Hormones are chemical messengers that can have a myriad of effects on the body. Hormonal imbalances can cause sluggishness, pain, feelings of fatigue and nausea, and even abnormal hair growth. Often hormonal imbalances are the result of a disruption of the ratio of multiple hormones that normally work in concert to provide an effect. As a result, there are many ways of treating a hormonal imbalance.
Hormone Replacement
In the event that a hormone is underproduced, the deficiency can be corrected by taking supplements.
Hormone Precursors
Sometimes synthetically made hormones are either too expensive or not effectively absorbed by the body. In these situations, taking hormone precursors, which are the building blocks of the deficient hormone, can help correct the level.
Hormone Blocking
In the case of hormones that are being overproduced, hormone blockers can be used. Because hormones must bind to receptors to be active, some medications bind to these receptors, effectively blocking the hormone's function.
Surgery
Sometimes a hormonal imbalance is caused by a hormone secreting tumor. In these cases, removal of the tumor should correct the imbalance.
Symptomatic Treatments
Some cases of hormonal imbalance are too expensive to treat, or have too many side effects. In these cases, simply treating the symptoms may be recommended for the patient.
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