Female hormone balance involves the coordinated function of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus in the brain and the ovaries. The female hormones estrogen and progesterone produced by the ovaries have many effects on the body. When medical conditions or diseases cause female hormone imbalance, symptoms related to menstruation and other body systems commonly develop.
Irregular Menstrual Periods
Women with hormone imbalances often experience irregular menstrual periods, or vaginal bleeding occurring at an irregular interval. Adolescent women just beginning menstruation commonly have irregular periods until the hormone cycles become well established. Similarly, women approaching menopause frequently experience irregular menstrual cycles, caused by fluctuating hormone levels.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common cause of female hormone imbalance and menstrual irregularity. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists explains that women with polycystic ovary syndrome produce excess androgen hormones, which disrupt ovulation and the normal production of estrogen and progesterone. Although polycystic ovary syndrome is a chronic condition, medications can help regulate female hormone levels and control symptoms.
Amenorrhea
Amenorrhea, or the absence of menstrual periods, commonly occurs in women with a female hormone imbalance. Among adolescent females, primary amenorrhea describes a failure to begin menstruation by age 16, reports Penn State College of Medicine's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Abnormally low levels of hormones that initiate puberty and sustain the menstrual cycle can cause primary amenorrhea.
Secondary amenorrhea, or loss of menstrual periods in a patient that previously had regular cycles, proves more common than primary amenorrhea. A variety of medical conditions that disrupt normal female hormone balance can lead to secondary amenorrhea. In an April 2006 article published in "American Family Physician," Drs. Tarannum Master-Hunter and Diana Heiman report that possible hormone-related causes of secondary amenorrhea include hypothyroidism, anorexia nervosa or bulemia, chronic liver or kidney disease, malnutrition, polycystic ovary syndrome and adrenal gland disorders. Certain types of tumors of the brain, ovary or adrenal gland can also disrupt female hormone balance, leading to amenorrhea.
Hot Flashes
Hot flashes--the sudden sensation of heat with associated sweating--are a common menopausal symptom. Doctors believe that hot flashes occur due to a decreased level of estrogen. The medical information website InteliHealth reports that approximately 85 percent of women experience menopause-related hot flashes. This symptom also occurs in women who have their ovaries removed and in young women with low estrogen levels. Estrogen replacement therapy relieves hot flashes in most women.
Hirsutism
Hirsutism, or excess body hair, may occur with certain types of female hormone imbalance. Androgens, which normally occur in low levels in women, control body hair growth. Women with a female hormone imbalance may produce excess amounts of androgens, leading to increased body hair growth, notes MedlinePlus. Women with hirsutism may develop coarse hair on the face, chest, abdomen, thighs or back. Possible hormone-related causes of hirsutism include polycystic ovary syndrome, Cushing's syndrome and ovarian or adrenal tumors.
References
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Penn State College of Medicine Milton S. Hershey Medical Center: Amenorrhea
- "American Family Physician"; Amenorrhea: Evaluation and Treatment; Tarannum Master-Hunter, M.D., Diana L. Heiman, M.D.; April 2006
- InteliHealth: Hot Flashes
- MedlinePlus: Excessive or Unwanted Hair in Women
