Hormones are small messengers in your body. They circulate, and they tell different parts how to function. These chemicals regulate a whole bunch of things you never even think of, like energy, how you feel, your skin, and how your body uses food. When these hormones are not balanced, you might find that it triggers some unexpected changes. It is important that you know what to look for so that you can get the necessary help to get back on track and start feeling your best.
Recognizing the Signs: Common Hints of Hormone Changes
Some common signs that your hormones might be changing include suddenly feeling very moody or super worried for no apparent reason. Shifts with your period can be a sign, too. You may have periods that are irregular or extremely heavy. Skin changes may occur, and you could break out with severe acne. Your skin might even feel different, as it may feel more oily or dry. You may put on extra weight or gain weight around the midsection, and you may also have less interest in activities you once enjoyed, feel tired all the time even after sleeping, or have thinner hair. You may even start growing hair in new places. Knowing about these common signs may help clue you in that something is wrong.
The Unexpected Role of Testosterone in Women’s Bodies
Many believe testosterone is only for men, but women make testosterone in their bodies too. They just have lower levels of it. With women, this tiny bit of testosterone builds muscles, affects mood, how much enjoyment there is in various activities and how much available energy there is presently.
But like any hormone, there can be too much testosterone in a woman’s body. If testosterone levels get too high, a woman might notice more hair on her face and body, and she might become more muscular, and her voice might get deeper. For obvious reasons, learning about these testosterone side effects in women is important if you have any peculiar symptoms and are trying to deduce their cause. If a woman experiences several of these signs, or if hormone levels are found to be high during testing for these symptoms, a doctor might explore different ways to address the imbalance.
But for select medical reasons, a doctor may offer a woman low-dose testosterone therapy, albeit in particular circumstances. This would only occur after careful consideration and only if there is a good reason to believe that doing so could be useful.
For instance, some women may have exceptionally low sexual desire or low energy levels that fail to respond to other treatments, and very rarely, may be candidates for low-dose testosterone. In these narrow instances, it may cause an increase in libido, enhanced energy, etc.
You must understand that TRT in women and men is not equivalent. For men, it brings low amounts of testosterone back to the normal range. The amounts taken by women are much smaller.
If you suspect that you may be contending with hormone difficulties, you must speak with a health professional. During a consultation, you will provide information about your health history, and you will have a blood test to gauge hormone levels. Urine and saliva tests may also be part of your workup. If the practitioner suspects that you have a problem with one of your glands that produces hormones, you may need to undergo some imaging, such as an ultrasound or MRI. Ignoring hormone issues, on the other hand, will lead to more significant problems, so seeking help and getting the proper diagnosis and treatment is critical.
