10 signs your body is giving you about your hormones

1. Darkening skin around folds of skin including on the stomach, armpit, and neck crease

This is known as acanthosis nigricans and can occur when a person has insulin resistance. This is commonly seen in women who has PCOS. With high insulin, the skin cells are stimulated to produce darker pigments. Ask your doctor to test your fasting insulin and fasting glucose to determine if you have insulin resistance.

2. Male pattern baldness

When a woman starts to notice hair loss around her hair line and the top of the scalp, it can mean that her testosterone and insulin levels are too high. This commonly occurs in a condition known as PCOS. Ask your doctor to test your testosterone and insulin, and to rule out PCOS.

3. Abnormal cycles + difficulty in handling stress

This combination could mean that there is may not be enough progesterone produced by the ovaries. Progesterone is produced by the ovaries when you ovulate, and stimulates GABA (a neurotransmitter) in the brain which causes relaxation.

4. Unwanted hair growth

An increase in unwanted hair growth around the chin, chest, stomach, and arms could be a sign that you are producing too much testosterone. This commonly occurs in a condition known as PCOS. Ask your doctor to test your testosterone levels to see if it is high.

5. Significant breast pain with periods

This can mean that your estrogen and progesterone ratio is imbalanced. Estrogen may be too high, while progesterone too low.

6. Spotting before your period starts

Spotting before the first day of your real flow can mean that your progesterone levels are too low. Test your progesterone on day 21 of your cycle via a blood test to see if your progesterone levels are adequate.

7. Always cold, can't warm up

This is one of the key symptoms of low thyroid function. Other symptoms include weight gain, fatigue, constipation, and hair thinning. Ask your doctor to test your TSH, T4 and T3.

8. Waking up throughout the night

If you're waking up multiple times throughout the night, it could mean that your melatonin levels are low. Melatonin (sleep hormone) should rise at night, while your cortisol (stress hormone) should lower at night. If there is an imbalance in these hormones caused by stress or bad sleep hygiene practices, it can cause you to have poor sleep.

9. Low sex drive

If you're desire for sex has lowered with no known cause, it could be a sign that your testosterone levels are low. This occurs a lot in women who are on birth control, because birth control lowers testosterone.

10. Can't sleep and super anxious

This could mean your thyroid is overactive. Other symptoms may include weight loss, feeling warm all the time, and diarrhea.

Are you experiencing any of these symptoms? Book a consult today to further investigate.