FEMALE HORMONE IMBALANCES
Hormones are important chemical messengers sending information from one part of the body to another. Examples of these “messengers” are estrogen, testosterone, leptin, insulin, progesterone, cortisol, DHEA, vitamin D, and thyroid hormone. When these messengers get dysregulated or imbalanced they can cause a myriad of health problems such as inflammation, adrenal fatigue, metabolic syndrome, obesity, sexual dysfunctions, heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, infertility problems, osteoporosis, thyroid dysfunction, and even dementia. One of the most common hormone imbalances in women is known as Estrogen Dominance. Estrogen Dominance can be caused by a variety of factors that include having excess body fat, digestive (gut) dysfunctions, chronic stress, adrenal dysfunction, and even xenoestrogens(man made chemicals that mimic estrogen).
Common symptoms of Estrogen Dominance include: Mood swings, decreased sex drive, heavy or irregular periods, worsening PMS, bloating/water retention, anxiety, hair loss, headaches/migraines, weight gain, insomnia, fertility issues, memory problems/brain fog, facial hair, and hot flashes.
Functional Medicine addresses female hormone imbalances by running complete hormone panels as well as other specialized tests that show what other imbalances may be affecting hormone levels, and then Dr. Williams will create a personalized plan to address these imbalances.