{"id":22050,"date":"2024-07-13T07:11:18","date_gmt":"2024-07-13T05:11:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?p=22050"},"modified":"2024-07-13T07:11:31","modified_gmt":"2024-07-13T05:11:31","slug":"hormonal-imbalance-signs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/hormonal-imbalance-signs\/","title":{"rendered":"Little Known Signs of a Potential Hormone Imbalance"},"content":{"rendered":"

When it comes to the female body \u2013 hormones run the show.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s the obvious role of hormones in pregnancy, periods, menopause, and anything having to do with reproductive health, but hormones do much more than that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your hormonal, or <\/span>endocrine<\/span><\/a>, 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes these symptoms can be elusive or not obviously connected to your hormones, making it that much more difficult to treat an imbalance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Education is the first step to <\/span>advocating for yourself for better healthcare<\/span><\/a>. That\u2019s why we\u2019re diving into different symptoms that may be indicative of a hormone imbalance \u2013 and how to treat them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vision Changes<\/h2>\n

Hormones can impact your <\/span>vision and eye health<\/span><\/a> 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\u2019 oil glands which may lead to more dryness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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 <\/span>Graves\u2019 disease<\/span><\/a>, an autoimmune disease that leads to hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).<\/span><\/p>\n

Excessive Sweating<\/h2>\n

Sweating is a normal part of biology, and some people sweat more than others. That being said, if you\u2019re experiencing an abnormal amount of sweating for your body or if you start to experience <\/span>night sweats<\/span><\/a>, it may be a symptom of a hormonal imbalance.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It may also be linked to <\/span>hyperthyroidism<\/span><\/a>. Sweating is a common symptom for those with an overactive thyroid and may be due to a poor temperature regulation \u2013 which is one role of the thyroid.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thinning Hair<\/h2>\n

Hair and hormones go hand in hand. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so common for people to experience postpartum hair loss. Hair loss can also be common in menopause.<\/span><\/p>\n

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 <\/span>Hashimoto\u2019s disease<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cold Hands and Feet<\/h2>\n

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\u2019s one of the reasons women, and AFAB (assigned female at birth) folks seem to be more cold, more often.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An estrogen imbalance that causes high levels of the hormone may also cause someone to have consistently cold hands and feet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019t work as well as it should.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bigger Eyes<\/h2>\n

Graves\u2019 disease can also affect the eyes in a condition called Graves\u2019 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\u2019 disease develop this condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

GED can lead to other uncomfortable symptoms like:<\/span><\/p>\n