Hormones play a crucial role in the body metabolic functions of both men and women. Hormonal Imbalance is the leading cause of female infertility. The woman’s inability to ovulate and regulate hormone levels cause a production of too much or too less of one particular hormone. This hormonal imbalance is manifested by symptoms that are easily detected allowing for treatment to begin as soon as possible. These symptoms include irregular menstrual cycles, excessive bleeding or very little bleeding, abdominal and pelvic cramps, absence of menstrual period for stretches of time and excessive weight gain and loss. If your female hormones fail to transmit their chemical signals at precisely the right time, ovulation may be irregular, infrequent or fail to occur. Periods will likely be erratic and unpredictable. Female hormonal imbalances can often be treated with fertility drugs.
Hormone Imbalance begins when a woman’s ovaries start making less estrogen and progesterone. During the reproductive years, these hormones regulate the monthly cycles of ovulation and menstruation. In her late 30s, the amount of progesterone and Estrogen her body produces diminishes, and the remaining eggs from her ovaries are less likely to be fertilized. Eventually her menstrual periods stop, and she can no longer become pregnant. For men, a similar decrease in testosterone production leads to Erectile Dysfunction and other symptoms of hormone imbalance. Female decrease in testosterone production, also results in symptoms of Hormone Imbalance. Decrease or increase of production of thyroid hormones, also lead to hormone imbalance symptoms.
The endocrine system regulates the production, actions, and interactions of hormones. Hormones are produced by the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal glands, thyroid gland, pancreas, ovaries, and testes. Diseases that affect any of these structures can lead to infertility, because the activities of all of the hormones are intricately interconnected. An excess or deficiency of any hormone can cause an ovulation and infertility. A woman’s hormone cycles and pelvic organs (ovaries, tubes and uterus) must be working properly to have a pregnancy take hold. The natural process of aging has a significant impact on the ovaries.
For example, in hypothyroidism, increased levels of prolactin (PRL) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) can affect levels of the sex hormones and may cause infertility. Hypothyroidism can be caused by failure of the thyroid gland, pituitary failure, or disorders of the hypothalamus. In hypopituitarism (failure of the pituitary gland), deficiencies of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone can produce amenorrhea (the absence of menstruation) and infertility in women, and impotence (erectile dysfunction) and infertility in men.
Symptoms of hormonal changes
- Abdominal weight gain
- Facial hair
- Acne
- Irregular periods
- Ovarian cysts visible by ultrasound
- Infertility
- Elevated insulin levels
- Balding
