Hormones are chemicals made primarily by endocrine glands and released into the bloodstream to affect bodily functions. In women, the ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone. Both are necessary for normal sexual development and fertility. Both decline naturally when a woman approaches menopause. Imbalance occurs when the body produces too little or too much of either. Hormonal imbalances in women may be caused by genetics, the presence of substances in the environment that act like hormones or by underlying conditions, such as tumors or thyroid disease.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
The American Pregnancy Association states that 85 percent of women of reproductive age report problems related to menstrual cycles known as premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, caused by fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone. A severe form of PMS, premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMDD, is characterized by depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, appetite changes, breast pain, swelling and feelings of being overwhelmed or out of control. An article about the diagnosis and treatment of PMDD published in the October 2002 "American Family Physician" states that 2 to 10 percent of women with PMS have PMDD. The cause may be hormone-induced altered serotonin activity in the brain. Current treatments center on improving serotonin levels. Taking antidepressant medications mid-cycle can relieve symptoms, according to the article, and natural treatments with proven efficacy include the amino acid L-tryptophan with vitamin B6, a serotonin precursor and cofactor, calcium, magnesium and vitamin E. The article further states the herbs evening primrose oil or chasteberry have been shown to lessen breast pain. Women with PMDD should exercise regularly and to eat a healthy diet.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, is a common cause of female infertility. In this condition, the ovaries fail to release an egg or to form a corpus luteum, a source of progesterone. Instead, the ovary forms cysts. PCOS is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, increased risk of cardiovascular disease and endometrial cancer. Symptoms of irregular or painful periods may begin in adolescence. Weight gain in the late teens and early twenties, excess facial hair and feeling depressed are other common symptoms. The disorder seems to run in families, particularly close female relatives. In research announced online in the June 2010 Eureka Alert, 71 women with PCOS were matched by body type with 100 healthy controls and tested for blood levels of bisphenol A, or BPA, a hormone-disrupting toxin found in plastic. Lean women with PCOS were found to have BPA levels that were 60 percent higher than matched controls. Obese women with PCOS had 30 percent more serum BPA than normal obese women. Androgens, or male hormones, may be increased in women with PCOS and in this study, higher levels of BPA were correlated to higher levels of androgens.
Postmenopausal Bleeding
After menopause, too little estrogen causes the lining of the uterus to become thin and bleed. Too much estrogen without progesterone causes the lining of the uterus to build up rapidly and become unstable, leading to heavy and irregular bleeding. Rapid cell growth could lead to cancer. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists warns that any vaginal bleeding after menopause is abnormal and should be reported to a healthcare professional.
References
- "American Family Physician," Diagnosis and Treatment of Premestrual Dysphoric Disorder, Bhatia S., Bhatia S., Oct. 1, 2002, 66(7)
- "Eureka Alert: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome have higher BPA blood levels," June 21, 2010
- ACOG: Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause
- American Pregnancy Association: Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrrual Dysphoric Disorder
