Feeling off? It might not be stress or lack of sleep. One woman shares her frustrating symptoms and what finally helped.
“Here’s How I Knew I Had a Hormone Imbalance”: A Patient’s Firsthand Experience
Published on May 09, 2025
Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers, regulating key functions like metabolism, energy, mood, sleep, and reproductive health. When they’re in balance, your body runs smoothly. But even a slight disruption can affect multiple systems, leading to what’s known as a hormone imbalance.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a hormone imbalance occurs when you have too much or too little of one or more hormones circulating in your bloodstream. Because hormones influence so many bodily functions, the symptoms can be wide-ranging and often frustrating to pinpoint. Fatigue, unexplained weight changes, irregular periods, mood swings, adult acne, and low libido are just some of the signs that your hormones may be out of sync.
In the U.S., hormone-related disorders affect millions of people. The most common is diabetes, caused by problems with the hormone insulin—impacting roughly 1 in 10 Americans, according to health experts. The most common thyroid disorder, hypothyroidism, affects an estimated 4.6% of the population, per MedlinePlus, with women more likely to be diagnosed. Among women of reproductive age, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is another widespread hormone imbalance, affecting up to 6 million women nationwide, says the Endocrine Society.
Ahead, Christine T., a 33-year-old from Miami, Florida, opens up about how she first recognized the signs of a hormone imbalance in her early 20s and how a PCOS diagnosis gave her the clarity she needed to take control of her health.
How I Knew I Had a Hormone Imbalance
By Christine T., as told to Dr. Patricia Varacallo, DO
My hormone imbalance symptoms
I was first diagnosed with PCOS when I was 23 years old, but I had been struggling with symptoms even before that. At the time, I didn’t know what was going on. I just knew something felt “off.” My periods were unpredictable and would sometimes vanish for months. I was always tired, no matter how much sleep I got. Even though I hadn’t changed the way I was eating, I kept slowly gaining weight. At one point, I was up 15 pounds. I figured it was probably the “freshman 15,” but something about it didn’t sit right. Around that same time, my skin started acting up in a way that felt different. I began breaking out with deep, painful acne along my jawline and chin—not the typical teenage breakouts I’d had in high school. It left me feeling self-conscious and frustrated.
In college, it was easy to blame everything on stress, lack of sleep, or questionable dining hall food. But even after I started taking better care of myself—cutting back on junk food, drinking more water, sticking to a skincare routine—nothing seemed to change. I felt like my body was constantly working against me. My periods stayed irregular, my energy kept crashing, and my skin just wouldn’t clear up.
It wasn’t until I finally made an appointment with an OB/GYN to schedule my first Pap smear that things began to make sense.
Diagnosing my hormone imbalance
Before I saw my OB/GYN, I had gone to my primary care doctor about a year earlier for a routine checkup and bloodwork. Because my mom has thyroid issues, they suspected I might too. But when my thyroid levels came back normal, I was told my fatigue was probably from stress. On one hand, I was relieved the tests didn’t show anything serious, but I also felt frustrated.
By the time I had my first appointment with the OB/GYN, I was cautiously hopeful that I might finally get some real answers. She listened carefully as I described my symptoms and agreed that we needed to take a closer look. She ordered a comprehensive hormone panel, a set of blood tests to assess everything from thyroid function to reproductive hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone (yes, women make testosterone too—just in smaller amounts). She also tested my insulin levels, since issues with insulin sensitivity are often linked to hormonal disorders. Because of my irregular cycles, she also scheduled a pelvic ultrasound to take a closer look at my ovaries.
When the results came in, I was officially diagnosed with PCOS. My doctor explained that PCOS is a hormonal disorder where the ovaries produce higher-than-normal levels of androgens—often called “male hormones”—which can interfere with regular ovulation. The ultrasound revealed multiple small cysts on my ovaries, which are actually immature follicles that never fully develop or release eggs. It’s a classic sign of PCOS. Suddenly, all the puzzle pieces fell into place. The excess androgens explained the acne and those random chin hairs I was always plucking. The disrupted ovulation explained the missing or irregular periods. And the insulin resistance, which showed up in my bloodwork, helped explain the persistent fatigue and weight gain.
Treating PCOS
After the diagnosis, we discussed a detailed treatment plan. There is no PCOS “cure” right now, but it can be managed quite effectively. Since I was not trying to get pregnant at that time, the first step was to help regulate my menstrual cycle and hormone levels with medication. My doctor prescribed a low-dose combination birth control pill. Birth control pills are a common first-line treatment for PCOS because they contain estrogen and progestin which can lower the excess androgen levels and help make periods more regular. She also started me on metformin, which is actually a medication for diabetes, but it’s often [prescribed to people with] PCOS to improve the body’s insulin sensitivity. The idea was that improving my insulin resistance might help with weight control and possibly even help my ovaries function a bit more normally.
We also talked about lifestyle changes. I met with a nutritionist who helped me create a diet plan aimed at stabilizing my blood sugar (since swings in blood sugar can exacerbate hormonal issues). I shifted toward a lower-carb, high-fiber diet (more veggies, lean proteins, healthy fats, and fewer refined carbs and sugars).
One thing that stuck with me was when the nutritionist told me that losing just 5% of your body weight—even a small amount—can significantly improve symptoms and help regulate your cycle. That was really motivating, and it helped me stay focused without feeling overwhelmed.
My pregnancy
Over the next few years, my cycles started to become more regular. I still had some painful periods, but my energy levels improved, and my skin began to clear up. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but I slowly learned how to manage PCOS instead of letting it control me. By the time I was 27 and newly married, I felt like I finally had a handle on it. I was still taking the pill to regulate my hormones, eating a balanced 80/20 diet, and doing my best to support my body. For the most part, I felt healthy and in tune with what worked for me.
When my husband and I decided to start trying for a baby at 28, I came off the pill and braced myself for a long road. I had heard so many stories of women with PCOS struggling to conceive, and I assumed it might take months—or even years. But to my surprise, I got pregnant within just a few months. I was 29 when I had my son, and the pregnancy went smoothly from start to finish. No major complications. I carried to term, delivered safely, and felt incredibly grateful—especially after spending so many years unsure if pregnancy would even be possible for me.
I breastfed for just over a year, and once I weaned, I started noticing some of those old, familiar symptoms creeping back in. My periods became irregular again. My energy dropped. My skin started acting up. At first, I assumed it was just postpartum hormones taking their time to recalibrate—but when several months passed and things didn’t improve, I had a strong feeling my PCOS was flaring up again.
Now at 33, my husband and I are trying for baby No. 2. But this time around, things haven’t gone as smoothly. My cycles are more unpredictable, and I’ve experienced a couple of early miscarriages, which have been devastating. That’s a story for another day, but it’s been an emotional rollercoaster. My doctor suspects that egg quality and fluctuating hormone levels may be playing a role—both of which can be impacted by PCOS, especially as you get older.
We’re now working with a fertility specialist, and I’m back on metformin to support my insulin levels. I’ve also started taking ovulation-stimulating medications, and we’re looking into other fertility options as needed.
What life looks like now with a hormone imbalance
Living with a hormone imbalance like PCOS is something I’ve had to grow into. At 23, it felt really overwhelming. Now, at 33, it feels like something I’m constantly adapting to. But I’ve learned how to listen to my body, and how to ask the right questions. Managing PCOS is an ongoing process—some days it’s easy, and other days it’s overwhelming—but I’ve come to accept that, like so many health journeys, it doesn’t follow a straight line.
If there’s one thing I’ve taken away from all of this, it’s that hormone imbalances are very much real, and they deserve to be taken seriously. Whether it’s fatigue, irregular periods, acne, mood swings, or unexplained weight changes—don’t ignore the signs. You know your body better than anyone else. And getting the right diagnosis and starting treatment can truly make a difference.
What to do if you suspect you have a hormone imbalance
If you think you may have a hormone imbalance, here are the steps you can take:
- Track your symptoms: Keep a journal noting what symptoms you experience, how often, and when. For women, tracking your menstrual cycle is especially important.
- See a doctor: Start with a primary care physician or OB/GYN. They can order initial bloodwork and refer you to a specialist, like an endocrinologist, if needed.
- Ask questions: Don’t hesitate to ask if your symptoms could be hormone-related. If you feel dismissed, seek a second opinion.
- Know the red flags: Sudden extreme symptoms like dizziness, confusion, severe pain, or high fever could signal an emergency such as an adrenal crisis or thyroid storm. In those cases, seek urgent medical care.
- Follow through with testing and treatment: If a hormone imbalance is diagnosed, stick with your treatment plan. Many conditions can be managed with medication, lifestyle changes, or both.
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