Get ready to interpret your answers
Remember: Hormones don’t exist in a vacuum. Some symptoms mask others: adrenal and sex-hormone issues can mask thyroid symptoms and vice versa. Occasionally, symptoms change over time, even hour by hour: some women have symptoms of high and low cortisol within the very same day.
If you have fewer than five symptoms but see some overlapping symptoms from other sections – such as oestrogen dominance or high or low cortisol – symptoms in both sections will need to be addressed.
High Cortisol
This is by far the most common imbalance affecting modern women.
- Five or more of these symptoms: Red Alert! Chances are that you are high in cortisol and need to get it back to its correct level – not too high and not too low.
- Three or four: you may need to address this hormone imbalance.
- Fewer than three or unsure: recommendation is to ask your doctor to test your blood (serum) cortisol level in the morning, before nine. Ideally, the level should be 10 to 15 mcg/dL. You can also test yourself at home with salivary cortisol levels at four points of the day, in a method called the diurnal cortisol panel.
Low Cortisol
- Five or more symptoms: you are likely low in cortisol.
- Fewer than five symptoms: consider checking your cortisol level, in either your blood or saliva. As described in part A, your cortisol should be greater than 10 mcg/dL in the morning but a twenty-four- hour cortisol level is more useful than a single data point.
Low Progesterone and Progesterone Resistance
Low or slow progesterone is the second most common hormone imbalance experienced by women over thirty-five.
- Five or more of these symptoms: you are probably low in progesterone.
- Three or four: you may need to address this hormone imbalance.
- Fewer than three or unsure: Ask your doctor to test your blood (serum) progesterone level on day 21 of your menstrual cycle. Ideally, the level should be more than 10ng/mL; optimally, 15 to 25 ng/mL.
Excess Oestrogen
Wherever you fall on the spectrum, I encourage you to be aware of your possible exposure to xenoestrogens (synthetic chemicals that mimic oestrogens).
- Five or more of these symptoms: Probably high in oestrogen. Oestrogen dominance affects 80 percent of women over thirty-five.
- Three or more symptoms: High oestrogen is a significant possibility.
Low Oestrogen
Most women don’t notice a significant drop in oestrogen until their forties or even fifties.
- Five or more of these symptoms: You are probably low in oestrogen.
- Three or more: There’s a good chance you are low in oestrogen.
Excess Androgens
This is most common endocrine reason for infertility in women.
- Five or more of these symptoms: you are very likely high in androgens.
- There or four: you might have excess androgens, and I urge you to address this hormone imbalance since it puts you at risk of infertility or possibly diabetes.
- Fewer than three or are unsure: Ask your doctor for a blood (serum) test of your free-testosterone level and Free Androgen Index (FAI).
Low Thyroid
Many doctors don’t take women seriously when they are concerned about their thyroid and sometimes would put their concern down to mild hysteria – stand your ground and get it tested.
- Five or more symptoms: You likely have a thyroid problem. Ask your doctor to test your thyroid levels particularly with the most sensitive tests that measure Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (T3), and reverse T3.
- Between three and five symptoms: you might have a problem.
- Symptoms in more than one category.
Now that you have a better idea of what is going on, to support you with getting started living a healthier lifestyle I have two free gifts for you.
The first is a 30-minute wellness consultation with me where you can ask me any question, we get to know each other, and I find out how I can support you in achieving your health goals. Sound good to you? Then click on the link to SCHEDULE A CALL.
The second free gift is access to download my Hormone Balance Starter Kit. This gives you information on how to get started in balancing your hormone health, includes a 3-day plan and a couple of delicious smoothie recipes. Now go ahead and click on the button to download your free copy.
