Hormone problems are so common, we assume they are just part of being a woman
EXPERT DR AVIVA ROMM TELLS LISA SALMON WHY SHE IS ON A MISSION TO HIGHLIGHT THE HAVOC HORMONAL IMBALANCES CAN CAUSE SUFFERERS
MOST women will know hormones can affect how they feel, but hormone problems go way deeper than just mood swings or period pain. Plus, they are definitely not something women simply have to put up with.
Women’s health expert Dr Aviva Romm says 80% of women have hormone problems at some point – struggling enough to seek medical help, take medication, or possibly even have surgery.
“Hormone problems are so common, we’ve just come to assume they’re par for the course of being women,” says Dr Romm, author of new book Hormone Intelligence.
“It doesn’t have to be this way,” says Dr Romm. “Taking a holistic approach that includes a hormonehealthy diet, supporting our microbiome health, and getting enough sleep and self-repair time can allow us to go from feeling like our hormones are whipping us around to feeling comfortable and confident in our bodies, while bringing our hormones in alignment with our innate hormonal blueprint.”
Here are six common hormonal health problems women can experience, plus some lifestyle advice from Dr Romm to help rebalance... 1.Menstrual cycle problems
If you go less than 26 days or more than 34 days between periods, if your period lasts more than seven days or less than three, or if you have excessively heavy or extremely light periods, Dr Romm says you technically could have an irregular cycle. If the changes can’t be explained by other factors, or continue for more than three consecutive months, she suggests they need investigating. Plus, she points out, if women have had an irregular cycle for a long time, “there’s a good chance you have an underlying hormone imbalance, or it’s quite possible that you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis.”
2.Premenstrual syndrome
Dr Romm says more than 150 physical, behavioural, emotional and cognitive symptoms have been attributed to PMS, including mood swings, anxiety, depression, change in appetite, sleeping too much or too little, and bloating. Yet the exact physiological causes are still unknown, although it’s thought to be linked to hormone imbalance.
“What we do know,” she says, “is that many factors have been shown to increase a woman’s risk of having PMS, and nutritional, lifestyle and other approaches have been proven to reduce or stop it.”
3.Menstrual migraines
Although up to 70% of women who have migraines experience the menstrual type as well, Dr Romm explains that some only have the menstrual type, caused by dramatic drops in oestrogen when levels have been high after ovulation, and before a period.
“Compared with non-menstrual migraines, the menstrual type tends
to be more severe, lasts longer, and is less responsive to usual acute medication therapies,” she says.
4.Polycystic ovary syndrome
It’s thought PCOS may affect around 10% of women of childbearing age, although up to half may still be undiagnosed, says Dr Romm.
It occurs when insulin triggers the ovaries, while inhibiting the production of a protein which carries hormones including testosterone and oestrogen through the bloodstream. This leads to an increase of testosterone in the circulation, causing symptoms including weight gain, irregular periods, fertility problems, acne, hair loss, and hair growth in unwanted places.
Women with PCOS are also at higher risk of developing conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
“It’s a big deal not to be glossed over or treated simply with a pharmaceutical,” stresses Dr Romm.
5.Endometriosis
In endometriosis, the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus – the endometrium – grows on the outside, often on the ovaries, bowel or pelvis lining.
This can start in the teenage years, and is triggered by the menstrual cycle, says Dr Romm.
Wherever the endometrial tissue is growing, it thickens, breaks down and sheds, just like the uterus lining does during a period. But because it’s not growing in the right place, blood gets trapped, leading to the formation of scar tissue and adhesions, which can cause severe and chronic pain, as well as fertility problems.
Dr Romm says endometriosis isn’t just a hormone problem – the inflammation it causes affects immune function too, and women living with it may be at risk of other problems, including eczema, allergies and autoimmune conditions.
6.Uterine fibroids
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths of muscle tissue in or outside the uterus, which can sometimes become as large as a grapefruit. They’re not always problematic, but Dr Romm says a third of women have symptoms from fibroids, which may include abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain, and increased need to urinate.
She points out that fibroids are the most common cause of hysterectomies after cancer.
“They’re another vital sign that something is up with your hormonal ecosystem.”
Hormone Intelligence by Aviva Romm is published by HarperOne, £20. Available now.