware of the symptoms of hormonal imbalance—irregular periods, hair loss, mood swings, weight gain, infertility—they just don’t know what’s causing it. Even a slight shift can have a powerful impact on your overall health. Stress, diet, thyroid conditions, even injury or trauma can cause hormonal imbalances.
Hallmark Signs of Hormonal Imbalance
In women, a telltale sign of a hormonal imbalance is heavy or irregular periods, missed periods, or a period that doesn’t stop. Women may suddenly begin to experience hirsutism, a condition in which excessive hair begins growing on the face, chin, next, chest, back, and other parts of the body. (Be sure to note that a few stray hairs here or there is something every human can expect and isn’t a sign of hormonal imbalance). Hyperpigmentation is a darkening of the skin and can occur for many reasons. In a hormonal imbalance, patients typically notice a darkening of the skin around the neck, beneath the breasts, armpits, or groin. If you’ve experienced any of these classic symptoms, make an appointment through DocLynk or your HealthLynked Profile right away.
What to Do for Hormonal Imbalances
There’s currently no hard and fast test specifically for a hormonal imbalance. If your doctor suspects a hormonal imbalance in you, they’ll likely order blood tests to measure your levels of estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol. Additional pap smears and pelvic exams may be required. Be sure that you’re using Oohvie to track any symptoms, abnormal or otherwise. Because hormones cover a lot of ground in the human body, it can be challenging to discern what symptoms are due to a hormonal imbalance or something else. Consider using one of HealthLynked’s in-home testing kits for fertility and menstrual mapping combined with your Oohvie data to give your doctor the most information possible about your specific condition.
