What is hormone imbalance, and should you be worried? 

In this article, we’re going to dive into the topic of hormone imbalance. Specifically, what hormones are, what it means when they’re ‘imbalanced’, what kind of symptoms to look out for, and what you can do about it. 

Hormones are tiny substances that act as chemical ‘messengers’ within our bodies – they communicate with our body’s cells to dictate almost every aspect of our life, including our weight, metabolism, appetite, mood, skin, menstrual cycle, sleep, and sex drive.[1] Different hormones have different functions, but they all play an important role in our overall health. 

Basically, hormone imbalance means too much or too little of a certain hormone. This can usually be identified through blood tests. Often this manifests itself in symptoms and is linked to conditions like PCOS, thyroid disorders, menopause and infertility. 

When everything is working optimally, each hormone is able to play its part and the overall effect is one of balance. It’s a bit like an orchestra, with every player performing their part to create a harmonious ensemble. But when one player’s instrument is out of time, or playing off key, it throws the whole orchestra off. Hormones work in a similar way – when one is out of balance, it can have an effect on the rest, which can manifest in a number of ways in the body.  

We have many different hormones, but here are a few of the main ones which you might hear in the context of ‘hormone imbalance’ in women:

‘Oestrogen’ is actually three hormones – oestrone, oestradiol and oestriol[2]. Made mainly in the ovaries, this is considered to be the ‘female’ hormone, as it’s responsible for giving us our feminine attributes like breasts, curvy hips, soft, smooth skin and even the pitch of our voice. It’s also responsible for maintaining bone density and muscle mass, influencing our mood, aiding concentration, and protecting our heart and brain. 

Excess oestrogen can cause bloating, puffiness or water retention, breast tenderness, heavy bleeding, endometriosis or painful periods, fibroids, mood swings, anxiety, headaches, insomnia and brain fog. Conversely, low oestrogen can cause poor memory and focus, low mood or depression, low motivation, wrinkles, night sweats, trouble sleeping, overactive bladder, achy joints, vaginal dryness, and low libido – many of which are part and parcel of perimenopause, when oestrogen levels decline. 

Another of the female sex hormones, progesterone helps prepare our body for conception and pregnancy.[2] For menstruating women, during the second phase of our cycle, after ovulation, progesterone will be higher while oestrogen levels drop off. Low progesterone might manifest itself in PMS, menstrual headaches, painful or swollen breasts, irregular, heavy or painful periods, bloating before your period, infertility, and easily disrupted sleep. 

While testosterone is usually thought of as a ‘male’ hormone, women do produce some testosterone. It’s part of a family of hormones called androgens. Androgens, when balanced, can have a positive effect on mood, giving us that ‘get up and go’ feeling, as well as improving our libido. However, excess androgens can lead to excess facial or body hair, acne, greasy hair and skin, infertility, or PCOS. 

Thyroid hormones are sometimes referred to as our body’s thermostat – responsible for regulating our metabolism, which influences our energy levels, weight, temperature and pretty much every cellular function! Low thyroid (or hyperthyroidism) is common amongst women, and can cause weight gain, hair loss, sluggish digestion, muscle or joint aches, cold hands and feet, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, heavy periods, and infertility. If you experience any of these symptoms, visit to your doctor and ask to have your thyroid function checked. 

Cortisol is known as the ‘stress hormone’ – it helps us respond to stress, by increasing our alertness and focus, and activating our muscles. It also plays an important role in balancing blood sugar, weight control, mood, and immunity. However, with many of us being constantly triggered by stress in our busy, modern lives, this hormone might be activated more frequently than is ideal. Over time, this can lead to a dysregulated stress response. High cortisol circulating in the blood might lead to you feel tired yet wired, and contribute to difficulty switching off, anxiety, sugar cravings, increased weight around the middle, and high blood pressure. Low cortisol – which might be caused by long-term, chronic stress – can lead to feelings of fatigue or burnout, low mood, poor immunity, muscle weakness, lower tolerance for stress, and low blood pressure.

Insulin is the main hormone responsible for managing our blood sugar levels. When we eat food, glucose in our bloodstream triggers the release of insulin from the pancreas. This in turn helps us to move the glucose out of our blood and into our cells, where it can be used as energy. After this is done, our insulin levels should drop, until the next time we eat. Too much sugar in our diet and we might end up with elevated insulin, which may lead to increased weight around the middle, excess androgens, elevated cortisol, insulin resistance and eventually Type 2 diabetes. 

Some signs of hormone imbalance: 

• Tiredness or fatigue 
• Hair loss
• Weight gain 
• Poor sleep 
• Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
• Headaches 
• Anxiety, irritability, depression 
• Skin issues (e.g. acne, premature ageing, eczema)
• Excess body and facial hair 
• Irregular or absent periods 
• Difficulty conceiving 
• Heavy, painful periods

However, the symptoms mentioned above (or any others that you’re experiencing) might be caused by any number of health issues, so please speak to your medical professional if you are concerned. 

The good news is that diet and lifestyle can have a huge impact on hormone balance. Eating a well balanced diet, with sufficient protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates is ideal.

Focusing on sleep, getting enough exercise and minimising stress as much as you can are all going to be helpful as well. 

If you’re reading this nodding along, and would like to have a chat about how I can help, please get in touch or book in for a free 30-minute consultation here.

[1] Greenstein B, Wood DF. The endocrine system at a glance. John Wiley & Sons; 2011 Sep 6.

[2] Endocrine Society, n.d. Reproductive hormones. Endocrine Society Patient Engagement Endocrine Library. Available at: https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/hormones-and-endocrine-function/reproductive-hormones [Accessed 6 Aug. 2025].