Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers.

Hormonal imbalances occur when there is too much or too little of a hormone in the bloodstream. Because of their essential role in the body, even slight hormonal imbalances can cause side effects throughout the body.

Produced in the endocrine glands, these powerful chemicals travel around your bloodstream telling tissues and organs what to do. They help control many of your body’s major processes, including metabolism and reproduction.

When you have a hormonal imbalance, you have too much or too little of a certain hormone. Even tiny changes can have serious effects throughout your whole body.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a hormonal imbalance can vary according to which gland is affected and whether the person is male or female.

Our normal hormonal cycle also changes naturally during these stages:

• Puberty
• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Menopause

When a male has low testosterone levels, their symptoms will typically include:

• Decrease in sex drive
• Erectile dysfunction (ED)
• Loss of muscle mass

Causes of a hormonal imbalance

There are many possible causes of a hormonal imbalance. Causes differ depending on which hormones or glands are affected. Common causes of hormonal imbalance include:

• Hormone therapy
• Medications
• Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy
• Tumors, whether cancerous or benign
• Pituitary tumors
• Eating disorders
• Stress
• Injury or trauma

Tests

Testing for hormonal imbalances depends largely on what condition your doctor may think is causing your condition. Some of the tests a doctor may use include:

Blood testing

Doctors can test for certain hormones, such as estrogen, testosterone, or thyroid hormone.

Imaging

Doctors imaging studies, such as ultrasound, X-ray, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests to identify cysts or tumors that could cause the body to produce excess amounts of hormones.

Urine testing

Doctors use urine tests to measure levels of hormones related specifically to the menstrual cycle