Everyone will experience natural periods of hormonal imbalance or fluctuations at particular points in their life.
But hormonal imbalances can also occur when the endocrine glands are not functioning properly.
Endocrine glands are specialized cells that produce, store, and release hormones into the blood. There are several endocrine glands located throughout the body that control different organs, including the:
• adrenal glands
• gonads (testis and ovaries)
• pineal gland
• pituitary gland
• hypothalamus gland
• thyroid and parathyroid glands
• pancreatic islets
Several medical conditions are known to impact some, or several, of the endocrine glands. Certain lifestyle habits and environmental factors may also play a role in hormonal imbalances.
Causes of hormonal imbalances include:
• chronic or extreme stress
• type 1 and type 2 diabetes
• hyperglycemia (overproduction of glucagon)
• hypoglycemia (more insulin produced than there is glucose in the blood)
• underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
• overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
• over- or underproduction of the parathyroid hormone
• poor diet and nutrition
• being overweight
• hormonal replacement or birth control medications
• abuse of anabolic steroid medications
• solitary thyroid nodules
• pituitary tumors
• Cushing’s syndrome (high levels of the hormone cortisol)
• Addison’s disease (low levels of cortisol and aldosterone)
• benign tumors and cysts (fluid-filled sacks) that affect the endocrine glands
• congenital adrenal hyperplasia (low levels of cortisol)
• endocrine gland injury
• severe allergic reactions or infections
• cancers that involve endocrine glands
• chemotherapy and radiation therapy
• iodine deficiency (goiters)
• hereditary pancreatitis
• Turner syndrome (females with only one functioning X chromosome)
• Prader-Willi syndrome
• anorexia
• phytoestrogens, naturally-occurring plant estrogens found in soy products
• exposure to toxins, pollutants, and endocrine disrupting chemicals, including pesticides and herbicides