Many women over 40 often suspect their symptoms may be linked to hormones, and quite often, they’re right! However, it’s not just about hormone levels and hormone fluctuations —it’s about balance in hormone levels that can cause symptoms.
Common Signs of Hormone Imbalance:
- Feeling “puffy” or bloated
- Breast tenderness
- Irritability or mood swings
- Low mood or tearfulness
- Increased hair loss
- Headaches
- Weight gain, especially around the midsection
- Fibrocystic breasts
- Uterine fibroids
- Heavy periods
If you’re nodding along to two or more of these symptoms, there’s a good chance a hormone imbalance is at play. The next step is understanding what kind of imbalance you’re dealing with.
The Likely Culprit: Estrogen Dominance
One of the most common imbalances for women in their 40s and beyond is estrogen dominance, otherwise known as progesterone insufficiency. Essentially, this means there’s not enough progesterone to balance out the estrogen in your body. This can happen for a few reasons:
- Your estrogen levels might be too high.
- Your progesterone levels may be lower than optimal.
- Or, it could be a mix of both!
How to Know for Sure
Wondering if estrogen dominance or another hormone imbalance is contributing to your symptoms? Getting your hormone levels tested is the best way to know for sure. Salivary hormone testing is particularly helpful, as it reflects both baseline hormone levels and those impacted by hormone therapy of any kind.
Take the Next Step Toward Balance
If you suspect hormone imbalance is affecting your health and well-being, don’t wait to get answers. Let’s explore your options and get your hormones evaluated so you can start feeling like yourself again. Reach out today to get started!
Interested in working with me and partnering in your health journey? Learn more here.