Signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalance in women and men

What is a hormonal imbalance

Hormonal disbalance is a dysfunction caused by pathology of the endocrine and neuroregulatory systems, both in women and men. All processes occurring in the body largely depend on the hormonal status.

In women, such a failure causes various diseases of the reproductive system and, in combination with impaired immunity, inflammation and sexual infections, causes a number of serious problems: menstrual irregularities, uterine fibroids, endometrial hyperplasia, polyps and polycystic ovaries. It is very important to regularly conduct gynecological examinations, because a number of diseases of the female genital area are asymptomatic, without pain, bleeding and other clinical manifestations.

What it is necessary to know about female hormones? Complex processes in the female body are controlled by estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are responsible for sexual maturation and the beginning of menstruation in adolescence, breast and hair growth and adjustment of the reproductive period.

Hormonal levels change after a woman becomes pregnant: a new hormone is released – human chorionic gonadotropin. In a woman preparing to become a mother, the amount of estrogen and progesterone increases, and at about the fourth month, the placenta begins to support the pregnancy thanks to its own hormones.

The next hormonal surge occurs after childbirth, and the biological functions of the body return to normal. Now the main task of female hormones is to ensure the production of breast milk for feeding the baby.

Thus, before the onset of menopause, when the ovaries stop producing an egg and no longer produce estrogen, the level of hormones in the body can change.

But if in past years a failure in the hormonal sphere meant the pathological work of the endocrine glands only in women, now this concept has spread to the male part of the population. It was found that in them the abnormal functioning of the endocrine system also leads to disorders. Moreover, the fact that the reproductive system in men and women is far from the same does not negate the similarity of symptoms caused by pathologies in the hormonal sphere.

Causes of hormonal failure in women and men

There are many factors that contribute to hormonal failure in both men and women. This is primarily due to the dependence of the hormonal status on the neuroendocrine regulation of the central nervous system, which occurs in the brain, and on the proper functioning of the endocrine glands, which are localized on the periphery.

In this regard, the causes contributing to hormonal disorders can be divided into two large groups:

Causes caused by violations in the functioning of the central regulation.
Causes provoked by pathological processes occurring in the peripheral glands. Failures in their work can be caused by tumors, infections, inflammatory processes, etc.

So, let’s highlight all the possible causes of hormonal failure:

The system of neuroendocrine regulation, also called the hypothalamic-pituitary system, may begin to work incorrectly as a result of a lesion of organic origin. These include severe brain and skull injuries, encephalitis, and cancerous tumors. In addition, internal and external causes can cause malfunctions in the functioning of this system. For example, it can be exhaustion of the body, chronic fatigue, like a syndrome, etc .;
Such glands that do not affect the function of reproduction, such as the adrenal cortex or the thyroid gland, can have a direct effect on the human hormonal background;
Due to the fact that hormonal metabolism occurs in the liver, and the excretion of metabolites is carried out with the help of the kidneys, disturbances in their functioning can also cause failure;
It is impossible to exclude the factor of heredity. It plays an important role in the development of hormonal imbalance, especially those changes that occur during menopause and after it;
Congenital pathologies of the systems that are responsible for the production of hormones also represent a separate cause leading to imbalance. For the first time, such pathologies usually manifest themselves by delayed puberty or its absence;
Most often, disruptions in the hormonal sphere occur during periods of physiological changes. Among the most significant stages are puberty and similar fading. Women, unlike men, experience several more sexual storms – these are childbirth and, in some cases, abortions.

Symptoms of hormonal failure

Symptoms of hormonal failure in young girls 14-16 years old may be the absence of menstruation or its irregularity. At this time, the cycle should already be established, but if this does not happen, there is a possibility of insufficient production or absence of estrogen and progesterone in the body. Alarming symptoms are also excessive body hair and underdevelopment of the mammary glands. Often, girls with insufficient levels of sex hormones in the blood have high growth, thinness, long arms and legs. The menstrual cycle is almost always disturbed if the body weight is less than 48 kg.

Hormonal failure can cause cystic degeneration of the ovaries and underdevelopment of the uterus. Also, after the onset of sexual activity, you should regularly be examined by a gynecologist, since some sexually transmitted diseases can cause inflammation of the reproductive organs and hormonal disorders. In pregnant women, symptoms of hormonal failure can be premature contractions of the uterus, pain in the lower abdomen.

An alarming sign is also an increase in premenstrual syndrome: a sharp change in mood, soreness and swelling of the chest, joint pain, depression and absent-mindedness. During menstruation, uterine bleeding may occur, anemia may develop. You should also pay attention to weight fluctuations, skin changes and visual disturbances.

Hormonal failure can cause serious diseases: fibroids, polycystic, uterine and ovarian cancer.

Malfunctions of the reproductive system

At a young age, malfunctions in the functioning of the reproductive system are manifested in the fact that a teenage girl experiences a delay in sexual development with a delayed formation of sexual characteristics (secondary). In this case, the ontogeny of differences that are uncharacteristic of a particular gender often occurs. Women develop secondary masculine characteristics (masculinization), while men develop feminine characteristics (the process of feminization).

In addition, the reproductive system suffers:

Sexual desire is significantly reduced, up to its complete absence;
Erectile function suffers in males;
Women have difficulty reaching orgasm (anorgasmia);
Infertility develops.

Disorders in the work of the nervous system

With hormonal dysfunction, the process of cerebrosthenia develops. The symptoms of exhaustion are as follows:

hypersomnia;
Nervousness and irascibility, unreasonable irritability;
Fatigue after a short period of work;
Emotional instability, tearfulness;
Emotional disorders that can lead to depressive disorders;
Decrease in intellectual abilities, which is reversible.

Pathologies of metabolism

Metabolic problems that occur with hormonal failure are most often expressed in an increase in body weight. A sharp jump in weight makes doctors think about hormonal pathology.

In addition, patients begin to suffer from osteoporosis. Problems with bone tissue arise against the background of calcium metabolism disorders.

However, with correct and timely treatment, all symptoms can be eliminated. However, if you ignore the failure for a long time, then it may well lead to more pronounced health problems, which will be provoked by long-term functional disorders in the work of most of the most important organs and systems.

Consequences of hormonal failure

Complications that can be caused by prolonged hormonal imbalance are as follows:

Inability to conceive a child, including male infertility;
Inability to have an adequate sex life, complete loss of libido;
Obesity;
The formation of malignant tumors, the growth of which depends on the hormonal status;
Fractures due to osteoporosis;
Heart attacks and strokes that develop against the background of atherosclerotic lesions;
The second type of diabetes.

Signs of hormonal failure in girls during puberty

Delayed puberty

An indicator of normal puberty in females is its manifestation in the period from 7 to 8 years. This process is completed by the age of 18. In the pubertal period, there is an acceleration in the rate of maturation of the body, an increase in height and weight, the formation of secondary sexual characteristics. It was at this time that the formation of the female reproductive system takes place, which is responsible for the process of reproduction in the future.

If secondary sexual characteristics are observed in children under 7 years of age, then sexual development is considered premature. In this case, an early start of menstruation occurs (sometimes this can happen even at 4 years old), the formation and growth of the mammary glands. Girls begin to quickly increase in height, however, it will ultimately not exceed 152 cm. This is due to premature ossification of the skeletal zones responsible for the girl’s height growth.

There are several types of early onset puberty:

Pathological premature maturation, caused by disorders in the central genesis or occurring against the background of existing ovarian tumors that produce hormones. Most often, it is the tumors located in the region of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus that become the causes of early puberty;
Early sexual development of the constitutional type, its cause is the child’s genetic predisposition to an early onset of puberty. At the same time, there are no pathological disorders in the systems responsible for the hormonal background. Such girls have a normal ability to reproduce, they do not need therapy. The first menstruation does not begin before 6 years.

The fact that the girl has a delay in the onset of puberty will be indicated by the absence of secondary sexual characteristics before the age of 16. More often, these problems arise as a result of a genetic predisposition. At the same time, all systems after the onset of menstruation (at the age of 17 or 18) will work normally, and this feature of development will not complicate the process of further conception and childbearing.

However, there is also a pathologically determined delay in puberty. It can be a consequence of either Shereshevsky-Turner disease, or disorders in the functioning of the pituitary gland.

Currently, more and more often delayed puberty occurs due to alimentary exhaustion. It is the result of starvation due to mass dieting and girls’ desire for painful thinness.

Sexual development with erased virilization

Sexual maturation with erased virilization is a pathological process in which a person has sexual characteristics that are not inherent in his gender. For example, in women, hair grows in a male pattern or the skeleton is distorted. If the basis for such a failure was a violation of metabolic processes, then characteristic signs may appear: acne, overweight, stretch marks.

Genetically determined pathologies in the development of the ovaries or the adrenal cortex can be the basis for a failure with latent virilization.

More often than others, the hypothalamic syndrome of puberty occurs, the causes of which are not fully understood. However, it is generally accepted that such a response of the body occurs against the background of an existing chronic tonsillitis or other infection, or as a result of an injury to the skull. It is impossible to exclude the influence of emotional stress, past viral infections, the fact of chronic overeating.

Hypothalamic syndrome, which provokes hormonal dysfunction, manifests immediately after the first menstruation in a girl, that is, in the age period from 11 to 13 years. At the same time, the appearance of a teenager exudes health: such girls are usually tall, slightly overweight, their hips and shoulders are wider than their peers. However, behind the apparent external well-being, there are many problems, including headache, instability of blood pressure, excess of its indicators, excessive irritability and fatigue.

Stretch marks – This is another characteristic sign of the hypothalamic syndrome, and these purple stripes that appear on the skin are most often not associated with obesity. Their appearance signals the activation of pathology.

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding

With hormonal failure, profuse uterine bleeding may occur during the onset of the next cycle. In this case, there are violations in the associated work of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovaries.

Juvenile uterine bleeding is a fairly common problem and accounts for up to 20% of all teenage pathologies in the gynecological field.

As for the etiology of dysfunctional bleeding, it can be vitamin deficiency, SARS, or mental and physical overstrain. Moreover, pathology can develop in a teenager who does not have health problems, but who is studying in a too intensive program.

Symptomatically, this pathology is accompanied by the development of bleeding after a prolonged absence of the next menstruation. Moreover, the delay can vary from two weeks to several months. Menses preceding juvenile bleeding usually do not have abnormalities for 2 years. The bleeding itself can be both profuse and scanty, but prolonged (up to 15 days). They are often the cause of anemia.

If abnormal menstruation becomes too intense, then this may cause the development of DIC. In this case, urgent help from doctors is needed, since increased blood loss threatens the life of a teenager.

Signs of hormonal imbalance in women of reproductive age

Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea is characterized by the absence of menstruation in women who have not entered menopause, are not carrying a child and are not breastfeeding.

Distinguish amenorrhea that has arisen:

Due to ovarian pathology;
Due to a failure of the central nervous regulation;
Due to disorders of the adrenal cortex.

If amenorrhea arose as a result of ovarian pathology, then most likely the cause is their polycystic disease. It becomes the result of stress, difficult childbirth, an early start to sexual activity, etc. In parallel, a woman will suffer from more or less pronounced obesity, as well as from male-type hair growth (hair grows on her chin and on her lip, on the inner thighs). Stretch marks appear on the skin, nails become brittle, hair falls out. If such a condition is ignored, then this threatens the further development of diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis, since these diseases are the result of a malfunction in the metabolic processes of lipids and carbohydrates.

When amenorrhea of central origin is observed, the patient suffers from anemia, bradycardia and hypotension. Long-term illness or starvation, a hereditary factor in which the pituitary gland and hypothalamus are affected, injuries and oncological diseases can lead to such hormonal disruptions.

It is difficult, with damage to internal organs, a hormonal failure occurs, caused by Itsenko-Cushing’s syndrome. Amenorrhea in this case is one of the symptoms of the disease. The signs of this pathology are quite specific: specific obesity is observed, in which fat accumulates in the neck, face and upper body, the limbs gradually atrophy, striae appear on the body, hair grows in a male pattern. In parallel, the woman suffers from osteoporosis, hypertension and impaired glucose susceptibility.

If a woman has signs of this syndrome, then it makes sense to suspect the pathology of the adrenal glands. The cause may be hormone-producing tumors, or neoplasms localized in the pituitary gland and synthesizing steroids, which are normally produced by the adrenal glands.

Pseudo-Cushing’s syndrome is considered a common phenomenon leading to hormonal failure. It provokes disturbances in the work of the neuroendocrine system, and alcoholism, mental diseases and obesity can cause functional hypercortisolism.

Intermenstrual uterine bleeding

It is hormonal dysfunction that most often causes uterine bleeding. Menstruation occurs with disturbed periodicity, the risk of oncology increases, the reproductive ability of a woman decreases, and problems with bearing a child appear.

There are two types of functional uterine bleeding. The first type is ovulatory, in this case, blood loss occurs some time after the delay in the cycle. The delay itself can last more than 2 months. Blood loss is not too plentiful, however, in time they are quite long. There is a periodic increase in blood loss with a subsequent decline.

The second type – anovulatory – is distinguished by a progredient lengthening of the cycle. The duration of such menstruation can exceed a month.

Premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome is characterized by a cyclical symptom complex in women, which is due to a malfunction of the hypothalamus regarding the regulation of hormonal production. This pathology can occur at any age, but most often affects women over 30 years of age. As for the causes of the ongoing violations, scientists suggest that the hereditary factor plays a role. In addition, severe stress, abortion and diseases of an infectious nature can provoke hormonal dysfunction. The influence of a sedentary lifestyle, nutritional errors, pathologies of the central nervous system, as well as gynecological pathologies is not excluded.

The syndrome starts a few days before the start of the next menstruation, on the first day of the cycle it gains maximum strength, after which it eliminates itself. In severely current pathology, the duration of symptoms can increase significantly.

The nature of the course of premenstrual syndrome may be as follows:

According to the type of metabolic disorders with swelling of the limbs and face;
By type of migraine with severe headaches, nausea and vomiting;
According to the type of neurosis with excessive irritability, depressive states, increased fatigue and sleep disturbances;
According to the type of dystonia with a slowing of the pulse, a decrease in pressure and flatulence;
According to the type of sympathoadrenal crisis with pressure surges, unreasonable fears, an increase in the number of heartbeats, culminating in copious urine output. Such crises are the result of a malfunction of not only the hypothalamus, but also the adrenal glands.

Common symptoms for most women are pain in the mammary glands and increased olfactory function. Sometimes there is an increase in body temperature, heart pain, allergic manifestations. The younger the woman, the more she is prone to depression during premenstrual syndrome, and the older, the higher the tendency to irritability these days.

Hormonal failure in women after an abortion

In terms of frequency of occurrence, it is hormonal dysfunction that is the most common complication of abortion. This procedure is accompanied not only by the most complex restructuring of the body, but also by a strong nervous shock. If this is the first pregnancy for a woman, then the risk of complications increases significantly. Moreover, the method of interruption does not have a significant effect on this. However, it is best to perform the procedure as early as possible, this somewhat reduces the risk of possible complications.

If a medical abortion was chosen as a method of terminating a pregnancy, then the woman is prescribed hormonal therapy, which contributes to the normalization of the cycle. When no complications develop, it returns to normal after a month.

The onset of hormonal dysfunction after an abortion may indicate:

body weight growth;
Stretch marks;
Nervous symptoms;
Jumps in blood pressure, pulse instability, excessive sweating.

Hormonal failure in women after childbirth

The body of any woman who has given birth undergoes complex hormonal transformations, so menstruation can begin with a certain delay, even if the child is not breastfed.

Hormones have an effect on weight gain during breastfeeding, however, their action is a physiologically determined need that ensures milk production. In this regard, breastfeeding women need to be in motion as much as possible and not consume foods that are high in calories. Most often, proper nutrition and physical activity allow you to eliminate excess body weight after lactation stops.

If the weight does not go away, despite the fulfillment of all the doctor’s prescriptions, then this most often indicates hormonal dysfunction.

You should consult a doctor if:

Weight increases unmotivated;
Virilization process is observed;
The menstrual cycle is not restored, the discharge between menstruation is disturbing;
Neurological disorders appear.

Stress, infections, exacerbation of existing chronic diseases, as well as gynecological pathologies can increase the risk of developing hormonal dysfunction after childbirth. Overwork, which most young mothers experience, negatively affects the hormonal system.

Hormonal failure in women during menopause

When a woman reaches the age of 45, the gradual extinction of her sexual functions begins. This process is called climax. The period is characterized by an irregular menstrual cycle, followed by the complete disappearance of menstruation. However, this process should not be taken as a pathology, because it is a physiological norm. Recently, there has been an increase in the incidence among women of menopausal syndrome, which is provoked by hormonal dysfunction.

Signs of the development of a pathological menopause are divided into three groups:

Developing early – about three years before the complete stop of menstruation;
Delayed in time – they begin to disturb a woman three or two years after the complete cessation of menstruation;
Late – develop after 5 years after the cessation of menstruation.

Hot flashes are the most pronounced symptom of early menopausal pathology caused by hormonal dysfunction. During such attacks, a woman experiences sensations of heat, mainly in the facial area. Other symptoms include depressive disorders, vegetovascular dystonia, migraine headaches, etc. (Causes and symptoms of hot flashes and how to deal with them?)

If we consider the symptoms of delayed menopause, then this is mainly a lesion of the skin in the genital area and dystrophy of the appendages. Urinary incontinence develops, painful sensations occur during intimacy, and the likelihood of developing cystitis and vulvovaginitis increases. These phenomena are associated with a decrease in the level of estrogen in the blood. Brittle nails, hair loss and dry skin are characteristic signs of estrogen deficiency.

The symptoms of menopause delayed in time are gross metabolic disorders. Women suffer from osteoporosis, atherosclerosis and diabetes.

Why changes occur in the hormonal sphere during menopause is a question that is still open. However, there are suggestions that the provoking factors are poor nutrition, stress and bad habits.

The development of pathological menopause threatens women:

With pathologies of the nervous system;
With violations of neuroendocrine regulation;
With gynecological infections;
Passed through miscarriages, abortions or had a complicated birth.

Causes of hormonal failure in men

To ensure the normal development of secondary sexual characteristics in adolescence, hormones produced by the testicles – androgens – are responsible for muscle strength, impressive growth and aggressiveness of adult men. However, in order for the male body to work without failures, it also needs female hormones – estrogens. Therefore, against the background of the full health of a man, his blood will have the same estrogen content as a woman in the menopausal period.

It is they who are responsible for the sexual desire of a man who will suffer with their shortage or excess. Estrogens provide an opportunity for the successful maturation of spermatozoa, are responsible for mental abilities, regulate metabolic processes, in particular, lipid and calcium metabolism in bone tissue.

Estrogens in men are the result of the work of the liver and adipose tissue, which convert testosterone. In the sex glands, it is formed negligibly small.

The activity of the male reproductive glands is also regulated by the pituitary and hypothalamus working in the system, as well as the work of the testicles. Therefore, the main cause of male hormonal dysfunction is considered to be hypogonadism – secondary and primary.

Secondary hypogonadism is a pathology of central origin, which, like in women, is the result of brain tumors (pituitary and hypothalamus), neuroinfection, congenital malformation or trauma.

Sometimes hormonal failure occurs as a result of chronic poisoning against the background of alcoholism, the use of drugs, harmful professional activities. Such intoxication entails increased production of estrogen from testosterone.

Endocrine pathology is a rare cause of hormonal dysfunction in the male body. Hormone-dependent tumors, pathologies of the liver and kidneys also rarely provoke such disorders.

Symptoms of hormonal failure in men

Puberty

Beginning of puberty in young men can be both late and ahead of schedule. If we are talking about premature puberty, then it is caused by brain tumors localized in the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. In addition, the cause may be a genetic predisposition. Secondary sexual characteristics in this case may appear in a boy as early as 7 years old. The child begins to grow rapidly, but this process stops in adolescence, as the growth zones of the skeleton ossify prematurely.

If a boy has obesity and other symptoms of metabolic disorders, then most often this hormonal failure is provoked by the pathological work of the adrenal cortex. An additional provoking factor is the child’s consumption of hormone-containing foods. For example, meat and milk with steroids.

There may be several reasons leading to a delay in the onset of puberty in boys:

Poisoning, infection, injury – any damage to the central nervous system;
Diseases of the thyroid gland, obesity – pathologies of the endocrine nature;
Chronic diseases that provoked the depletion of the body.

In the treatment of delayed puberty, hypogonadism and hereditary predisposition should be considered as possible influencing factors.

Hormonal failure in reproductive age

Manifestations of sexual dysfunction in the reproductive period most often occur against the background of increased estrogen production:

Excess body weight;
Pathologies of the nervous system;
Growth of the mammary glands;
Violations of sexual desire and the possibility of reproduction.

The reasons for the failure can be very diverse: pathologies of internal organs and systems, poisoning, bad habits, nervous tension, malnutrition, etc. Symptoms in each case will be supplemented by appropriate etiological signs.

Menopause in men

A natural physiological stage is the extinction of sexual function in men in adulthood. However, it also happens that this process is accompanied by pathological disorders.

First of all, menopause in men will be accompanied by the following symptoms:

Increased irritability;
fatigue;
Depressive moods;
Falling self-esteem;
Panic attacks;
Fall of cognitive abilities, decrease in creative possibilities;
Feelings of inadequacy and uselessness.

In addition to disorders in the nervous sphere, men suffer from impotence, in parallel with which problems with urination begin.

The mammary glands may begin to increase, body weight increases, and fat begins to accumulate in places uncharacteristic for men – on the sides, on the hips. Facial and chest hair stops growing.

The cardiovascular system suffers, atherosclerotic vascular lesions and hypertension begin to develop.

The skin gradually atrophies, the condition of nails and hair worsens. Like women, men can have hot flashes, increased work of the sweat glands.

Factors provocateurs of pathological male menopause are as follows:

Pathologies of the central nervous system caused by injuries, infections, poisoning;
Diseases of the endocrine gland;
Bad habits, poor nutrition, low physical activity;
Liver disease;
Prolonged stress;
Somatic diseases;
Genetic predisposition;
Previously transferred hormonal dysfunctions.

Diagnosis of hormonal failure

The comprehensive survey should include:

Tests to detect hormone levels, general and biochemical blood tests;
Examination of internal organs, which allows you to assess their possible damage caused by hormonal dysfunction;
Exclusion of pathologies of organic origin, for example, tumors, cirrhosis of the liver, etc.;
Carrying out differential diagnostics, which allows to identify hypogonadism, Itsenko-Cushing’s syndrome, etc.

What to do with hormonal failure?

If a tumor has become the cause of the violations, then it must be eliminated from the body. When the failure provocateur factor cannot be eliminated, for example, if it is a menopause, then hormone therapy is required. If the pathology does not have a severe organic nature, then its manifestations can be successfully eliminated by a course of medication.

Treatment involves the use of hormone therapy. It will not only eliminate the symptoms of the disease caused by hormonal fluctuations, but also restore the menstrual cycle and prevent the recurrence of the disease. In some cases, hormone therapy alone is not enough, and patients undergo surgery.

It is very important to remember that therapy is always selected individually, depending on the results of medical tests. This suggests that self-medication with hormonal failure is contraindicated. To avoid complications and serious consequences, you need to undergo gynecological examinations twice a year.

Preventive measures to prevent the recurrence of the disease, both in women and men, are reduced to the following rules:

Adherence to the principles of proper nutrition;
Compliance with the daily routine;
Strong physical activity;
Rejection of bad habits;
If possible, avoid stressful situations.

If there are appropriate appointments, then physiotherapy, treatment in sanatoriums and dispensaries can be shown.