There is a phenomenon that I am seeing more and more of in my patients, and that is women at a younger and younger age, (as early as in their 20’s), with significant hormone imbalances. And, not just a little hormonal imbalance, but sometimes shocking levels of hormonal imbalance! I am seeing women with hirsutism (excess or unusual hair growth most often noticeable around the mouth and chin), cystic acne, infertility, PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), and the list goes on and on. Sometimes these young women have such low hormone levels that they basically fall into a post-menopausal level and they are symptomatic such as a post-menopausal woman would be. 

Sometimes these young women have such low hormone levels that they basically fall into a post-menopausal level and they are symptomatic such as a post-menopausal woman would be. 

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So why are we seeing something like this and what is causing it? I believe that it has to do with several factors including our lifestyles and toxic environmental conditions that we live in. One contributing factor is that synthetic estrogens and progestins that are used in birth control can suppress the production of natural estrogen and progesterone. This can take several months to reverse after stopping the pill. Am I saying that we should not take birth control? No, but it is a factor to be taken into consideration when it comes to determining the rise of young women having significant hormonal imbalances and it should be thoughtfully managed.  

Other factors include: 

-Stress

-Poor diet and lifestyle choices

-Certain medications

-Underlying medical conditions (such as thyroid issues)

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We have to consider environmental factors such as toxin exposures which can affect hormone levels, all of which can act as endocrine disruptors, interfering with normal hormone function.

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These include:

-Pesticides

-Bisphenol A (BPA) in plastics 

-Phthalates in packaging

-Certain chemicals in personal care products

-Processed foods

-Caffeine

-Heavy metals

-Phytoestrogens found in certain plants

All of these make a difference. 

It is not normal for a woman in her late 20s or early 30s to have a testosterone level in the teens or even single digits or to have no libido. In this age group, these are the reproductive years when nature intends the sex drive to be at its maximum, because this is when women would normally reproduce and have children. Nor is it normal for them to have high androgen levels or up-regulated hormone pathways that contribute to inappropriate processing of androgens leading to undesirable symptoms and conditions. 

It is not normal for a woman in her late 20s or early 30s to have a testosterone level in the teens or even single digits or to have no libido. In this age group, these are the reproductive years when nature intends the sex drive to be at its maximum, because this is when women would normally reproduce and have children.

This is not normal. But it is something we are having to deal with more and more at The Fork Clinic. We are using functional testing through saliva and urine to learn how hormones are breaking down, the pathways they are taking, and getting an understanding of how each client's body processes the hormones when they break down.  We use serum levels, cortisol testing, and take a deep look at thyroid, adrenals, and gut health. All important factors in helping find your hormonal balance. 

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