Male and Female Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance

Male Symptoms

Symptoms of Low Testosterone

Are you 30+ and suffering from one or more of the following?

  • Depression
  • Lack of Energy & Fatigue
  • Loss of Concentration or Memory
  • Muscle Loss
  • Fat Gain
  • Weight Gain
  • Gynecomastia
  • Hot Flashes
  • Erectile Dysfunction
  • Low Libido/Lower Sex Drive
  • Hair Loss
  • Urinary Problems
  • Insomnia
  • Decreased Stamina
  • Irritability, Anxiety, or Depression
  • Night Sweats
  • Hypogonadism
  • Adrenal Fatigue
  • Thyroid Health

The biggest symptom of Low T for men is that they simply do not feel right. They might be run down, tired, loss of energy. They might have lost interest in sex or experienced the inability to perform. They may believe they still have interest in sex but are reminded by their wives that they used to want it all the time and hardly ever express interest any more. Someone with Low T might become more irritable to their family or coworkers, and may have lost some of their mental clarity and interest in work. They may experience other physical symptoms like weight gain, breast development, urinary problems, hair loss or hot flashes. Or, they may simply feel like they have not gotten a good night’s sleep in years and miss the energy they felt a few years ago to tackle their day to day life.

Understanding Male Hormones

Testosterone in Men

Testosterone is the life source for the male body which is filled with testosterone receptors. If testosterone levels dip, these receptors won’t receive enough testosterone and results in Low T symptoms. Since many healthcare professionals consider men from age 18-70 to have the same range of what is considered “normal” testosterone, many men begin seeing deficiencies as early as their 30’s but do not have access to therapy through their primary care physician. HRT Wellness doctors don’t think in terms of normal levels—we think in terms of optimal levels. Optimal is where a man feels and functions at his best, without unpleasant symptoms.

Estrogen in Men

Small amounts of estrogen improve cardiovascular health, enhance brain function, and prevent osteoporosis. But many men have too much which can result in symptoms like fatigue, low sex drive, and belly fat as well as an increased risk for prostate cancer.

Elevated estrogen usually occurs as testosterone declines, because as testosterone declines, most men will accumulate fat–primarily belly fat. Fat contains an enzyme called aromatase, and aromatase converts testosterone to estrogen. In other words, as men age, their bodies often exchange testosterone for estrogen at an increased rate. Estrogen, in turn, causes belly fat. It becomes a vicious circle. This is why raising testosterone levels without controlling estrogen is counterproductive, and why losing weight if your hormones are out of whack will be nearly impossible.

Unlike testosterone, we don’t think of estrogen as being a hormone that needs to be replaced. Instead, it needs to be controlled. Estrogen in men should be kept within a tight window. If it’s too high or too low, there can be symptoms.

Our doctors control estrogen as part of our treatment programs by placing men on an estrogen blocker as needed. Estrogen blockers effectively suppress estrogen conversion at the same time as we’re increasing testosterone levels, thereby eliminating existing symptoms, and preventing future ones.

Female Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance

Are you 30+ and suffering from one or more of the following?

  • Night sweats
  • Fatigue
  • Weight gain
  • Mood swings
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Loss of sleep/insomnia
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Loss of sex drive
  • Irritability
  • Loss of muscle
  • Dry skin

Every day, millions of women suffer from uncomfortable, and debilitating symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances due to pre-menopause, menopause, and post-menopause. This hormone imbalance may cause feelings of depression, anxiety, fatigue, hot flashes, insomnia, lack of sex drive, or just a constant under-the-weather feeling. The major hormones in women that typically need replacement are Testosterone, Estrogen, and Progesterone.

Understanding Female Hormones

Estrogen in Women

Maintaining balanced Estrogen levels can reduce or eliminate unpleasant symptoms of aging as women approach and enter menopause. Estrogen is actually more than one hormone, consisting of estrone, estradiol, and estriol. Estradiol is the strongest of the three estrogens and sends a signal to stimulate cell growth. Effectiveness of hormone replacement involve more than just the right type and dose of estrogen. The balance of other hormones, particularly progesterone, is also important.

Progesterone in Women

Estrogen should never be taken without progesterone, as the progesterone blocks the Estrogen from promoting excessive cell growth. When a woman has estrogen in her system without sufficient progesterone to balance it, she becomes “estrogen dominant”, which can cause unpleasant symptoms like hot flashes, fatigue, and insomnia. Perimenopausal women are frequently estrogen dominant, and progesterone is what will help alleviate their symptoms.

Testosterone in Women

Although Women only require a small amount of Testosterone, it is one of the first hormones to decline as women progress through their 30’s. Low sex drive is one of the most common complaints we hear from women with low testosterone as well as difficulty building and maintaining lean muscle mass.