The Most Common Hormone Disorders in Women

Article by Women’s Health Professional

Hormones are important because they determine how well your body will function and how well you feel from day to day. If your hormones are all in balance, you will get a good night sleep, you will have plenty of energy, you will have a normal sex drive and your digestive and immune systems will function properly. But there are times when the hormones can get off balance and hormone disorders come to the surface.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is one of the most common among women. However, many of these cases are undetected as it is estimated that one out of every 10 women may have this disorder. Symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome include fast weight gain, unusual growth of body hair, missed or irregular periods, severe acne and dark skin patches. The cause of this syndrome is not yet known but researchers believe there is a connection to genetics, insulin production and obesity. Women that have this syndrome are told by their doctor to eat a healthy diet and exercise. Sometimes birth-control pills and fertility drugs are prescribed to relieve the symptoms.

Thyroid dysfunction occurs in about 20% of women going through menopause. Again, this is another disorder that goes undiagnosed as experts believe millions more women may be suffering from this disorder. The majority of the women who have this dysfunction had a sluggish thyroid. They suffer from depression, weight gain, high cholesterol and fatigue. Other symptoms may include insomnia, hot flashes and irritability.