Hormonal imbalance in women

The secret to health is in your hormones

What women are told about hormonal imbalance is not just wrong, it’s harmful.

So many of us are taking prescription drugs to balance our hormones, even though these drugs just mask the symptoms without fixing the underlying problems. And those problems usually get worse over time.

We would be much healthier – and happier – if we all knew the nine factors that cause hormonal imbalance in the first place. That would show us the natural way to get healthy and stay that way.

Let’s start with an overview of the problem.

There’s a pandemic of hormonal imbalance

So many chronic illnesses arise from hormonal imbalances. And the number of women suffering from them is rising rapidly. These health issues include:

Why your doctor is often wrong about hormonal imbalance (“HI”)

If you have been frustrated by your doctor’s response when you try to discuss your hormonal concerns, you are not alone. There are five basic reasons conventional medicine is not a good approach for hormonal imbalance (“HI”).

1. Conventional medicine treats the body in separate specialties, but our endocrine system is interconnected. In fact, it connects everything – cells, organs and systems.
2. Most conventional doctors receive very little training in how hormones work (except for endocrinologists) and tend to view hormones as unpredictable and difficult to manage.
3. Conventional medicine is reactive more than preventive in its mindset. The general expectation is that you only go to the doctor when something goes wrong.
4. Big Pharma has done a great job of forging treatment protocols that lead to prescription drugs. Drugs mostly address symptoms, not the underlying causes.
5. Doctors are forced into “6 minute medicine”, with little time to coach patients on wellness. And too often, they don’t know much about it.

The basic mantras of Big Pharma are not helpful, either:

There’s something wrong with you
There’s nothing you can do about it
Our pill will take care of it

The biggest misconception lies in the second point (There’s nothing you can do about it). Once you understand what causes hormonal imbalance, you will quickly realize that you have the power to fix it.

Hormones 101

There are three things to understand about how your endocrine system functions before we can grasp how it gets derailed.

First, hormones are a signaling system that sends messages from organs to individual cells as well as overall systems like our digestive and immune systems. These messages tell everyone how things are going and what needs to be done.

Second, this system is complex, highly active, and very sensitive. There are dozens of hormones, trillions of cells, and adjustments are being made second by second.

Third, this system has its own chemistry lab. It is breaking down chemicals and making new ones constantly. Those processes require co-factors and are sensitive to disruption.

This miraculous system was not designed for modern life, however. Now let’s turn to how it goes wrong.

The 9 factors that cause hormonal imbalance

There are nine major factors that disrupt our hormonal balance:

- Stress. Perhaps the most common is stress, which disrupts everything. That’s because cortisol is a “major hormone”, meaning that when cortisol is out of balance, it’s impossible to balance the rest.

- Carbs. Like cortisol, insulin is a “major hormone”. And too many carbs hurt your insulin metabolism, which also disrupts everything.

- Poor diet. A weak diet starves your endocrine system of the nutrients and co-factors it needs to function.

- Impaired microbiome. The poor diet impairs your microbiome, which is a key part of the endocrine ecosystem. The microbiome makes hormones and other vital chemical inputs.

- Weight. Most of us are overweight, and those fat cells create hormonal cross-talk—a kind of noise.

- Lack of exercise. Studies show that most of us don’t get enough exercise either, which our bodies depend on.

- Medications. Prescription drugs have many benefits, but they can also disrupt your endocrine system.

- Inflammation. Most of us also have some form of systemic inflammation, another upsetting factor. We include toxins here, though some experts would consider them a 10^th factor.

Now that you know what causes hormonal imbalance, you can find out how these factors have affected your body’s hormonal systems by paying attention to your symptoms.

Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance

Hormonal imbalance occurs when normal levels and production of hormones in the endocrine system, or their ratio to other hormones, is disrupted. This state of disruption produces an array of symptoms:

- Irregular or absent periods: Irregular periods or absent periods indicate a disruption in the hormonal signaling activity that controls menstruation. Thyroid dysfunction and estrogen dominance only make this hormonal imbalance worse.

- Weight gain: Changes to your weight, especially belly fat, are caused by shifting hormones, particularly in peri/menopause. High stress, poor sleep, and nutrient deficiencies also increase belly fat. Losing weight is becomes more difficult because hormonal imbalances contribute to weight loss resistance.

- Fatigue & low energy: Thyroid imbalances, adrenal gland dysfunction and chronic stress are the most likely contributors to this debilitating symptom, which can leave you feeling physically and emotionally drained — even after plenty of sleep.

- Irritability and/or moodiness: Feeling out of control or overwhelmed can be caused by sudden changes in the balance between estrogen, testosterone and progesterone, and from adrenal stress.

- Skin issues: Dry skin, adult acne, and premature aging are all deeply rooted in hormonal imbalance. For example, adult acne is associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition that also causes irregular or absent menstrual periods.

- Hair loss & unusual hair growth: Thyroid hormone imbalances and fluctuating levels of estrogen and testosterone can cause hair loss and thinning hair. High levels of testosterone (especially in PCOS) can lead to excessive and unwanted hair growth, especially on the face.

5 common types of hormonal imbalance

Recognizing that your symptoms are connected to your hormones is critical. If we keep drilling down, you will start to see that your particular cluster of symptoms lines up with one or more specific health conditions caused by a hormonal imbalance.

Here are five of the most common types of hormonal imbalances in women—and how to recognize the symptoms that might indicate they’re affecting your body.

Adrenal stress & fatigue

An imbalance in the adrenal glands is a hormonal disruption related to the effects of chronic stress and excess cortisol. Being under stress day after day, week after week, forces the adrenal glands to work overtime, pumping out the stress hormone cortisol at emergency levels. As the adrenals enter a state of dysfunction, HI symptoms including chronic fatigue, anxiety, insomnia and food cravings become noticeable.

Think you may be suffering from symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue? Our free Adrenal Health Quiz can help you assess your symptoms.
Learn more about adrenal stress & fatigue.

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Peri / Menopause

As hormone levels fluctuate during this time of transition, women in perimenopause and menopause are susceptible to developing intense hormonal imbalances that trigger uncomfortable (and sometimes downright debilitating) symptoms: hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, low libido, irritability and more. Our stance? Menopause is inevitable — but suffering through symptoms of hormonal imbalance is not. The effectiveness of taking natural approach to solving HI symptoms in menopause is proven science.

Think you may be suffering from symptoms of menopause? Our free Menopause Quiz can help you assess your symptoms.
Learn more about menopause and peri-menopause.

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Thyroid dysfunction

Your thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate energy levels, healthy weight, and the metabolism of each and every cell in your body. When a thyroid hormone balance develops, you see it in the form of symptoms including weight gain, fatigue, brain fog, dry skin, brittle and thinning hair, and feeling cold all the time.

Concerned you might have low thyroid? Our Thyroid Quiz helps you assess your symptoms right now.
Learn more about thyroid health and hypothyroidism (low thyroid).

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PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)

PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age and is often linked to an imbalance of androgens (male hormones) and insulin resistance. This condition can cause symptoms such as irregular or absent periods, acne, excessive hair growth, weight gain, thinning hair, and difficulty conceiving. Left untreated, PCOS may increase the risk of more serious health concerns, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and infertility.

Think you might be experiencing symptoms of PCOS? Take our free PCOS Health Quiz.
Learn more about PCOS and how to restore hormonal balance.

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Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions—including high blood sugar, elevated blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, and excess abdominal fat—that often stem from hormonal imbalances like insulin resistance. This syndrome significantly raises the risk of serious health issues, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Symptoms can be subtle but may include fatigue, difficulty losing weight, sugar cravings, and trouble managing blood pressure or cholesterol levels.

Learn more about metabolic syndrome and how to take control of your health.

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Natural treatment options for hormonal imbalance

Many of us have become conditioned to view pharmaceutical drugs as the only ‘real’ medicine, but that couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to hormonal imbalance. The science is settled: diet and nutrition play a central role in regulating hormones and maintaining overall hormonal health. Among the vast amounts of research on this topic is a 2024 study published in Nutrients that affirms, “Specific nutrients and dietary patterns can either positively or negatively influence hormonal balance.”

Nutritional therapy is not only equally effective as pharmaceuticals — it also produces few, if any, side effects. Vitamins and minerals nourish the body with the precursors they need for optimal hormone production and regulation. Plant-based medicines are effective because certain herbs (known as phytocrines) share important features with natural hormones, thus enabling them to increase the body’s natural ability to make and use its own hormones and provide powerful symptom relief.

Herbal Equilibrium

Doctor-formulated natural support for hormonal balance during perimenopause and menopause

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What’s more, the natural approach works in a completely different way than prescription drugs or synthetic HRT. Because it works with your body, plant and nutritional medicines can actually prevent or reduce the severity of nearly all of your symptoms rather than just smoothing them over temporarily. New research is constantly proving that plant molecules act to balance hormones at the cellular level, just as they have for thousands of years.

Despite this compelling evidence from biologists and other health scientists, many general practitioners have little awareness of these advancements. As noted at the top of this article, most conventional doctors receive little to no training on hormonal health in medical school—especially in how nutrition affects women’s unique hormonal needs.

As a result of this lack of knowledge, women are often left to suffer through their symptoms alone or take synthetic hormones, missing out on effective solutions like personalized nutrition, supplements, and herbal remedie. These natural approaches offer not only symptom relief but also a safe, adaptogenic way to restore balance—something synthetic drugs simply can’t replicate.

The science is settled: the natural way is best. It’s the healthcare system has some catching up to do.

But you don’t have to wait.

How we can help you heal

Hormonal imbalance can seriously disrupt your life. But the silver lining to all this is that it’s correctable. You can bring your hormones back into balance and feel like yourself again – and you have the ability to take your hormonal health into your own capable hands. We’ve seen time and again how a combination approach with specialized hormone health supplements, a wellness-supporting diet, stress relief techniques and exercise can restore balance – so you can feel good again.

Start by assessing your symptoms

For more than 20 years, we’ve advocated a holistic approach to hormonal imbalance that considers everything in the body to be beautifully connected — with hormones forming the foundation of these complex connections. To effectively address a hormonal symptom, it’s crucially important to consider all of the factors that contributed to the development of that symptom. Our free, doctor-developed hormonal imbalance quiz can help you assess your symptoms, and discover your specific hormonal imbalance so you can get on the right path to whole-body healing. Take it now!

Hormonal Imbalance Quiz

Assess your symptoms, and discover your specific hormonal imbalance so you can get on the right path to whole-body healing

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Hormonal imbalance: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

What is hormonal imbalance?

Hormonal imbalance refers to a condition in which the body’s production of hormones and its ability to maintain normal levels and ratios of hormones become disrupted. Hormones are chemicals that your body makes to help it regulate various functions, from sleep/wake cycles to your ability to get pregnant. The over 50 hormones your body produces are designed to work like a fine-tuned orchestra, balancing each other out and synergistically supporting each other as needed. It’s a system that self-adjusts second-by-second for your entire life to produce proper amounts of hormones and keep them in healthy ratio with each other.

What causes hormonal imbalances in women?

At every age, your hormones are fluctuating on a daily basis, in mostly predictable patterns. But sometimes hormones fluctuate more dramatically, like a boat rocking and surging up and down in a stormy sea. When this state of flux become too extreme, the body can no longer maintain hormones in their normal ratios and levels. The result of this is the dysfunctional state of hormonal imbalance.

There are many possible causes of hormone imbalance in women, including:

- Perimenopause & menopause: As levels of estrogen and progesterone fluctuate in perimenopause and menopause, it’s common for hormonal imbalances to develop. Symptoms of a hormonal imbalance related to perimenopause and menopause include hot flashes, mood changes, weight gain (especially belly fat) and insomnia.

- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): This is a common hormone disorder that affects up to 10% of women of reproductive age. It is characterized by an imbalance of hormones such as testosterone and estrogen, and it can cause symptoms such as irregular periods, acne, and weight gain.

- Thyroid disorders: The thyroid is a gland that produces hormones that regulate metabolism and energy levels. When the thyroid is not functioning properly, it can cause a hormonal imbalance and a range of low thyroid symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, and hair loss.

- Stress: Chronic stress can disrupt the normal functioning of the body’s adrenal hormone systems, leading to imbalances in cortisol and other stress hormones. Fatigue and food cravings are two common side effects of an adrenal hormone imbalance.

- Poor diet: A diet high in processed and sugary foods can contribute to hormonal imbalances. With a poor diet, the body may not get enough of the nutrients it needs for hormone building and at the same time gets too much hormone-disrupting sugar and food toxins.

- Certain medications: Some medications, such as birth control pills and steroids, can interfere with hormone production and cause imbalances.

- Other medical conditions: Issues such as pituitary gland disorders and cancer can also cause hormonal imbalances.

How do you overcome hormonal imbalance?

When you discover that you have a hormonal imbalance, the good news is that there is so much you can do — naturally and without medication! — to restore balance to your hormones and find relief from your symptoms. Steps include:

- Eat a healthy diet: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins provides the nutrients needed to support normal hormone production and hormonal balance. Sugary and processed foods can set hormonal imbalances in motion and are important to avoid.

- Get enough sleep: Getting too little sleep robs your body of needed “down time” for hormonal system repair. Try to get at least 7-9 hours of sleep per night.

- Manage stress: Stress is a known trigger for hormonal imbalances. Try techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or yoga to help manage stress.

- Vitamins and herbal phytotherapy (plant medicines): Certain supplements and herbs, such as omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, iodine, selenium, and adaptogenic Ashwagandha offer powerful help to support hormonal balance. For best results, use herbs and vitamins targeted towards your specific imbalance.

Depending on the severity of the hormonal imbalance, restoring balance and reducing symptoms can take time and require a combination of lifestyle changes listed above. Listen to your body and take good care of it. Your hormones will thank you!

What happens if “female hormones” are imbalanced?

Imbalances in the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone are more common during periods in a woman’s life when her hormones naturally fluctuate, including postpartum and during perimenopause and menopause. Other factors that contribute to estrogen/progesterone imbalance include stress and poor diet. Sex hormone imbalances can produce a range of symptoms and health issues, including hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, depression, irritability, irregular periods, weight gain (especially midsection weight gain), and low libido. Estrogen/progesterone imbalances in menopause can also contribute to accelerated bone loss and increased risk for osteoporosis.

How can I check my hormone levels at home?

In helping thousands of women recover from hormonal imbalance, we always recommend to women to let their symptoms be the guide. The body is extremely intelligent in triggering red flags to send you an SOS that hormonal help is needed. We developed our hormonal health quizzes to give you a quick and easy (and free!) way to learn more about your symptoms and the imbalance that is triggering them. The best way to start learning what could be going on in your hormones is to take our Hormonal Imbalance Quiz.

Other ways to check in on the state of your hormones include:

- Saliva test: Saliva testing is a simple, non-invasive way to measure hormone levels. You can purchase a saliva test kit online or through a healthcare provider. The kit will come with instructions on how to collect and store your saliva sample, which you can then send to a laboratory for analysis.

- Home testing kits: There are also home testing kits available that allow you to test your hormone levels without leaving your home. These kits are available for a variety of hormones, including testosterone, estrogen, and thyroid hormones. Home testing kits might require a finger prick to obtain a blood sample or saliva or urine collection.

- Blood test: This one is done at a lab, not at home, but you can also check your hormone levels through a blood test. This can be done through a healthcare provider or at a laboratory.

What foods help to balance hormones?

Nutrients from the foods you eat provide raw materials for hormone production and also support the body’s ability to maintain healthy hormone metabolism. Foods to eat to help correct a hormonal imbalance include:

- Cruciferous vegetables: Vegetables from the “brassica” family including broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts contain Indole-3-carbinol, a phytochemical that promotes liver function. The liver metabolizes hormones and detoxifies and clears “spent” and unhealthy metabolites of hormones, helping to restore hormonal balance and health.

- Leafy greens: Leafy greens like kale, spinach, and broccoli contain antioxidants and phytochemicals that help to protect and repair cells in the body that produce hormones.

- Fermented foods: Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut contain probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that help to support gut health. When your gut flora is healthy, it’s easier for nutrients in your foods to be absorbed and go where they are needed to support hormonal balance.

- Healthy fats: Healthy fats like olive oil, avocado, and nuts that contain Omega-3 essential fatty acids (i.e. walnuts) provide important building blocks for hormones.

- Lean protein: Lean protein sources like chicken, fish, and tofu provide the building blocks for hormones and can help to support their production and function.

How does a hormonal imbalance affect your life?

Hormonal imbalances that take place over a woman’s lifespan can have a wide range of effects on the body, depending on which hormone is involved. Here are some ways that hormonal imbalances can impact your life:

- Weight gain: Hormonal imbalances, especially thyroid imbalance, can slow your metabolism, leading to weight gain. An adrenal hormone imbalance that results in high levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) can cause weight gain, particularly mid-section belly fat weight gain

- Mood changes: Hormones play a role in regulating mood, so imbalances can lead to changes in mood or emotional well-being. For example, low levels of serotonin (a neurotransmitter that affects mood) can lead to depression, while estrogen fluctuations can cause irritability and anxiety.

- Sleep problems: Hormonal imbalances can disrupt your sleep patterns, leading to insomnia or other sleep disorders. For example, high levels of cortisol can interfere with the production of melatonin (a hormone that helps regulate sleep), while imbalanced estrogen can lead to difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.

- Changes in physical appearance: Hormonal imbalances can cause physical changes in the body, such as acne, hair loss, or changes in skin or nail health. For women in menopause, a hormonal imbalance involving estrogen can result in thinning hair or dry, thin skin.

- Irregular menstrual cycles: Women with hormonal imbalances frequently experience irregular periods. This is often a result of an imbalance involving estrogen/progesterone and is a common symptom of hormonal imbalance during perimenopause.

Synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was once the gold standard for conventional treatment of women’s menopause symptoms — until we learned the dire consequences of this approach. In 2004, the large-scale Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) revealed that synthetic HRT put women at serious risk of breast cancer, stroke and other life-threatening disorders. The study was a bombshell because, at the time, more than 10 million women were being prescribed some form of synthetic HRT, most commonly during menopause.

The forms of synthetic HRT studied in the WHI included medications such as conjugated equine estrogen (Premarin) and synthetic progestins. Many conventional doctors backed off prescribing these drugs. But guess what? Thanks to the powerful driving force of Big Pharma, synthetic HRT has been creeping back as a standard treatment offered to women — with the same risks!

Here’s the truth: these synthetic hormones have no place in your body. Women have so many other ways to effectively rebalance your hormones. It’s always worth exploring these options.