Understanding Estrogen & Progesterone Imbalance in Women: Symptoms & Solutions

As women age, their hormones begin to tip out of balance, which can contribute to a variety of health issues, including weight gain, depression and headaches. Estrogen and progesterone in particular have a major impact on a woman's health and well-being. Estrogen and progesterone work together to keep a woman's reproductive health in top form.

Estrogen increases metabolism, promotes uterine growth and protects the heart. When estrogen is low, a woman might experience fatigue, night sweats and joint pain. The hormone testosterone has domain over a woman's sex drive and mental sharpness. Too much testosterone in a woman's system can mean acne, excess hair and infertility.

Balanced hormones are critical to a woman's health and there are ways to bring each of these vital hormones back to normal.

Things You'll Need

• A physician

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Instructions

• 1

  Test your hormones. Either schedule a blood test with your doctor or purchase a home hormone testing kit (either a saliva or urine test). In order to determine the best course of action, you must first get an accurate assessment of your hormones.

• 2

  Change your lifestyle. Reduce your stress level by practicing yoga and meditation. Improve your diet by eating foods rich in omega-3 such as salmon and eliminating alcohol.

• 3

  Consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT). When women begin to lose hormones, HRT can build those hormones back up to normal levels. Hormones can be a pill, patch or cream. Work with your doctor to determine what method is best for you.