A Hormonal Imbalance: Testing And Treatment Processes
Hormones play a critical role in how your body functions. A hormonal imbalance could affect your mood and physical health. Learn how a clinician detects a hormonal imbalance. Then familiarize yourself with treatment options that will regulate hormone levels.
Hormones
Hormones are responsible for all of the primary functions of the body. They act as messengers. Some hormones control growth. Others convey messages about feeling full, hungry, or tired. A hormone imbalance could be disruptive to a person's daily routine.
For instance, if the hormone that controls sleep cycles is imbalanced, an individual may suffer from insomnia or may experience extreme sleepiness. Hormonal imbalances can be triggered by many things. An inadequate diet, genetics, or a medical illness could cause a hormonal imbalance. Aging or pregnancy could also cause an imbalance.
Testing
A doctor will need to perform testing to determine if a patient is experiencing a hormonal imbalance. Blood tests and saliva tests are often used to detect an imbalance. Due to the difference in hormones between males and females, a doctor will use a targeted testing process that is suited for the sex of the patient.
Before testing is conducted, a doctor will consult with a patient about their symptoms. This consultation helps a doctor determine which type of test to use.
Support Services
Ultrasounds and X-rays are often used to delve further into a hormonal imbalance concern. A doctor uses imaging techniques to support the diagnosis that they have given a patient. Ultrasounds and X-rays are used to detect the health of vital organs. A doctor uses imaging to determine the severity of a hormonal imbalance. They also use imaging to check on a patient's health in the future.
For instance, if a hormone therapy plan has been prescribed, a doctor may direct a patient to schedule imaging appointments after the treatment has started. The imaging services will determine if a patient has been responding well to the hormone treatments that have been prescribed.
Medical Care
The doctor may prescribe hormone supplements at any time during the course of treatment. There are many hormone supplements available that can be taken orally or injected. Some hormone products come in a patch form. A patch is a product that needs to be applied directly to the skin. The hormones in the patch are absorbed through the skin.
Ongoing medical care should be sought when treating a hormonal imbalance. Some hormonal imbalances are temporary, necessitating that a patient receives supplemental hormones for a short duration. Some hormonal imbalances are permanent, necessitating ongoing hormone treatments.
Contact a doctor to learn more about hormone testing.
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