Common Hormonal Imbalance Symptoms

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Last Reviewed: Thyroid & Hormone Balance

Estrogen and Progesterone are generally regarded as the female sex hormones, although women also have testosterone, but it is in lower amounts than men (except in PCOS). When your sex hormones are out of balance, they are rarely alone. In fact, your hormonal imbalance symptoms may stem from issues with your adrenals, thyroid, gut, liver, diet or lifestyle factors.

Because of this, I rarely, if ever, address only female sex hormones when seeking to restore balance.

Common Hormonal Imbalance Symptoms Include:

  • Weight gain
  • Hair loss
  • Irregular menstrual cycles
  • Anxiety,
  • Fibrocystic breast
  • PMS
  • Cold intolerance
  • Painful menses
  • Insomnia
  • Joint pain/ Muscle aches
  • Easily stressed
  • Blood sugar imbalances
  • Low libido

As you can imagine, balancing your sex hormones requires a multi-system approach that considers you as a whole person. I'd also add that it requires listening to what the body is telling you, which is why I feel my patient's experience is so valuable.

Sex Hormone Imbalance Symptoms Include:

High Estrogen

  • Fibrocystic breasts
  • Weight gain
  • Heavy or irregular menses
  • Headache
  • Mood swings
  • Breast tenderness
  • Irritability

Low Estrogen

  • Night sweats
  • Depression
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Insomnia
  • Incontinence
  • Hair loss

High Progesterone

  • Easy to cry
  • Breast tenderness
  • Irritability
  • Headache
  • Fatigue

Low Progesterone

  • Fibrocystic breasts
  • Mid-cycle spotting
  • Anxiety
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Heavy or irregular menses

If you found yourself identifying with some (or maybe a lot) of the symptoms above, you likely have a hormonal imbalance. The key to healthy sex hormones is to support the whole body with special attention to the ovaries, adrenals and thyroid, with the adrenal glands being the most common starting point.

I talk even more about this connection in my Hormone Starter Kit and Meal Plan. If you haven't grabbed your free copy yet, you can get it HERE.

Get Your Free Hormone Guide and 7 Day Meal Plan:
Dr. Brighten's Hormone Starter Kit

Holiday Sale

Get Your FREE Hormone Starter Kit with

7 Day Meal Plan & Recipe Guide

This starter pack is exactly what every woman needs to bring her hormones back into balance!

Hormone Starter

Kit

About The Author

Dr. Jolene Brighten

Facebook Twitter

Dr. Jolene Brighten, NMD, is a women’s hormone expert and prominent leader in women’s medicine. As a licensed naturopathic physician who is board certified in naturopathic endocrinology, she takes an integrative approach in her clinical practice. A fierce patient advocate and completely dedicated to uncovering the root cause of hormonal imbalances, Dr. Brighten empowers women worldwide to take control of their health and their hormones. She is the best selling author of Beyond the Pill and Healing Your Body Naturally After Childbirth. Dr. Brighten is an international speaker, clinical educator, medical advisor within the tech community, and considered a leading authority on women’s health. She is a member of the MindBodyGreen Collective and a faculty member for the American Academy of Anti Aging Medicine. Her work has been featured in the New York Post, Forbes, Cosmopolitan, Huffington Post, Bustle, The Guardian, Sports Illustrated, Elle, and ABC News. Read more about me here.