Hormones flow through our body constantly and are kept in healthy homeostasis through a series of checks and balances primarily controlled by our thyroid gland, adrenal glands, liver, and gut health. It is normal for our hormone levels to change throughout our lives as we age. Hormone levels are also influenced by environmental factors, diet, and our levels of stress.

When kept in check, we can go years with no noticeable hormonal changes. However, when hormonal imbalances arise, it can be difficult to determine the root cause as hormonal imbalance symptoms can mimic the symptoms of so many other imbalances. Signs you may need to assess your hormones can be subtle, and your naturopathic doctor can help you to gain more insight.

Signs you may need to assess your hormones:

• Your sleep cycles are off or feel inconsistent. This includes difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep. You may find you get a surge of energy when you should be winding down, or you wake in the night and can’t fall back to sleep for several hours. This could indicate that your melatonin levels or cortisol rhythm is skewed, and not in alignment with a normal circadian rhythm. Read more: Sleep Cycle & Women’s Health
• You experience severe acne or skin conditions that are cyclical with your monthly cycle.
• Thinning of your hair, or changes in hair texture and consistency.
• Decreased libido in both men and women.
• You experience frequent mood swings that are unexpected and exaggerated.
• You have unexplained weight gain or weight loss.
• Prolonged infertility

Some of the primary hormones that can be assessed include estrogens, progesterone, DHEA, testosterone, cortisol, and melatonin. These are some of the major hormones that influence the above symptoms in both men and women. Hormone levels are one clue in a series of potential contributing factors that contribute to your health. Working with a trained Naturopathic Doctor can be a tremendous help in gathering the appropriate clues to get to the root cause of your health concerns.

Read More: Beyond Balancing Hormones: What Factors Play into Dysregulation?

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, or suspect that you need holistic support with hormone health, schedule an appointment with one of our naturopathic doctors at Richmond Natural Medicine today.