Can Hormonal Balance Improve Irritability and Fatigue?

By Lisa Lilienfield, MD

The Kaplan Center for Intgerated Medicine

. http://www.kaplanclinic.com/

More Complementary & Integrative Healthcare Articles

Can Hormonal Balance Improve Irritability and Fatigue?

Often in mid-life men and women experience a decrease in endurance, sex drive and sleep quality, resulting in fatigue and irritability. Many tend to think it is “normal aging” or “a phase”; but it may actually be hormonal imbalance. While this phase is more common with women in menopause and peri-menopause, science shows that men also experience hormonal imbalance and its side effects.

Female Hormonal Fluctuation

Peri-menopause, the time leading up to menopause, gets little attention, but should. It can be characterized by night sweats, which can interfere with the sleep cycle, irritability, heavy or sporadic periods and can cause havoc for over a decade before women experience menopause the cessation of periods altogether. The good news is, there are natural remedies, such as herbs that may provide relief from peri-menopause symptoms with little or no risk (e.g. chaste tree berry and Siberian rhubarb). Acupuncture can be helpful for hot flashes, mood and sleep disturbances. Exercise, meditation and eating smaller meals in the evening can be beneficial, as well.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and Bio-Identical Hormones

When herbs and supplements cease to offer relief, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may relieve many of those unpleasant symptoms, but it is not without risks. It is important to have a specialist review your entire medical history and condition prior to considering HRT. A family history of breast cancer, stroke or heart disease may make this type of therapy inadvisable.

If the benefits outweigh the risks of hormone therapy, then “bioidentical” or “natural hormones” may be the solution for you. This is the approach we favor most, based on its safety. A bioidentical hormone mimics the body's natural state, and has been synthesized from a natural botanical source. We prefer that these hormones be administered transdermally, so that the hormones bypass the liver and go directly through the skin and into the bloodstream; then on to the target cells.

Yes, Men Can Have Hormonal Imbalances

It isn't only women who experience serious disruptions to their work or personal lives. Men are greatly affected, as well; although it is generally less publicized.

When it was disclosed that Steve Jobs suffered from hormonal imbalance, it gained more attention. Men manifest some symptoms similar to women; however, often the waning hormones occur more subtly.

Just as with women, hormones in men tend to fluctuate more with age. Imbalances in men and women may cause bone loss, depression, irritability, weight gain, and muscle loss; but men additionally may experience impotence or erectile dysfunction.

If you or a loved one are suffering from these symptoms, you might consider seeking advice from a board-certified integrative medical doctor who takes everything all medical and natural options into consideration before recommending a personalized approach to regain a more stable, symptom-free life.