What can you learn from a hormone test?

Hormones are one of the most important drivers of our physiology and health.

What are hormones?

Hormones are chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream, reaching every part of the body and controlling virtually every major function. From metabolic processes to anything related to reproduction and growth, optimal hormone function is key to optimal health.

Hormones like cortisol, melatonin, estrogen, testosterone, Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and many others regulate countless functions in your body. When hormones are not produced at optimal levels, hormonal imbalances may occur, leading to altered body functions. If you are gaining weight and no diet seems to work, if you can’t sleep, have painful periods, have low libido, or always feel tired, your endocrine system, the body’s hormone hub, may be malfunctioning.

At the Australian Centre for Functional Medicine (AUSCFM), we understand the importance of a hormone test to manage a person’s health. We also seek to inform our patients about the potential consequences of hormonal imbalances and the advantages of using hormone testing to diagnose and guide the treatment of a disease.

A closer look at hormonal imbalances

You wake up every day and follow your daily routine; you go to work, eat, exercise, go out, and go back to sleep. No matter what you do, behind the scenes, whether you are awake or asleep, your body is busy running thousands of chemical reactions and metabolic pathways to keep you going. To orchestrate these complex reactions, the body relies on hormones, and only when there is a perfect balance of the hormones you need at the time you need them will your body work perfectly.

For example, imagine a young woman in her mid-20s who lost her period just after stopping the use of a birth control pill. She is now trying to conceive but is not able to get pregnant. Or think of a middle-aged man who has lost interest in sex, has mood swings and develops body fat in his chest areas. These are all symptoms associated with altered hormonal function.

Here are some of the symptoms potentially associated with hormones:

weight gain
unexplained weight loss
fatigue
acne
muscle weakness
muscle or joint pain
altered heart rate
excessive or unusual sweating
sensitivity to cold or heat
constipation or more frequent bowel movements
frequent urination
abnormal thirst
increased hunger
low sex drive
depression
nervousness, anxiety, or irritability
blurred vision
infertility
thinning hair or brittle hair
dry skin
puffy or rounded face
purple or pink stretch marks

At AUSCFM, we incorporate modern diagnostic tools and technologies drawn from conventional medicine and state-of-the-art clinical testing to identify the source of your health problems. We can then establish if hormonal imbalances are at play. For example, after analysing the results of diagnostic tests, we may recommend different treatments, such as:

Addressing high or low cortisol and DHEA levels
Intervene to lower inflammation markers
Heal the digestive dysfunction
Use supplements to help stimulate the production or reduce the excess of key sex hormones.
Replenish micronutrients that are crucial for healthy hormonal function

When to consider a Hormonal Imbalance Test?

Hormonal imbalances can affect anyone, male or female, young or old. Even if you lead a healthy lifestyle, a hormonal imbalance may set off a cascade of unwanted symptoms.

More importantly, it is important to understand that hormone imbalances affect males and females differently. Even children experience a different set of symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances.

Women

In women of reproductive age, the most common hormonal imbalance is caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), where male hormones are produced excessively. The condition leads to irregular periods, difficulty getting pregnant, hair growth on the face and body, and baldness.

Some typical symptoms of hormonal imbalance specific to females include:

heavy or irregular periods
hirsutism, or excessive hair on the face, chin, or other parts of the body
acne on the face, chest, or upper back
hair loss
darkening of the skin
vaginal dryness
vaginal atrophy
pain during sex
night sweats
headaches

Men

In adult males, some well-established symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances include:

gynecomastia, or the development of breast tissue
breast tenderness
erectile dysfunction (ED)
decreased beard and body hair growth
loss of muscle mass
loss of bone mass
difficulty concentrating
hot flashes

Children

In boys and girls, a common condition involving hormonal imbalances is called hypogonadism. The condition affects boys and girls differently. For example,

In boys – hypogonadism can cause:
- Lack of development of muscle mass
- Child-like voice that doesn’t develops
- Scarce body hair
- Poor penis and testicular growth
- Excessive growth of the arms and legs
- Gynecomastia, or the growth of breasts in boys

In girls – hypogonadism can lead to:
- Halted menstruation doesn’t begin
- Underdeveloped breast tissue
- Slow growth rate

Hormone testing at AUSCFM

At AUSCFM, we employ state-of-the-art diagnostic testing that may involve blood, saliva, breath or urine. These tests allow us to get a complete snapshot of your total hormone status and the important systems interconnected to your hormones.

Some of the tests we recommend include:

Blood testing, which can help with hormone replacement therapy and fertility.
Urine and saliva testing, which are used to evaluate chronic fatigue, PMS, PCOS and other hormone imbalances.
Assessing estrogen metabolites and levels of cortisol and melatonin, which can provide a ‘full picture’ of hormone functioning in your body.

We also explain to our patients that birth control suppresses natural hormone levels due to the synthetic estrogen and/or progesterone they contain.

What a hormone test can reveal

Depending on the hormone involved, hormone tests have the potential to identify critically important hormonal dysfunctions. Some key examples include:

Cortisol

A test for this hormone uses blood to measure the level of cortisol present in the blood. Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands, involved in the so-called fight-or-flight response.

Whenever you experience a stressful or dangerous experience, which your body perceives as a threat, the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is released in your brain, which triggers the adrenal glands to release cortisol and adrenaline. The increased cortisol levels result in a burst of energy and strength to respond to stressful or dangerous situations. During this response, you may also experience:

In addition, high levels of cortisol can:

More broadly, cortisol is also involved with several important body functions through its involvement with the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis, such as:

Stress is particularly important in the interaction between the HPA axis and cortisol. Stress leads to the activation of the HPA axis, resulting in the production of cortisol, which has receptors in almost all cell types. As a consequence, excess production of cortisol can have widespread effects on metabolism, immunity, and behaviour, all aimed at helping the body cope with stress (Karin et al., 2020).

Cortisol is also an important part of our body’s circadian rhythms. The sleep-wake cycle we follow day and night is also reflected in the production of cortisol. Cortisol levels tend to drop to their lowest point at around midnight, whereas its peak production occurs at around 9:00 AM.

When you have an overactive HPA axis, the excess cortisol produced can disrupt your sleep, causing:

Melatonin

This is normally produced in response to darkness in our surroundings. Tightly linked to cortisol, melatonin is an important component of a good night’s sleep, being involved with the optimal function of our circadian rhythms. Low production of melatonin can occur due to many factors, including:

As a consequence of reduced levels of melatonin, a person will experience poor sleep quality.

Testing your body for levels of melatonin can provide important insights that can explain conditions like:

Excessive levels of diurnal melatonin can cause drowsiness, headache, dizziness and nausea, among other less common symptoms. At AUSCFM, we treat patients who produce excessive diurnal melatonin. Following treatment, these patients may experience improved energy levels and cognitive function.

Sex hormones

Include estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone and have important roles in sexual function and development.

Estrogen causes eggs to mature in the ovaries
Testosterone stimulates sperm production in men
Progesterone has important roles in regulating menstruation and supporting pregnancy. For example, once an egg is fertilised, progesterone stimulates the growth of vessels that supply blood to the lining of the womb (endometrium). It also stimulates glands in the endometrium to secrete nutrients that feed the developing embryo.

Testing the levels of your sex hormones can inform your doctor about potential imbalances associated with sexual dysfunctions or potential problems you can face during pregnancy. Some symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances involving sex hormones in women include:

In men, hormonal imbalances can lead to:

Hormone imbalances and health at AUSCFM

At AUSCFM, we follow a modern and evidence-based approach to diagnosing and treating pathologies associated with hormonal imbalances. We are on top of current research on hormones’ role in human health. We employ leading diagnostic testing technologies to hormonal imbalances, as well as other markers of health. Our DUTCH hormone test, for example, provides a comprehensive assessment of key hormones and metabolites. This test informs clinicians about key physiological aspects of your body, such as cortisol and melatonin function, levels of dehydroepiandrosterone, cortisol metabolites, six organic acids and levels of sex hormones. To learn more about the DUTCH hormone test, see our article.

Based on our DUTCH hormone test results, we can identify evidence of hormonal imbalances that may be driving your symptoms. The results of this test, for example, can reveal an altered function of the HPA axis. The Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is part of the endocrine system and a key regulator of homeostatic processes, influencing immune function and our stress response. To learn more about the HPA axis, see our recent article.

In addition to hormone health, we employ advanced testing that targets six additional gut pathologies. Taken together, the results of these seven tests will give us a comprehensive view of the factors influencing a patient’s health and will help us design personalised treatment strategies.

In parallel, getting an in-depth understanding of your current health and lifestyle, including the diet you follow, can help clinicians identify the root of your problems. Working closely with your practitioner and health coach, you can resolve the underlying cause of hormone imbalance with a personalised plan, including changes to your nutrition, lifestyle, and stress management practices.

If you are experiencing health problems that could be explained by hormonal imbalances, start by registering to

References

Karin O, Raz M, Tendler A, Bar A, Korem Kohanim Y, Milo T, Alon U. A new model for the HPA axis explains dysregulation of stress hormones on the timescale of weeks. Molecular systems biology. 2020 Jul;16(7):e9510. Read it!

De Kloet ER, Joëls M, Holsboer F (2005) Stress and the brain: from adaptation to disease. Nat Rev Neurosci 6: 463. Read it!

Elverson CA, Wilson ME. Cortisol: circadian rhythm and response to a stressor. Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews. 2005 Dec 1;5(4):159-69. Read it!

Theresa M. Buckley, Alan F. Schatzberg, On the Interactions of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis and Sleep: Normal HPA Axis Activity and Circadian Rhythm, Exemplary Sleep Disorders, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 90, Issue 5, 1 May 2005, Pages 3106–3114 Read it!

Zisapel N. (2018). New perspectives on the role of melatonin in human sleep, circadian rhythms and their regulation. British journal of pharmacology, 175(16), 3190–3199. Read it!