Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Part One: Balancing Female Hormones
• Method 2 of 3: Part Two: Balancing Male Hormones
• Method 3 of 3: Part Three: Balancing the Hormonal System
• Warnings
• What do you need

Hormonal imbalances are linked to many conditions, from infertility and depression to loss of focus and loss of muscle strength. Reproductive hormonal imbalances and systemic hormonal imbalances can be sources of serious problems. Here are several ways, both natural and medicinal, to treat and balance hormones.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Part One: Balancing Female Hormones

1. 1 Understand how your hormones function. Each hormone is responsible for performing certain tasks in the female body. Knowing what each hormone does will help you determine which hormone you are lacking based on which bodily functions are not being performed properly.
   • Estrogen: This is the main female sex hormone. In women, it speeds up metabolism, increases fat stores, reduces muscle mass, helps form secondary sexual characteristics, increases sex drive, and promotes the growth and formation of the uterus.
     • Estrogen deficiency can cause menstrual irregularities, missed periods, mood swings, lack of sexual desire, inability to conceive, and early menopause.
   • Progesterone: Generally considered the “pregnancy hormone”, it is responsible for preparing the uterus for conceiving a fetus and lowers the immune response so that the body can accept a pregnancy. A decrease in progesterone levels after pregnancy is believed to help induce labor and milk production.
     • Progesterone deficiency is primarily recognized by severe, irregular periods and difficulty maintaining pregnancy. Overweight in the middle, severe premenstrual symptoms, and severe fatigue may also appear.
   • Testosterone: Known as the main male sex hormone, it is also present in the female body. In women, it promotes libido and is responsible for many of the changes a woman goes through during puberty, including acne, mild changes in vocal range, and completion of the growth cycle.
     • Testosterone deficiency in women is most often identified by lack of libido, physical inability to arousal, abnormally dry skin, and very brittle hair.
   • Prolactin: Although it has a wide range of actions, it is the main hormone responsible for stimulating the mammary glands to induce lactation. This hormone also helps the development of the fetus when a woman is pregnant, and counteracts arousal, reduces it.
     • Prolactin deficiency is characterized by insufficient lactation, menstrual irregularities, delayed puberty, hair loss, and fatigue. It is most often diagnosed in women after childbirth, especially if profuse bleeding was observed during childbirth.
2. 2 Replenish the hormones you are lacking. Some female sex hormones can be brought into balance simply by taking supplements available over the counter.
   • Estrogen and progesterone supplements are available over the counter in both cream and pill form.
   • There are no prolactin supplements, but women who suffer from excess prolactin often take estrogen supplements or prolactin-inhibiting drugs to fix the problem.
   • There are no testosterone supplements commercially available that are safe for women. Testosterone pills for men are too strong for women.
3. 3 Change your diet. In general, maintaining a balanced diet helps maintain hormone balance as well, but there are a few specific dietary changes that can further improve hormone levels.
   • Zinc is known to help in the production of testosterone. Foods high in zinc include dark chocolate, peanuts, and many meats, including beef, veal, lamb, crabs, and oysters.
   • Eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fats create healthy cell membranes that allow hormones to reach their destinations in the body. Walnuts, eggs, and many types of fish, including sardines, trout, salmon, tuna, and oysters, are beneficial.
   • Include more fiber in your diet. High-fiber foods include whole grains, raw fruits, and raw vegetables. Fiber binds to old estrogen, clearing it out of the body, resulting in better overall balance.
   • Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Research shows that excessive consumption of any of these foods can contribute to premenstrual hormonal imbalances.
4. 4 Exercise often. Exercise is known to stimulate the release of chemicals that improve mood and help balance mood swings caused by a lack or excess of female sex hormones.
5. 5 Reduce stress. Stress triggers the production of excess cortisol, which blocks estrogen. In women, estrogen loss also causes low serotonin levels, which are often associated with mood disorders.
6. 6 Get medical attention. If natural remedies don't work for you, you may need to regulate your hormone levels through the use of prescription drugs or hormone replacement therapy.
   • Start taking oral contraceptives. Contraceptive measures do more than just stop reproduction. The tablets contain synthetic hormones that are able to balance high estrogen and low progesterone levels.
   • Ask your doctor about antidepressants. Most antidepressants work by balancing serotonin levels that fall in response to low estrogen levels. Some have also been found to be moderately effective in reducing hot flashes from hormonal imbalances during menopause in women.
   • Get hormone replacement therapy during menopause. Hormone replacement therapy is the prescription equivalent of conventional over-the-counter hormone supplements. Menopausal women are sometimes given doses of estrogen, progesterone, or a progestin-estrogen combination.

Method 2 of 3: Part Two: Balancing Male Hormones

1. 1 Learn more about your hormones. Understanding the hormones involved in the male reproductive system can help you assess which hormones you may be lacking.
   • Testosterone: Considered the primary male sex hormone, it is responsible for the growth of muscle mass, the maturation of the male genitals, the maturation of male secondary sex characteristics, the completion of growth, sperm production, and libido strength.
     • Testosterone deficiency is most quickly recognized by decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and testicular contraction. Other signs may include hot flashes, decreased energy, depressed mood, lack of concentration, insomnia, and loss of strength.
   • Dihydrotestosterone or DHT: Mainly involved in the formation and maturation of the male genitals.
     • DHT deficiency is common in boys before and during puberty. Men with underdeveloped external genitalia, as a rule, do not have enough DHT. In adult men, a lack of DHT can lead to infertility.
   • Estrogen and Progesterone: Although both are considered female sex hormones, they are also present in men. Estrogen helps regulate sperm maturation and libido. Progesterone balances estrogen levels in men by preventing excess estrogen in the male reproductive system.
     • Estrogen or progesterone deficiencies can manifest in similar ways. An imbalance in any of these hormones can lead to depression or loss of libido. Estrogen deficiency can lead to loss of bone density, excessive hair growth, weight gain, or gynecomastia (enlarged male breasts).
   • Prolactin: Another hormone commonly found in women, it is also found in men. In men, it is believed to play a role in the body's immune response, but there is no indication that prolactin is vital to the male body.
     • Excess prolactin can prevent testosterone production in men. However, prolactin deficiency does not seem to have any specific side effects.
2. 2 Replenish your hormones. Over-the-counter hormone supplements in cream or pill form can often correct some of the most common hormonal imbalances in men.
   • Testosterone is the most commonly replenished male hormone without a prescription. Men can find testosterone supplements in the form of tablets, creams, and gels.
   • There are no drugs for DHT deficiency readily available, but excess can lead to hair loss, and DHT blockers are available commercially in the form of tablets and shampoos.
   • Over-the-counter progesterone cream for men can be used to treat progesterone deficiency and excess estrogen. However, men who need estrogen replacement may need a prescription.
   • Prolactin deficiency can be reduced with commercially available B-complex supplements.
3. 3 Choose a healthier diet. A balanced diet is the best way to regulate hormones for most men; and most hormonal imbalances in men can be helped simply by adhering to traditional healthy dietary standards.
   • Eat lots of meats and carbohydrates, which provide energy and aid in hormone production. Seafood rich in omega-3 fatty acids and low-calorie meats will be the best option, as are fiber-rich grains.
   • Avoid sugar, caffeine, and excessive consumption of dairy products, which can make the body sluggish and require effort to produce hormones.
4. 4 Exercise more. Regular exercise with aerobics and strength training can increase testosterone production.
5. 5 Take it easy. In men, increased stress levels create more cortisol, which can convert testosterone to estrogen. The result is an abundance of the female sex hormone and an acute shortage of the male sex hormone.
6. 6 Get a good night's sleep. Most testosterone is produced during the REM sleep cycle. Thus, a lack of sleep will cause a decrease in testosterone, while adequate sleep can help stabilize the level of this hormone.
7. 7 Wear loose-fitting clothing. Loose underwear and trousers are especially important. The tight bottom can create unwanted heat that can destroy existing sperm and ultimately reduce sperm count.
8. 8 See your doctor. Serious hormone imbalances in men may require treatment with hormone replacement.
   • Testosterone injections are the most common treatment used to balance male hormones. Doctors will prescribe injections for as long as they deem necessary. The amount of the drug is eventually reduced and the patient is monitored to see if the testosterone level remains balanced after treatment or continues to fall. If levels continue to fall, long-term treatment may be required.
   • Men who suffer from estrogen or progesterone deficiencies may also learn about prescription hormone replacement to treat these imbalances, as it is usually difficult to find the necessary supplements for men over the counter.

Method 3 of 3: Part Three: Balancing the Hormonal System

1. 1 Exercise more. After exercise, the body releases endorphins, dopamine and serotonin, which create a positive mood and help support the rest of the endocrine system.
   • Exercise also produces growth factors, including insulin.
2. 2 Be mindful of your diet. A well balanced diet can affect more than just female or male sex hormones. All hormones in the body will be able to benefit from a diet filled with lean meats, whole grains, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.
   • Know how soy can affect your thyroid gland. There have been some indications that a soy-based diet may lead to decreased thyroid hormone production. Those who suffer from hypothyroidism, a deficiency of thyroid hormones, should limit their intake of soy.
   • Balance your iodine levels. Iodine is a mineral that helps in the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Foods high in iodine include sea vegetables, potatoes, cranberries, yogurt, strawberries, and dairy products. If you have hypothyroidism, eat more iodine-rich foods. If you have hyperthyroidism, limit your intake of iodine-rich foods.
   • Consume carbohydrates in moderation. Carbohydrates can provide the body with energy, but they also increase the amount of the hormone insulin that the body produces.Too many carbohydrates can spike blood sugar levels, as well as insulin levels.
   • Improve the synthesis of melatonin with vitamin B5. Foods rich in B5 include milk, yogurt, eggs, and fish. These foods are also rich in tryptophan, which converts serotonin to melatonin.
3. 3 Regulate your sleep to regulate melatonin production. Melatonin is a “sleep” hormone and it affects the sleep cycle in the same way that the sleep cycle affects it.
   • Avoid strong light sources while sleeping. Light can slow down the production of melatonin that occurs in the dark, making it difficult to fall asleep.
   • Give your body sleep signals. Constant bedtime and a specific bedtime routine can tell your brain that it is bedtime. Your brain, in turn, will start sending signals to your body that the production of melatonin should be increased.
4. 4 Learn more about thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Those who suffer from hypothyroidism can consult with their doctor about prescribing thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
   • Hypothyroidism can cause muscle weakness, constipation, fatigue, high cholesterol, joint pain, and depression. In severe cases, this can lead to decreased breathing, fever and coma.
   • Patients who are prescribed thyroid therapy receive synthetic thyroid hormone in the form of oral medications.

Warnings

• Check with your doctor before starting any hormone balance treatment. Even a mild imbalance can have serious long-term consequences, and it is very important that you receive an accurate diagnosis and that you are prescribed the best course of treatment for your current condition.

What do you need

• Commercially available medicines
• Physician-prescribed hormone substitutes
• Birth control pills
• Antidepressants
• Healthy foods