Women should know to recognize hormonal changes

Hormones are chemicals that are released directly into blood by some tissues (group of cells) or organs in the body; their function is to target distant organs and regulate their physiology and behavior.

Hence any hormonal imbalance is bound to produce some changes – physical and behavioral.

1. The disruption of monthly periods could mean too much or too little of hormones estrogen or progesterone is being secreted. This will lead to irregular monthly cycles as in PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) or during peri-menopause (the time before menopause). Talk to your doctor.
2. Poor quality of sleep is due to reduced secretion of progesterone, a hormone secreted by ovary. And low estrogen can produce hot flashes and night sweats disrupting your sleep.
3. Acne before or during your period is normal. But if an acne does not clear up, it could be due to excess androgens (a hormone that both men and women have). Androgens cause the oil glands to overwork and also affect the skin cells around the hair follicle; both of these can clog the pores in the skin to cause acne.
4. Changes in estrogen and progesterone can make the head feel ‘foggy’. Estrogen impact the neurotransmitters in the brain and hence attention and memory problems occur during peri-menopause and menopause. However, they could also be symptoms of other hormone-related disease like thyroid. Let you doctor know.
5. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating of abdomen and nausea could be due to the response of the receptors lining the gut to low or high levels of estrogen or progesterone.
6. Excess progesterone can make you fatigued and sleepy….so also can the thyroid hormones. A blood check will help.
7. Mood swings or depression can happen either due to drop in hormone or rapid changes in their levels. Estrogen affects key brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.
8. Weight gain happens when estrogen levels dip because low estrogen levels make you eat more. The estrogen dip can also impact your body’s levels of leptin, a hormone that inhibits hunger.
9. A drop in estrogen can cause headache. That’s why a headache can strike right before or during your period, when estrogen is on the decline. Regular headaches or ones that often occur around the same time each month can be a clue that your levels of estrogen might be shifting.
10. Vaginal dryness is due to low estrogen levels. The hormone helps vaginal tissue stay moist and comfortable. If your estrogen drops because of an imbalance, it can reduce vaginal fluids and cause tightness.
11. Loss of libido or sex drive is due to low levels of testosterone, a hormone found in both men and women.
12. Breast changes can occur if drop in estrogen happens; it can make your breast tissue less dense. And an increase in the hormone can thicken this tissue, even causing new lumps or cysts. Talk to your doctor if you notice breast changes, even if you don’t have any other symptoms.