Hormones & Hormonal Imbalances

Has your husband, brother, child, parents or fellow lady labelled you hormonal in the 1000 days of practicing social distancing? What was your reaction?

Photo: Courtesy (Pinterest)

Were you really hormonal though sis? Or was it that you were a little over this season?

The first time I ever heard the word,’’ hormones’’, uttered was in high school.

I overheard one of the boys in our mixed boarding school referring to one of the girls as, hormonal, because she was all, moody, sad and obviously upset about something.

This pattern really made be anxious, as at any one time any of us looked upset we would be labelled hormonal!

I mean can’t a girl just be upset for an obvious reason? If yes, why then is she labelled hormonal?

The connotation behind hormonal at the time made it sound like women were so awkward or weird because we couldn’t ever have a grip over our emotions. As an adult, I can tell you, this is far from the truth!

But what really are hormones and what does ‘’being’’ hormonal mean for all females like me and you who is reading?

Well studies show that when chemical levels shift (hormones) they do cause changes in moods.

While this is true, this doesn’t mean that hormones have unlimited power over us.

We can’t be in control of our hormones but we can be in control of our response to them.

Better put, if you are in tune with your reproductive cycle, you got this sis!

For example:

If you are always hormonal during your monthly period, when the mood changes kick in, they won’t run you. You can be able to dictate how you react. Who wants their hormones to boss them around anyway?

Hormones are chemical messengers that are secreted directly into the blood, which carries them to organs and tissues of the body to exert their functions.

In this article we are going to tackle or talk about hormones that act on sexual and reproductive health functions of a woman.

This include:

1.Estrogen-produced by the ovaries, fat tissues and adrenal glands responsible for menstruation and pregnancy.

2. Progesterone -produced during ovulation in the ovaries and is responsible in maintaining the early stages of pregnancy.

3.Testosterone - Found in both women and men. In women it is responsible for sex drive and bone density etc.

The sexual reproductive hormones are secreted by the ovaries, placenta and uterus.

Hormonal Imbalances:

These organs secrete hormone in microscopic amounts and it takes only very small amounts to bring about major changes in the body and thereby causing hormonal imbalances. Even a very slight excess of hormone secretion can lead to reproductive health conditions, as can the slightest deficiency in a hormone.

E.g. An excessive production of estrogen leads to fibroids.

Hormonal Imbalances may be caused by diabetes, obesity and many other causes.

Hormonal Testing:

Is done at a hospital lab after your blood is drawn.

The test is conducted to determine your thyroid, estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and cortisol levels.

In the event one of the aforementioned hormones is at a much higher level than the others then you will be considered to have a hormonal imbalance.

Most of the times this test is required when you have reproductive health conditions such as fibroids, ovarian cysts, recurrent miscarriages etc

For example:

Low levels of progesterone is one of the many causes of recurrent miscarriages.

Therefore, if you have recurrent miscarriages, your doctor may insist on you taking this test.

N.B. A home pregnancy test is a type of hormonal test as well.

It measures your HCG levels in your body, which is only present when you are pregnant.

Treatment for a Hormonal Imbalances

They can range from natural to medical treatments.

Let me share the natural ones first, if you are like me who has experienced the wrath of medications from hospitals you may prefer going the natural route first.

So here goes:

This is mainly diet and physical exercise.

Since excess weight is a major cause of hormonal imbalances keeping off the weight off with a nutritious healthy diet is definitely a win and will really help with regulating your hormones.

Physical Exercise especially yoga is great for building strength, burning fat and calories and even further for your mental well-being.

Let’s get medical:

Medically, hormonal imbalances are treated according to the conditions they pose.

These conditions can vary from affecting your reproductive health, overall body weight, thyroid, skin etc.

In the event it affects your reproductive health and brings about conditions such Fibroids, PCOS, Miscarriages etc your doctor is best suited to advice what next treatment options you need to subscribe too.

Incase you suspect you have a hormonal imbalance kindly visit your gynaecologist who will recommend a test done by the laboratory in the hospital facility you visit.

I would love to hear all about your stories and experiences around the first time someone labelled you hormonal.

Would you then join in on a little fun on our Instagram platforms?

We are sharing our first-time stories on when we were labelled hormonal.

Remember your voice is powerful; sharing your story means helping your sister girl feel like they are not alone on their reproductive health journey.

Follow: @tndichu AND @myredisbeautifulke on Instagram and let’s get chatting.

Am glad you got to join in on this read. Until next time, thanks for stopping by.

XOXO,

Tabby