How Does Hormone Imbalance Affect You? Menopause Symptoms Explained

The effects of hormone imbalance on menopause symptoms is one of the least understood aspects of the menopausal change that women undergo as they enter middle age. Hormones are essential for the proper functioning of the human body, and even slight changes in them can result in major shifts in the way in which the body operates. Understanding these effects can help many women to better cope with the variety of changes they experience during this often confusing and disruptive part of their lives.

The glands that produce female hormones begin to reduce their production around age 50. Though there have been numerous studies conducted to determine exactly why this is the case, experts have only been able to make educated guesses thus far. Some believe that these glands were originally designed to produce estrogen and other hormones throughout the course of a woman's life, but that a doubling of life expectancy coupled with poor nutrition, little exercise, and dramatic stress increases have placed such tremendous pressure on these glands to produce more for a longer period of time - thus resulting in them ending production earlier than intended.

Most experts, however, prefer to look at the effects of hormone imbalance on menopause symptoms as a natural part of life that must be dealt with by the women who experience them. The fact is that declining hormonal production results in a series of menopause related symptoms that affect nearly every aspect of a woman's life.

The primary effects of hormone imbalance on menopause symptoms occur as a result of the decline in the woman's production of progesterone. This results in symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, insomnia, and otherwise unexplained weight gain. In addition, women also experience mood swings, a reduction in libido, and even depression over the changes their bodies are undergoing.

The decline in the body's production of progesterone is a necessary step in ending reproductive capabilities, as women have fewer and fewer ovulation cycles as they get older. Without an ovulation cycle that requires progesterone production to counter the increase in estrogen, a hormonal imbalance occurs that can create menopausal symptoms.

The effects of hormone imbalance on menopause symptoms can be sufficiently disturbing to cause some women to seek hormone replacement and other therapies in an attempt to bring their bodies back into hormonal balance. In fact, many doctors recommend treatment to curb the effects of hormone imbalance to enable their patients to enjoy a better quality of life not only during the stages of menopause, but afterward as well.

If you are in your late 30s or early 40s and experiencing menopausal symptoms, you may actually be suffering from the effects of hormone imbalance on these specific symptoms. The good news is that you may not be headed toward early menopause, but may instead require hormonal treatments to restore your body's natural balance of estrogen and progesterone. You should consult with your physician to determine the exact causes of your symptoms, and discuss the treatment options available to you.