How Do You Check for Hormonal Imbalance?

Checking for a hormonal imbalance usually starts with a simple blood test, but understanding which hormones to test depends on your symptoms and medical history. Hormones influence everything from energy levels to mood and metabolism, so even small shifts can have a noticeable impact.

This guide explains what a hormonal imbalance is, how testing works and what signs to look out for if you think your hormones may be out of balance.

What is a hormonal imbalance?

A hormonal imbalance is when your body produces too much or too little of one or more hormones.

Hormones are chemicals produced by glands in the endocrine system that regulate a wide range of bodily functions, including metabolism, appetite, sleep cycle, reproductive cycle, sexual function, skin health, body temperature and mood.

Hormone levels naturally fluctuate throughout your lifetime, but significant or longstanding hormonal imbalances can cause various problems and health conditions. Our guide to the causes of hormonal imbalances covers the many different potential causes of hormonal imbalances in more detail.

Are my symptoms caused by a hormone imbalance?

The most common way to test for hormone imbalances is by using a blood test. A trained health assessment specialist will collect a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm. This sample is then labelled and sent to a laboratory for analysis.

If you are experiencing certain symptoms that could indicate you may have a hormonal imbalance, one of the first steps will be for a doctor to narrow down which of your hormones may be out of balance. That’s because the type of private hormone imbalance test needed may depend on the symptoms you may be experiencing and which hormone or hormones may be imbalanced.

You may also be asked some questions about your sex, age, symptoms, medical history, and the result of any other hormone tests you may have had. This will help your doctor understand more about which hormones may be responsible for your symptoms and which hormone blood tests are most appropriate.

For example, people experiencing thyroid hormone imbalances may experience unexplained weight loss or gain or difficulty regulating their body temperature. If you are concerned about your thyroid hormone levels, our guide to ‘What does your thyroid gland do?’ offers further insights into the role your thyroid gland plays in hormonal health.

However, some hormones can also be analysed by using urine or saliva samples.

Do I have a hormone imbalance?

If you are concerned you may have a hormone imbalance you may wish to learn more about some of the common symptoms of hormonal imbalances.

What are common symptoms of a hormonal imbalance in men and women?

Common symptoms of hormonal imbalances that both men and women may experience include:

• Weight gain
• Unexplained and sometimes sudden weight loss
• Fatigue
• Muscle weakness
• Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
• Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints
• Increased or decreased heart rate
• Sweating
• Increased sensitivity to cold or heat
• A change to bowel habits (constipation or increased bowel movements)
• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst
• Increased hunger
• Decreased sex drive
• Depression
• Nervousness
• Blurred vision
• Infertility
• Thinning hair
• Dry skin
• Puffy or rounded face

However, it is important to note that as many of these symptoms are nonspecific, they can also indicate other chronic health conditions. So, if you are concerned about any symptoms you’re experiencing, it’s a good idea to speak to your doctor or book a private GP consultation first.

What are common symptoms of a hormonal imbalance in females?

In addition to the above symptoms, women experiencing a hormonal imbalance may also experience signs such as:

• Problems with their periods – including missed, irregular, stopped or frequent periods
• Excess hair on the face, chin or other parts of the body, known as hirsutism
• Acne on the face, chest or upper back
• Hair loss
• Hyperpigmentation, usually along neck creases, the groin and under the breasts
• Skin tags
• Vaginal dryness
• Pain during sex
• Night sweats
• Headaches

What are common symptoms of hormonal imbalance in males?

In males, testosterone plays an important role in the normal functioning of the body. This means testosterone imbalances can cause a range of symptoms male specific symptoms, including:

• Development of breast tissue, known as gynecomastia
• Breast tenderness
• Erectile dysfunction
• Decrease in hair growth
• Loss of muscle mass
• Loss of bone mass, known as osteoporosis
• Difficulty concentrating
• Hot flushes
• Anaplastic – approximately 2% of thyroid cases are anaplastic

Private tests for hormone imbalances

If you are concerned that you may have a hormonal imbalance, you can book a private hormone imbalance test through Bluecrest Wellness. Our hormone blood tests are designed to give you key insights into various hormone levels including:

• Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) blood test
• Sex hormone binding globulin
• Testosterone (males only)
• Thyroid function
• Tiredness and fatigue blood test – includes a thyroid function test as well as analysis for other common causes of unexplained fatigue

All of these tests can be booked at a time and location that’s convenient for you and we use the latest technology to ensure accurate results. If you would like more advice about which tests are right for you, book a private GP consultation for advice.

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Need help? Call free on 0800 652 2183 to speak to one of our team.