Hormone Imbalance Issues?
Much like thyroid problems, hormone imbalances can have a major impact on your health. Hormone imbalances, especially in women, can be common. It is estimated 80 percent of women will have some form of hormone imbalance in their lifetime, according to Steady Health. Women are much more likely than men to have a hormone imbalance and/or a thyroid condition. These hormonal imbalances often occur near milestone events like pregnancy, perimenopause, or menopause.
Why does hormone imbalance matter, and how can you start to feel better?
Hormones can shift at different times in your life. For women, this may occur during pregnancy or menopause. Health issues like autoimmune conditions and mood disorders can be symptoms of unidentified hormonal imbalances. Taking certain medications (e.g. birth control pills) can also trigger changes in hormone levels. These subtle (or dramatic) shifts in hormonal levels can cause mood swings, fatigue, irritability, brain fog, irregular menstrual cycle, low libido or sex drive, insomnia, hormonal weight gain, and more. If you’re feeling less than your best, a functional medicine doctor or nurse practitioner may recommend bloodwork or specialized hormone testing.
Tests for hormone imbalance can all be done at a functional medicine practice like Tendwell or even from the comfort of your own home, as many of the specialized tests can be shipped directly to your door.
A favorite of mine is the Dutch Test Hormonal Testing (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones), which includes:
Comprehensive assessment of sex and adrenal hormones and their metabolites.
Daily, free cortisol pattern
Organic acids
Melatonin (6-OHMS)
8-OHdG
After receiving your test results, we recommend speaking with a functional and integrative health doctor at Tendwell to review them in depth. In traditional medicine, nuanced testing is often traded for a one-size-fits-all solution. At Tendwell, we consider the complicated interplay of genetics, biochemical components, and lifestyle factors through a functional medicine lens. These highly specialized functional tests will help identify the root causes of the imbalance. And a personalized treatment plan for optimizing your health and well-being will be designed by your collaborators at Tendwell.
If you’re looking for functional testing or integrative medicine in Denver, become a Tendwell member to unlock your best health.
