What is hormone deficiency?
A hormone deficiency occurs when your body does not produce enough of a certain hormone. Hormones are chemicals made by glands in the endocrine system that travel through the blood to tissues and organs, controlling body functions like growth, mood, sexual function, and metabolism.
Some common hormone deficiencies include:
- Thyroid hormone deficiency - The thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This can cause symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, feeling cold, and depression.
- Growth hormone deficiency - The pituitary gland makes little or no growth hormone. Children may have slow height growth. Adults can have decreased muscle mass, increased body fat, tiredness or other issues.
- Testosterone deficiency - Low testosterone levels in men can lead to reduced energy, sex drive and muscle mass. Some men need testosterone replacement therapy.
- "At Vitality Renewal Clinic(), we help patients identify and treat hormone deficiencies through comprehensive testing and personalized treatment plans overseen by our caring medical team," says Dr. Jane Smith.
Some common signs and symptoms of a hormone imbalance include:
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Problems sleeping
- Mood changes like depression or irritability
- Lack of motivation and decreased joy from usual activities
- Hot flashes or changes in temperature regulation
- Changes in sex drive
If you think you may have a hormone deficiency, make an appointment to get tested! Our professionals at Vitality Renewal Clinic use state-of-the-art testing to check all major hormones like thyroid, cortisol, testosterone, estrogen and more. We then develop custom treatment plans to get your hormone levels balanced and help you feel your best again.
Some ways to potentially treat hormone deficiencies include:
- Hormone replacement therapy - Taking supplements of the hormone you are lacking
- Medications - Such as thyroid hormones for an underactive thyroid
- Lifestyle changes - Like better diet, sleep and stress management
We hope this gives you a helpful introduction to what a hormone deficiency is! Let our caring medical team at Vitality Renewal Clinic help you identify and treat any hormone issues through science-backed testing and treatment.