Dr. Rebecca Schnatz shares the signs and symptoms of hormone imbalance and explains when you might – and might not – need hormone testing.
Summary: Hormonal imbalances can impact mood, energy, metabolism, and reproductive health. If you experience persistent symptoms, testing may be recommended to provide clarity.
- Signs of hormone imbalance include fatigue, irregular periods, mood swings, weight changes, acne, and skin/hair issues.
- There are times when hormone testing is not helpful (during stages of the reproductive lifecycle when hormonal fluctuation is normal) and/or reliable (while breastfeeding or taking hormonal birth control)
- Blood tests are the most common type of hormone test ordered by an OB/GYN (estrogen, testosterone, thyroid)
- If symptoms persist, consult a doctor for testing and treatment options.
Your hormones influence everything from energy levels and metabolism to mood and reproductive health. That means when your hormone levels fluctuate, it can sometimes be challenging to connect the symptoms to the cause.
If you’re experiencing unusual symptoms, it may be time to pursue hormone testing. However, there are also times when hormone testing is not helpful. Understanding what symptoms and other factors may lead your provider to recommend hormone testing can help women find answers and relief from their health concerns.
In this guide, we’ll explore key signs of hormonal imbalance and when hormone testing might be appropriate or not. Plus, we’ll share the different types of hormone tests that can help identify underlying issues.
Signs You Might Need a Hormone Test
Women experience hormone changes during puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause. During these periods of transition, symptoms of hormone fluctuation are a natural part of the reproductive life cycle.
However, symptoms of a hormone imbalance–especially at unexpected times–could indicate a medical issue such as:
- Polycystic Ovary SyndromePremature or early menopause
- Fertility issues
- Autoimmune conditions
- Thyroid disease
Stress and other lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise can also impact your hormones.
You might want to talk to your doctor about a hormone imbalance test if you experience any of the following:
- Changes in menstrual cycle such as periods becoming heavy or irregular
- Unexplained fatigue despite quality sleep
- Sudden weight gain or loss
- Mood swings, anxiety, or depression
- Infertility
- Low libido
- Sleep changes such as difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Hair changes, including loss or excess growth
- Persistent acne
- Dry skin or increased skin sensitivity (without changes to your skincare routine)
While there may be other causes for these concerns, hormone testing can rule out many of the most common ones.
When Hormone Testing Is Not Recommended
If you are over age 40 and experiencing symptoms of perimenopause, there’s rarely a need to test your hormones. This is a phase of life when hormones fluctuate significantly. Testing sex hormones during this time is not helpful because it only provides a snapshot of your hormone levels which are changing constantly.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t make an appointment to address any bothersome symptoms. Instead of hormone testing, you and your doctor can discuss the severity of your symptoms and how they are affecting your quality of life. Your provider can help you find a personalized solution to feel more like yourself throughout your transition.
Additionally, we would not test your sex hormones while you are breastfeeding. Lactation naturally suppresses the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. This will make it difficult to get a baseline for these hormones and draw accurate conclusions from the testing.
Hormone testing is also not recommended while taking hormonal birth control. Hormonal contraception suppresses the body’s natural hormone production, making the results of hormone testing unreliable. Your doctor can recommend how long to go off hormonal birth control before having your hormones tested to ensure reliable results.
Types of Hormone Tests for Women
Undergoing any type of new medical test can be nerve-wracking. On the whole, hormone tests are quick, minimally invasive, and provide fast answers.
Hormone blood tests are the most common type of hormone imbalance tests ordered by a board-certified OB/GYN. Your doctor will take a sample of your blood to be analyzed in a lab. Most hormone blood tests measure estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and thyroid hormones.
When to Schedule an Appointment for Hormone Testing
If your symptoms are persistent and interfering with your quality of life, it’s important to consult a doctor to see if you need hormone testing. Hormone imbalances can affect everything from fertility to mood and energy levels.
The results of your hormone level tests can help identify imbalances and guide treatment options. Whether through prescribing medications or hormone therapy or recommending lifestyle changes like reducing stress and improving diet and exercise, your VPFW provider can help you find relief.
It’s time to take proactive steps toward restoring balance and improving your overall health. Schedule your appointment and meet with a VPFW physician at one of our Richmond, VA OB/GYN locations to get answers to your hormone-related questions.
