Are you feeling tired, sleepless, in a bad mood, and have low energy levels? You may experience a hormonal imbalance. This article explores everything you need to know about hormonal imbalances in men, the signs, and what’s recommended to do.
Hormonal imbalances are bad news for both women and men. They are clear signs that something isn’t functioning right in your body. Hormonal imbalances come with a variety of signs and symptoms. And, the worst part is that, if left untreated, a hormonal imbalance can lead to more severe health issues.
Some periods of hormonal imbalance are normal and natural, both in men and women. Yet, some can be a reason for worry. Keep reading below to find out what does it mean to experience a hormonal imbalance, how you can recognize one, and what to do about it!
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Hormonal Imbalance Explained
Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers. They are secreted by the endocrine system directly into the blood, from where they travel throughout the entire body, tissues, and organs, fulfilling a variety of essential processes.
Now, you may be able to imagine what an imbalance can mean. When these hormones are secreted in lower amounts, they can no longer travel throughout your entire body and tell your organs what to do. When you have too much of these hormones causes specific health problems and related symptoms.
Think of it like a cake recipe if you still don’t understand why a hormonal imbalance can be an issue. Too much or too little of an ingredient you use to make the cake can ruin the final look and taste of the cake. Hormonal imbalances can affect a series of bodily functions such as heart rate, metabolism, mood, body temperature, sleep cycles, reproductive cycles, and sexual function.
Now, it’s essential to mention that hormone levels tend to fluctuate throughout our lifetime, both in women and men. For example, sometimes hormonal imbalances may only be a result of natural aging. Yet, when these imbalances occur unnaturally, they lead to a lot of problems.
In men, hormonal imbalance can occur as a result of several factors, including:
- Undergoing hormonal therapy
- Certain medications
- Suffering an injury or trauma
- Chronic stress
- Tumors, both cancerous and benign
- Treatment for cancer
- Eating disorders
Besides that, there are also certain health conditions that, although they can initially be a result of a hormonal imbalance, can later lead to further imbalances. Such conditions include diabetes, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroiditis, and Addison’s disease.
Signs Of a Hormonal Imbalance in Men
Now, if you are a man going to experience some strange feelings with your body, you definitely want to know whether or not your symptoms are related to a hormonal imbalance.
Hormonal imbalance comes with a variety of signs that you experience. However, keep in mind that only a professional can help you accurately diagnose whether you experience a hormonal imbalance that leads to too much or too little testosterone hormones.
There are plenty of common symptoms experienced by men who struggle with hormonal imbalance, including:
- The development of breast tissue, a condition known as gynecomastia
- Breast tenderness
- Erectile dysfunction
- Decrease in body and facial hair growth
- Loss of muscle mass
- Loss of bone mass, a condition called osteoporosis
- Hot flashes
- Sleeplessness
- Low sperm count
- Low mood
- Anxiousness
If you experience these symptoms, it’s best to see a medical professional who will help you determine whether or not you have too little or too much testosterone hormones in your body.
To get an accurate diagnosis of hormonal imbalance, you have several options to choose from in terms of tests, including blood tests, physical exams, ultrasound tests, X-rays, sperm count tests, thyroid scans, and magnetic resonance imaging. There are also some at-home test kits available. They use saliva, blood, or urine to determine the levels of sex and thyroid hormones in your body.
Recommendations To Deal with Male Hormone Imbalance
Say you do experience a hormonal imbalance. You probably wonder what your options are to reduce the symptoms and avoid the development of more serious problems.
The good news is that there are both natural and medical treatment options available. You can try all options or use a combination of these treatment options and see which one helps reduce your problem best.
Medical treatment options
For example, men struggling with hormonal imbalance can use hormone replacement therapy. Hormone replacement therapy doctors will help correct the hormonal imbalance in your body. This treatment option is one of the most popular ones for treating this condition in men. It helps relieve the symptoms by replacing your hormones at a lower level.
Another medical treatment option is using gels and patches that contain testosterone. These options work for men struggling with low levels of testosterone.
Natural remedies for hormonal imbalance
You can also address hormonal imbalances more naturally. However, it would be best to combine more strategies to reduce the symptoms caused by the hormonal imbalance in your body. More precisely, your options include:
- Maintaining a healthy and normal body weight.
- Having a balanced, healthy, and nutritious diet.
- Working out regularly.
- Practicing good hygiene by properly cleaning areas where many natural oils are secreted, such as the neck, the face, the back, and the chest.
- Managing your stress levels and reducing them.
- Avoiding sugary foods and refined carbohydrates
Another natural treatment option you have available is taking natural supplements that include substances and plants known to help reduce the symptoms associated with this condition. For example, ginseng, black cohosh, gong quai, red clover, and evening primrose are all plants that can help manage symptoms such as irritability, hot flashes, and sleep disturbances.
Keep in mind that the best person to tell you how to treat your hormonal imbalance is your medical professional. So, make sure to ask for professional advice.