Six Reasons Your Hormones Might Be Out of Whack

Happy October! To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’m launching a month-long series on hormone health.

When we think about female hormones, estrogen and progesterone usually come to mind first. But here’s the thing—they’re only part of the story.

If you’re experiencing period problems, PMS, mood swings, breast tenderness, low libido, hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog, or any other nagging symptoms - yes, it MIGHT be your hormones. 

AND ALSO your hormones might be out of balance for other reasons.

While your hormones may indeed be the culprit, it’s important to recognize that there are other underlying factors that can knock your hormone levels off track.

In my Integrative & Functional Medicine practice, I often see these six root causes behind hormonal imbalances:

1️⃣ Detoxification

Estrogen is processed in the liver, but when your liver’s detox pathways are sluggish or clogged, estrogen isn’t metabolized properly. This can lead to a buildup of estrogen in the body, contributing to hormone imbalance. Supporting liver detoxification can be a powerful step in restoring balance.

2️⃣ Gut Health

Once estrogen has served its purpose, it needs to be eliminated from your body, which happens through daily bowel movements. If you're constipated or dealing with poor gut health, estrogen can be reabsorbed into your system, fueling imbalances. A healthy gut is key for proper hormone clearance.

3️⃣ Stress

Have you heard of the “cortisol steal”? When you're stressed, your body prioritizes cortisol production over progesterone, which is crucial for balancing estrogen. This shift can worsen symptoms of estrogen dominance, as stress "steals" progesterone to fuel cortisol production, leaving your body hormonally off-kilter.

4️⃣ Blood Sugar Imbalance

Blood sugar spikes and crashes don't just affect energy levels; they also impact your hormones. Insulin surges lower levels of sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), a protein that controls how much free hormone (like estrogen and testosterone) is available to your tissues. When SHBG drops, free estrogen and testosterone rise, further disrupting balance.

5️⃣ Nutrient Deficiencies

Nutrients fuel every biochemical process in your body, including hormone production and metabolism. Deficiencies in key nutrients like magnesium and Vitamin B6 can hinder healthy estrogen metabolism and contribute to hormonal chaos.

6️⃣ Xenoestrogens

Everyday chemicals, known as xenoestrogens, can mimic estrogen in the body, amplifying estrogen dominance symptoms like acne, PMS, and heavy, painful periods. Long-term exposure to these chemicals—found in plastics, personal care products, and more—has also been linked to a higher risk of breast cancer.

Navigating all these factors can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to figure it out alone.

That’s where I come in.

If you suspect hormone issues but feel your concerns haven't been fully addressed, I can help! As a board-certified Integrative & Functional Medicine physician, I can help you “think outside of the box and dig deeper with a variety of laboratory testing to help uncover the underlying root causes of your symptoms and create a plan personalized for you that goes beyond the prescription pad to incorporate diet/lifestyle change, nutritional supplements, holistic therapies, health coaching and more! Contact us to get started!