Hormones play such a crucial role in how the body functions on a daily basis. This is why hormone imbalance testing is so important because if there are any deficiencies or even toxic levels of a certain hormone, it could lead to quite severe symptoms or problems.(1)
Hormone imbalance testing can help to identify if there is a problem with the endocrine system that releases hormones. Your endocrine glands which make part of your endocrine system are glands that produce and release hormones into the body’s bloodstream. The hormones are then transported to the different tissues and organs that help control many of your body’s major processes.(1)
Common symptoms of a hormonal imbalance are acne, weight gain, fatigue, muscle weakness, muscle stiffness, sweating, increased sensitivity to temperature, water retention, decreased sex drive, depression, anxiety, and nervousness. Hormonal imbalance and hormone imbalance testing are commonly recommended for girls or women, because of menstrual cycle irregularities, pregnancy, and menopause. However, it is important to note that these imbalances affect men and women alike. The symptoms may vary slightly due to gender differences, but it is still highly recommended to consult your doctor and do hormone imbalance testing when you do start to experience symptoms that you have not experienced previously.(2)
Possible causes for hormonal imbalance that should also be considered when doing hormone imbalance testing is diet, stress, environmental reasons like pollution, hormone replacement therapy, contraceptives, medications, tumours, cancer treatments, and injury or trauma. (2, 3) Men who are considering doing testosterone replacement therapy should also be careful and make sure if there is a decline in testosterone through hormone imbalance testing because replacement therapy for men can also lead to benign prostatic hyperplasia, polycythaemia, and an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnoea. (4)
If there is any uncertainty, NuHuman Transformation clinic will be providing hormone imbalance testing options soon to help identify and support individuals who are struggling with their hormones or who are experiencing unexplained symptoms. This test will identify any hormonal imbalances by taking a saliva sample. Saliva is a biological fluid that contains specific soluble biological markers/biomarkers. These biomarkers help diagnose any diseases or imbalances within the body. It also has the added benefit of containing biomarkers that are usually present in blood and urine samples. (5)
Thus, when you experience symptoms and you suspect that it is a hormone imbalance, before getting treatments, do a hormone imbalance test to ensure you get the correct treatment option and to minimize any side effects.
