Female Hormone Imbalance
Female hormone imbalance is a broad term encompassing abnormalities in estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, cortisol, thyroid hormones, and prolactin. Symptoms may arise from excess or deficiency of any of these hormones, and they often interact -- making systematic evaluation more useful than treating a single hormone in isolation.
Symptoms
Irregular, heavy, or absent periods, mood swings, irritability, anxiety, low libido, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, breast tenderness, weight changes, sleep disturbance, acne, hair loss, and fatigue. The specific symptom pattern depends on which hormone or hormones are out of balance.
Causes and risk
Causes include PCOS, hypothalamic-pituitary disorders, thyroid disease, adrenal dysfunction, primary ovarian insufficiency, perimenopause, chronic stress, significant caloric restriction, eating disorders, and endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure.
How it is evaluated
We tailor hormone testing to the clinical picture. Typical panels include FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone (timed to cycle day), free and total testosterone, DHEAS, prolactin, TSH, and cortisol when adrenal involvement is suspected. Salivary or dried urine testing is available for some patterns.
Treatment
Treatment is directed by the specific imbalance identified. Thyroid normalization, insulin sensitization, cycle regulation with oral contraceptives or progesterone, testosterone therapy in selected women, cortisol support, and lifestyle modification are all tools. We avoid one-size-fits-all hormone protocols.