Hormone deficiency - Hormone Harmony Clinic

What is hormone deficiency?

A hormone deficiency occurs when your body does not produce enough of a certain hormone. Hormones are chemical messengers that control various functions in your body. When levels of a hormone drop too low, it can cause widespread effects.

Some common hormone deficiencies include:

• Thyroid hormone deficiency: The thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This leads to symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, feeling cold, and more.
• Growth hormone deficiency: Low levels of growth hormone often occur in adulthood due to a pituitary gland issue. This leads to increased body fat, muscle loss, fatigue, and other concerns.
• Testosterone deficiency: Known medically as hypogonadism or low testosterone, this affects an estimated 2.4 million American men. Symptoms include low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, depressed mood, and reduced muscle mass.

Causes of hormone deficiencies

There are a few potential causes behind hormone deficiencies:

• Pituitary disorders affecting pituitary gland hormone production
• Damage or injury to endocrine glands
• Inflammatory diseases
• Tumors in an endocrine gland
• Iodine deficiency leading to hypothyroidism
• Genetic mutations

Diagnosing and treating the deficiency

If you experience potential symptoms of a hormone deficiency, see your doctor right away. They can run blood tests to measure your hormone levels and pinpoint which one(s) are low. Proper diagnosis is crucial.

Based on test findings and symptoms, your physician may suggest hormone replacement therapy using patches, gels, pills or injections. This can effectively ease deficiency-related symptoms. Lifestyle changes may also be recommended.