The mental health aspect of hormone imbalance in women is often under-emphasized due to the common belief that the condition only causes physical symptoms like hot flashes, osteoporosis, or painful sex.
Concerns over the impact of unbalanced hormones on women’s mental health (typically experienced during menopause) deserve considerable attention.
In addition to affecting quality of life in the present, untreated hormone imbalance in women carries a greater future risk of the early onset of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
Here is everything you should know about the mental health effect of hormone imbalance in women – and, most importantly, steps to take to protect (and optimize) your mental health across the lifespan.
What Causes Hormone Imbalance in Women?
Around age 40-50 (for most women), estrogen levels begin to decline significantly, eventually culminating in the end to the menstrual cycle and egg production. This natural stage of life is called menopause, and it affects every woman at some point.
Menopause is the primary cause of hormone imbalance in women, although hormone imbalance can also result from certain medications and lifestyle factors like stress and poor sleep.
How Does Hormone Imbalance Affect Women’s Mental Health?
The research into the role of hormones in the aging process of women shows conclusive evidence that hormone imbalance can wreak havoc on a woman’s cognitive function and emotional well-being.
The direct relationship between estrogen and mental health occurs via estrogen receptors (ERs) located in the brain that perform important neuroprotective work:
“The presence of ERs has been confirmed in different brain locations related to cognition, mainly to verbal memory and retrieval, working memory, executive function and attention, such as the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex, leading to the rationale that changes in levels of estrogens would produce direct effects in the brain and accordingly in cognitive function.”
–Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
Source: Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
Mental Health Symptoms in Women With Hormone Imbalance
The list of potential mental health symptoms in women with hormone imbalance is lengthy. However, here are the most common:
- Anxiety.
- Depression.
- Memory problems.
- Hormone-induced psychosis (rare, usually seen in individuals pre-disposed to the condition).
- Mood swings.
- Insomnia (difficulty sleeping).
How Can Women With Hormone Imbalance Naturally Restore Their Cognitive and Mental Health?
The good news for any woman experiencing the mental health challenges of hormone imbalance is that you are capably of recovering your mental health (and, by virtue, your quality of life) with a few important interventions:
- Stress management techniques – i.e., meditation, breathing exercises.
- Optimized diet. Consume high-protein, low-sugar meals to avoid dangerous hormonal fluctuations of insulin, adrenaline, and ghrelin. Also, avoid processed foods and opt for a whole foods-based diet instead.
- Regular exercise. Physical activity is important for both hormone health and mental health. You don’t need to become a fitness guru to reap the hormonal benefits of exercise; 30 minutes of low-intensity exertion like walking every day is sufficient.
What Is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)?
If you are a woman with a diagnosable hormone imbalance, you stand to benefit greatly from bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).
BHRT gently introduces plant-derived, 100%-natural hormones called phytoestrogens into the body through a tiny “hormone pellet” inserted under the skin.
Supplementing your estrogen levels through BHRT provides important neuroprotective (brain-protecting) benefits and – the clinical data shows – equips your body with the tools it needs to prevent or delay the onset of serious age-related mental health conditions like vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease at bay.
How Can BHRT Improve Mental Health Symptoms in Women With Hormone Imbalance?
Restoring estrogen levels through BHRT may be the single most important cornerstone of any anti-aging strategy to preserve and protect long-term mental health.
“A large body of research findings suggests that this hormone plays a pivotal role in retarding and preventing the formation of neurodegenerative diseases through its receptor.”
BHRT is effective and well-tolerated in the vast majority of women who receive it. The mental health benefits become apparent in as little as a few weeks.
Take Charge of Your Hormone Health Today
If you have been affected by a hormone imbalance, you should be aware that recovering your good health and youthful vitality is possible – and likely to be more affordable than you thought.
Since its inception, BEYOND HEALTH has been a pioneer in New Mexico hormonal care, specializing in the exciting new practice of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).
BEYOND HEALTH has helped thousands of Albuquerque women correct the hormone imbalance that triggers the menopausal symptoms described earlier.
Get started today by contacting BEYOND HEALTH via our simple contact form. Alternately, our staff can also be reached by phone at (505) 899-4414 or by email at info@beyond-health.com. We prioritize making a prompt reply to your inquiries and requests.
This article has been reviewed and approved by our medical team.
*This website is for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, and advice of a qualified licensed medical professional. This site offers people medical information and tells them their alternative medical options, but in no way should anyone consider that this site represents the practice of medicine. This site assumes no responsibility for how this material is used. Also note that this website frequently updates its contents, due to a variety of reasons, therefore, some information may be out of date. The statements regarding alternative treatments for cancer have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.