Little Known Signs of a Potential Hormone Imbalance

When it comes to the female body – hormones run the show. 

There’s the obvious role of hormones in pregnancy, periods, menopause, and anything having to do with reproductive health, but hormones do much more than that. 

Your hormonal, or endocrine, system is essential for countless processes in the human body including (but certainly not limited to) regulating your circadian rhythm, metabolism, and mood. When your hormones are out of balance, it creates a domino effect that can impact your overall health and well-being. 

Sometimes these symptoms can be elusive or not obviously connected to your hormones, making it that much more difficult to treat an imbalance.

Education is the first step to advocating for yourself for better healthcare. That’s why we’re diving into different symptoms that may be indicative of a hormone imbalance – and how to treat them.

Vision Changes

Hormones can impact your vision and eye health in a variety of ways. Estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate throughout the female reproductive cycle and overall life. Changes in these hormones can affect the eyes’ oil glands which may lead to more dryness. 

Estrogen can also affect the cornea, giving it more elasticity and affecting how light travels into the eye. You may notice changes to your vision if you go on or off of hormonal birth control, become pregnant, or are going through menopause. Vision changes may also be indicative of a more serious condition like diabetes or Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disease that leads to hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).

Excessive Sweating

Sweating is a normal part of biology, and some people sweat more than others. That being said, if you’re experiencing an abnormal amount of sweating for your body or if you start to experience night sweats, it may be a symptom of a hormonal imbalance.

This is more common for people who are perimenopause, or who are starting to go through menopause. Menopause itself is not a hormonal imbalance, but it does cause changes to your hormones that can lead to a wide range of symptoms. 

It may also be linked to hyperthyroidism. Sweating is a common symptom for those with an overactive thyroid and may be due to a poor temperature regulation – which is one role of the thyroid. 

Thinning Hair

Hair and hormones go hand in hand. That’s why it’s so common for people to experience postpartum hair loss. Hair loss can also be common in menopause.

People with certain hormonal disorders may also notice thinning hair or shedding. This can be due to an abnormal thyroid, especially an underactive thyroid like in the case of hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s disease. 

Cold Hands and Feet

Coldness, especially in the hands and feet is more common in females because of changing levels. Estrogen, which is more prevalent in females, can lower their body temperature, slow blood flow to the hands and feets, and cause heat to dissipate. That’s one of the reasons women, and AFAB (assigned female at birth) folks seem to be more cold, more often. 

An estrogen imbalance that causes high levels of the hormone may also cause someone to have consistently cold hands and feet. 

Hypothyroidism, which causes low thyroid function, is one of the most common causes of consistent coldness. Thyroid hormones help to normalize body temperature by increasing the metabolism. When the thyroid is underactive, this process doesn’t work as well as it should.

Bigger Eyes

Graves’ disease can also affect the eyes in a condition called Graves’ eye disease (GED), or thyroid eye disease (TED). This is when swelling around the eyes causes them to bulge out. About one in three people with Graves’ disease develop this condition.

GED can lead to other uncomfortable symptoms like:

• Double vision
• Light sensitivity
• Difficulty moving your eyes
• Pressure or pain in the eyes
• Difficulty closing the eyes all the way
• Puffy eyelids
• Irritated, gritty, red, or dry eyes

Changes To Your Bowel Habits

Hormones also have an impact on how much and often you poop. There’s a hormone-like substance called prostaglandins that help to stimulate the smooth muscles of your uterus during labor and menstruation. If your body has too many prostaglandins, they can enter your bloodstream and impact other smooth muscles in your body, including your bowels – which may cause you to poop more.

Thyroid issues can also impact your gut and bowel habits. Hypothyroidism can often lead to constipation, while hyperthyroidism more commonly causes loose stools or diarrhea. 

Treating a Hormonal Imbalance

The first step to treatment is getting a diagnosis. Your healthcare provider will likely perform various diagnostic tests that test your hormones, as well as take inventory of whatever symptoms you’re experiencing to give you an accurate diagnosis. 

Hormone imbalances can be linked to a wide range of conditions like:

• Thyroid disorders
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• Diabetes
• Autoimmune disorders like Addison’s disease

Because these conditions are so different, treatment will vary depending on the cause of a hormonal imbalance as well as the individual and their needs. Some potential treatment options could include hormone replacement therapy, medication, surgery, radiation, and lifestyle changes like managing stress and eating a specific diet. Your medical team can help create the right treatment plan for you. 

Hormonal imbalances can greatly impact your health and your day-to-day life. While some are genetically linked or non-preventable, there are steps you can take to help care for your hormonal health, before you start experiencing symptoms:

• Getting quality sleep every night 
• Eating a healthy, balanced diet
• Managing your stress levels
• Getting enough physical activity
• Avoiding tobacco or nicotine products
• Managing any chronic health conditions

This article is not intended to be taken as a substitute for medical advice – especially with something as complex as your hormonal health. If you suspect that you may have a hormone imbalance, the first step is to seek out a medical professional or expert, like an endocrinologist, who can give you proper testing to see what’s going on beneath the hood.