What Is Hormonal Imbalance?
So, hormonal imbalance is when your hormone levels are too high or too low during the cycle. Girlies, keep in mind each of our bodies is different, and learning your cycle patterns and listening to your body is a key thing for you to judge when things are right or wrong.
What Causes Hormonal Imbalance?
Now, another thing you may be wondering is what could have caused the hormones to be imbalanced. The causes vary. One is a hormonal or uterine condition such as PCOS, fibroids, cysts, and endometriosis. These are often the result of hormonal imbalance rather than the root cause. For example, estrogen dominance contributes to fibroids and endometriosis. Ovarian cysts can result from hormonal issues like PCOS.
Other causes are chronic stress if you are going through a stressful time or a mental health condition, lack of sleep, wrong workout regime, poor diet, underlying conditions like diabetes or autoimmune diseases also play a role, and birth control too.
How to Know Which Hormone Is Imbalanced
Ladies now how do you tell which hormone is imbalanced, the most accurate way is hormone testing in a medical facility. Note that this depends too on the day of the cycle. See the table below that gives you a good summary of the hormone tests.
Hormone Testing Summary
| Hormone | Best Day to Test | Test Type | Test Name (What to Ask For) | What It Reveals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estradiol (E2) | Cycle Day 3 | Blood (serum) | “Estradiol blood test” | Baseline estrogen levels. High = estrogen dominance. Low = menopause, missed periods. |
| Progesterone | ~Day 21 (or 7 days after ovulation) | Blood (serum) | “Day 21 progesterone test” | Confirms ovulation. Low levels = PMS, spotting, infertility, anxiety. |
| LH (Luteinizing Hormone) | Cycle Day 3 | Blood (serum) | “LH blood test” | High LH with high androgens may indicate PCOS. Supports ovulation assessment. |
| FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) | Cycle Day 3 | Blood (serum) | “FSH blood test” | High = possible perimenopause or low ovarian reserve. |
| Testosterone (Free & Total) | Any day (morning preferred) | Blood (serum) | “Free and total testosterone test” | High levels = acne, facial hair, PCOS, low libido if too low. |
| DHEA-S | Any day | Blood (serum) | “DHEA-S test” | Measures adrenal hormone production. High = possible androgen excess. |
| Cortisol | 8–9 AM for blood; or full-day saliva | Blood / Saliva / Urine (DUTCH test) | “AM cortisol” or “4-point saliva cortisol test” | High = chronic stress. Low = burnout or adrenal fatigue. |
| Thyroid Panel (TSH, Free T3, Free T4) | Any day | Blood (serum) | “Thyroid function panel” | Checks for hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Affects energy, cycle, mood, weight. |
| Prolactin | Any day (morning, fasting optional) | Blood (serum) | “Prolactin test” | High levels can suppress ovulation and cause missed or irregular periods. |
| Insulin + Glucose | Fasting, any day | Blood (serum) | “Fasting insulin and glucose” | Insulin resistance (common in PCOS). Blood sugar imbalance impacts all hormones. |
Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance
For the symptoms, they usually don’t appear alone. It happens in clusters that form consistent patterns. Also, you can experience imbalances in more than one hormone, for example, low progesterone and high estrogen during chronic stress or a sluggish liver. See below symptoms and what it is likely the cause hormone
Hormonal Symptoms Breakdown
| Hormone | When It’s Likely Low | When It’s Likely High |
|---|---|---|
| Estrogen | – Missed periods or very light flow – Vaginal dryness – Hot flashes / night sweats – Low libido – Sadness, apathy – Poor memory or brain fog | – Heavy/prolonged periods – Breast tenderness- Bloating – PMS mood swings – Fibroids or endometriosis symptoms – Fat gain on hips/thighs |
| Progesterone | – Anxiety or restlessness (especially pre-period) – Insomnia – Spotting before period – Short cycles (<25 days) – PMS or breast tenderness – Early miscarriages | – Excessive sleepiness or fatigue – Dizziness – Bloating – Depressed mood or fogginess (Rare; excess progesterone usually only occurs with certain medications or hormone therapy) |
| FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) | – Low ovarian reserve or irregular ovulation (often silent without testing) – Early menopause signs (hot flashes, low libido) | – Hot flashes before menopause – Fertility challenges – Skipped periods – Dryness or vaginal thinning |
| LH (Luteinizing Hormone) | – Weak ovulation or anovulation (can show as irregular or long cycles) – Low libido | – Irregular or absent periods – PCOS symptoms – Mid-cycle spotting or cramping |
| Testosterone | – Low libido – Low motivation – Poor muscle tone – Fatigue – Mood instability | – Acne (especially jawline/chin) – Facial/body hair growth – Scalp hair thinning – Anger or aggression – Irregular cycles (common in PCOS) |
| Cortisol | – Fatigue despite rest – Salt cravings – Dizziness when standing – Weakened stress response – Low blood pressure | – Belly fat gain – Sleep trouble – Anxiety or “wired but tired” feeling – Cravings for sugar or caffeine – Hormonal acne |
| Thyroid (Low T3/T4) | – Fatigue – Cold sensitivity – Dry skin – Constipation – Irregular or heavy periods – Depression – Lumps or swelling at front of neck (possible goiter) | – Sweating – Fast heartbeat – Anxiety – Weight loss – Light or missed periods – Trembling hands – Insomnia |
| Insulin | – Fatigue after meals – Cravings for sweets or carbs – Difficulty losing weight – Irregular cycles – Skin tags or dark patches on neck/armpits | – Same as low: High insulin (insulin resistance) often causes both fatigue and weight issues, especially in PCOS |
| Prolactin | – Missed periods – Low libido – Milk production without pregnancy – Infertility – Headaches or blurry vision | – Same — excess is the issue. High levels suppress ovulation and reduce estrogen/progesterone production |
What to Do About Hormonal Imbalance
Now we know the symptoms and causes. What’s next is what to do. The best way to keep your hormones balanced is through good gut health and a healthy lifestyle that includes a good workout and diet and sleep which is 8-9 hours. You can also check with your gynecologist which birth control they can recommend for you. Supplements are also an option to support hormonal balance when used correctly, and I’ll be covering those in a separate post. As for any underlying conditions, we will explore them one by one in upcoming posts
More Resources
For a healthy lifestyle please see the links on diet and workout.