Never do we realize that growing older and going through hormone changes and even menopause could be such a challenge. We figure that if “I exercise, eat right and take care of myself I should be just fine.” Well the body is just a bit more complicated than we think and with every passing year, we need to pay closer attention to these hormones of ours. Hormones change as we age and if they are not kept in check, a whole heck of a lot can go wrong…like the thyroid, cancer and other daily functions. So what does this mean for women? I believe we really need to pay attention to the numbers. I asked my doctor if I could quote his humor in this regard and he said that I could because we need to keep it light to make it through these days, so here it goes…”Would you rather be bright-eyed and bushy tailed, while multi-tasking (progesterone balanced), calm and serene (estrogen balanced) and horny (testosterone balanced) OR just upright with a pulse?” I guess that is pretty easy to answer.
For Menopause women only
What I also learned from my doctor is that just because a blood test comes back “normal”, doesn’t necessarily mean it is in the healthy range. So I took copious notes and this is what I learned from my doctor, specifically his numbers for a “bushy tailed” existence. (Remember this is only for post-menopausal women)
- For the thyroid to be working properly and to find the most important results of a thyroid test, you must find the ratio of your TOTAL T3 and divide it by your Reverse T3. The ideal range should be from 9 to 14.
- Vitamin D level, which is very important to hormone function and should be between 60 and 80. (He said that most people he knows are vitamin D deficient.)
- DHEA Sulfate function should also be checked and will vary depending your progesterone and estradiol numbers.
- Progesterone should be between 1 and 2.
- Estradiol should be between 60 and 90.
- Testosterone should be between 40 and 60.
[To learn more about Natural Hormone Balance, click here.]
He also defined common symptoms of the hormones’ deficiencies and excesses. You do not necessarily have to have them all. Here goes his list:
Progesterone Excess:
- physical instability (drowsy, dizzy, spinning)
- weight gain/bloating
- nipple tenderness
- low libido
- acne
- sweet cravings/increased appetite
- depression/anxiety
- hot flashes
- fatigue
- water retension
Progesterone Deficiency:
- no period or less frequent
- profuse or prolonged bleeding
- PMS
- cystic/painful/lumpy breasts
- water retention
- anxiety, insomnia
Estrogen Excess: (Also Progesterone Deficiency)
- breast tenderness or pain/ increase size
- water retention
- impatient, nappy behavior
- pelvic cramps
- nausea
Estrogen Deficiency:
- hot flashes
- temperature swings, night sweats
- mental fogginess/forgetfulness
- fatigue
- anxiety/moody/depression
- droopy breasts
- dry eyes, skin and vagina
- loss of libido/pain with sexual activity
- thinning of scalp hair
- back and joint pain
- headaches/migraines
- episodes of rapid heartbeat
- gastrointestinal issues/bloating
Testosterone Excess:
- hyper/irritable/anxious/aggressive
- bossiness
- disturbed sleep
- increased libido
- oily skin
- weight gain around the belly
- loss of scalp hair
- testosterone/estrogen ratio imbalance (normal testosterone level but with a low estrogen level looks like high testosterone systems)
Testosterone Deficiency:
- overall decreased vitality
- psychological disturbances
- loss of intellectual capacity
- flabbiness/muscle weakness
- loss of coordination and balance
- scalp hair is fine and thinning
- decreased body hair
- skin is thin and dry
- poor body image
- fewer dreams
- loss of libido
Hormone balance while going through menopause takes a lot of work and finding a professional who listens to you is just as hard. The best to you as you make this journey!
Dear Christina,
I am very glad that you are sharing this extremely important information to the many women, such as myself, who suffer from hormone deficiencies or abnormalities. I wish I would have known about this a few years ago. It would have saved me from so many of the symptoms you listed above. If your hormones are not in balance, as my were almost non-existent, it can cause a whole host of problems. In my case I developed hypothyroidism. I went to my regular family MD and was told my TSH (thyroid) levels were in the “normal” range. But what most doctors wont tell you is that this test is used on the general population as a whole, ie. men, women, age, weight, etc… So, in my case, what was considered “normal” from a regular TSH test, was very abnormal for me. After finding the right doctor, who listened and ran tests that are more accurate, such as T3 and T4, it was determined that my thyroid levels were at an extremely low level and I was not producing enough “good” hormones, which explained why I was having severe gastrointestinal problems for the past 3 years, feeling extremely fatigued, with so many other symptoms, and in general feeling incredibly miserable. Hormone tests were also performed along with stool tests and it was found that because of my low thyroid levels, my hormones were also very low and not producing “good” hormones. I had a very bad yeast infection in my intestines because I didnt have any good hormones to fight the bad bacteria in my gut. He said I was nearly at a stage where these toxins would get out of control and carry throughout my body causing further harm. I took thyroid medicine to raise my numbers, took a daily probiotic, and after a two-week antibiotic treatment, everything started to really turn around for me – FINALLY! My infection cleared up, my thyroid was producing higher hormone levels, etc. I cannot tell you how much better I felt and still do for a whole year now! This is such a wealth of information that you are providing for your readers and it is so very important to listen to your body and be diligent in finding a doctor who will listen and run the proper tests and use holistic treatments as much as possible. Your site is absolutely wonderful Chris, and so are you! God bless you for your care and compassion for others and good health…Keep up this amazing work – it will help so many people! Thank you for sharing! I love your website and your books have been extremely helpful! Good health and peace to you!
Thank you so much Laura for sharing your personal experience and shedding more light on hormone imbalance. It is so important to keep track of our own health and I am so glad that you are on top of yours. I wish you much future health Laura and thanks SO much for your sweet encouragement and purchase of my books! Please visit again soon!