Causes of Hormonal Imbalance

Hormone Imbalance is related to many circumstances in our bodies.

For instance, when there is not enough estrogen available in a women’s body during the first two weeks of the menstrual cycle, eggs are not stimulated to develop (a condition called anovulation). When this condition repeats over and over again, it can end up in infertility. Therefore, it is said that a year of sex without pregnancy (unprotected sex) will usually indicated infertility.

On another issue, the fact that a woman goes through physical and emotional discomfort just before a women’s menstruation it is much known. This is caused by an imbalance of progesterone and estrogen. Furthermore, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) many times results in bloating, headaches, mood swings, and irritability. In this case too much estrogen (in relation to progesterone) or visa versa creates a severe hormonal imbalance.

The experience of missing menstrual periods for months in a row can also result from hormonal imbalance. A failure of menstruation for six months for a woman (with previously normal menstrual cycles) is called Amenorrhea. This condition is very common in women who go under intensive sport training or stress, who aren’t usually making enough progesterone needed to trigger their menstrual cycles.

When it comes to menopause, women’s estrogen levels should gently fall, telling their bodies to cease preparing an environment for fertilized eggs. When menstruation stops abruptly, menopause brings with it some uncomfortable symptoms, such as hot flashes and mood swings. Estrogen depletion can also accelerate bone loss and increase risk of heart disease. Natural or pharmaceutical hormone replacement therapy can alleviate many of the symptoms. Unfortunately if a woman takes too much estrogen to replace this loss, the estrogen overload can lead to other health problems, even cancer of the uterus or breasts.

But hormone imbalances are not limited to women. There are many factors which can affect both men and woman’s hormones through life which are not a natural condition from our bodies but a response of our bad habits.

For instance, our diets, lack of exercise, bad habits (like drinking and smoking) increase our chance of a hormonal imbalance in our bodies. This later translate to hair and skin problems, lack of energy, lack of sexual libido, acne, depression, stress, anxiety, infertility, and as mentioned before more uncomfortable PMS and Menopause symptoms.
Fortunately for us, there are many things we can do to help our bodies naturally create a hormonal balance. For instance, modifying our lifestyles with a healthy diet and routine exercise can alter symptoms in an impressively and positively manner, hence, helping them to live better and even longer.

Trisha Posner, on her book No Hormones No Fear: A natural Journey through Menopause, offers an alternative to HRT which involve a program of exercise, diet, and nutritional supplements and natural herbs that worked for her. Beta-carotene, Selenium, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Zinc, Fatty Acids, Pycnogenol, Goldenseal, Calcium, royal jelly, and ginkgo biloba are among her recommended nutritional supplements and herbs. This alternative can be used not only for women seeking hormonal balance relief, but any person seeking for a natural way to balance their hormones.

Beth M. Ley, Ph. D., on her health learning handbook “Maca, Adaptogen and Hormonal Regulator” states: “When treating menopause, as a replacement for HRT, maca (a Peruvian root) is my first choice. I have recommended maca to many women for alleviating the symptoms of menopause (as well as PMS) and I have yet to be disappointed.” Maca is very popular to its effects on menopausal symptoms due to the fact that it aids the body to hormonal balance, so it is now being used by many as a way to increase energy, enhance sexual libido, aid to thyroid and other endocrine system problems, all related to a hormonal imbalance.

There is no doubt nature offers us many resources to alleviate different symptoms and to fulfill different needs. Perhaps we underestimate the importance of a life attitude towards healthier diets and exercise. Fortunately for those millions of women who suffer from menopausal symptoms there is always the hope of safe relief  that only and always nature can provide.