Hormones - how to tell if there's an issue, by Dr Ceilidh Flanagan

Unexplained health symptoms can be a cause of concern, especially if everything else ‘seems normal’. A common but sometimes overlooked cause can be hormone dysfunction, in both men and women. Standard blood work doesn’t always look at or give a full picture, and medical treatment options can be limited. Also, there is often a lot of symptom overlap between hormone-related conditions, so it takes a trained medical professional - and often some specific lab work - to determine what the root cause is.

Naturopathic Doctors are well-trained in hormone issues and can be helpful looking through your current blood work or recommending some additional testing if relevant. They will also spend the time to determine if there are risk factors, and other lifestyle issues that could be contributing to the condition. Dr Flanagan has some advice (below) based on some of your Frequently Asked Questions about hormones.

How can I tell if I have hormone issues eg hyper/hypo thyroidism, PCOS, low or high testosterone?

• Hyperthyroid symptoms include anxiety/restlessness, unexplained weight loss, tremors, heart palpitations, heat intolerance, loose stools, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, hair loss, goiter and much more

• Hypothyroidism on the other hand shows up as depression, unexplained weight gain, constipation, dry skin/nails, cold intolerance, joint and muscle pain, slow heart rate, heavy or irregular menstrual periods, but also includes fatigue, hair loss, and goiter.

• PCOS is a syndrome, meaning it is more of a collection of symptoms than a specific hormonal disease. It’s symptoms are not just centered around menses but also include metabolic concerns such as high cholesterol and insulin resistance. Diagnostic criteria for PCOS is at least 2 of the following:

• Polycystic ovaries (determined by ultrasound)

• High androgens like testosterone (determined by bloodwork or symptoms such as acne/oily skin, hair loss on head, and body hair growth on areas such as chin or chest)

• Irregular menstrual cycles (missed cycles, unpredictable cycle length, absent ovulation)

• Testosterone imbalance can occur in both men and women. Testosterone is more often seen as problematic when it becomes high in women. Symptoms include  acne/oily skin, hair loss on the head, and body hair growth on areas such as chin or chest. Men on the other hand more often seek treatment when testosterone is suspected to be low. Symptoms of low testosterone in men include fatigue/low mood, low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, decreased muscle mass, and increased fat gain. 

What can cause hormone imbalances?

There are many factors that impact hormone health. Some common contributors to hormonal dysfunction include:

•  Inflammation (inflammatory foods, chronic conditions, food sensitivities)

• Genetics (mostly unmodifiable, but lifestyle can still impact!)

• environmental toxins (fragrance, disinfectants, pesticides, BPAs in plastic, etc.), 

• chronic stress (burnout/chronic fatigue, chronic illness or disease, overworking/overexercising, undereating, poor sleep)

• Although these factors are often unavoidable to some degree, they are often modifiable and it is important to limit exposure in as many areas as possible by building healthy lifestyle habits that combat these disrupting factors.

If you would like to talk more about some chronic symptoms you’ve been having, or have been diagnosed with an issue and are having trouble managing it - reach out to Dr Flanagan.