What is Hormone Deficiency?
Hormones are essential chemical messengers that regulate many critical bodily functions. A hormone deficiency occurs when the body does not produce enough of a certain hormone to maintain proper biological balance. This can happen for various reasons:
- Diseases or disorders of the endocrine glands that produce hormones
- Damage or injury to endocrine glands
- Removal of endocrine glands due to illness/surgery
- Genetic conditions impacting hormone production or reception
Some common hormone deficiencies include:
- Thyroid hormone deficiency: The thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormones. This causes hypothyroidism, leading to symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, feeling cold, and more.
- Growth hormone deficiency: The pituitary gland produces inadequate growth hormone. Children may experience slowed growth and short stature. Adults can have decreased muscle mass, increased body fat, tiredness, and cholesterol issues.
- Testosterone deficiency: In males, the testes produce too little testosterone, the key male sex hormone. This causes symptoms such as low libido, erectile dysfunction, reduced muscle mass, depression, and infertility.
- Estrogen deficiency: In females, the ovaries do not release enough estrogen. This leads to issues like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, osteoporosis, emotional changes, and infertility.
Diagnosing hormone deficiencies usually begins with recognizing characteristic symptoms, followed by blood tests to measure hormone levels. Often medical imaging exams are also used to evaluate the endocrine glands.
Treatment depends on the specific hormone deficiency:
- Hormone replacement medications - tablets, patches, gels, injections
- Medications to support gland function
- Surgery in some cases
Left untreated, hormone deficiencies can significantly impact one's quality of life. They need proper medical attention and monitoring. Catching and addressing them early on leads to better health outcomes.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit Revive Wellness.