The 5 Most Common Hormone Imbalances I See in Clinic

Hormones might be tiny chemical messengers, but they have a huge impact on overall health and wellbeing. When they’re working in harmony, life feels smoother. You’ve got energy, a stable mood, good sleep, and a cycle that doesn’t leave you knocked around each month. But when things are out of sync, it can feel like your whole body is rebelling.

I can’t tell you how many women come to see me with symptoms they’ve brushed off for years - fatigue, bloating, mood swings, weight changes, brain fog - thinking it’s “just stress” or “just getting older.” More often than not, those symptoms trace back to hormone imbalances.

So let’s dive into the five most common ones I see as a naturopath in clinic, what they can look like, and some simple, natural ways to support your body.

1. Cortisol: The Stress Hormone Out of Rhythm

Cortisol’s job is to help you wake up in the morning, deal with stress during the day, and then wind down at night. In a perfect world, it would rise and fall in a nice little daily rhythm. But most of us aren’t living in a perfect world. We’re juggling work, family, deadlines, late nights, and constant notifications - and our cortisol reflects that.

What it feels like when your cortisol is off:

• Waking tired even after sleep

• Afternoon energy slumps or sugar cravings

• Feeling wired at night when you should be winding down

• Anxiety, racing thoughts, or irritability

• More frequent colds and run-down immunity

Long-term stress can keep cortisol running high, which puts pressure on digestion, immunity, and menstrual cycles. Stay stressed long enough, and your cortisol may actually crash, leaving you burnt out and running on empty.

Simple support: 

Create space for your nervous system to switch off daily - even five minutes of deep breathing, journaling, or stretching helps. Eat regular, balanced meals with good protein, and if stress has been high for a while, herbs like withania or nutrients like magnesium can be a beautiful support.

2. Thyroid Hormones: The Body’s Thermostat

Your thyroid is a small gland in your neck, but it controls so much - metabolism, energy, body temperature, even hair and skin health. Thyroid hormone imbalances are incredibly common, and often dismissed because symptoms overlap with “just being busy.”

When thyroid is sluggish (hypothyroid):

• Fatigue that sleep doesn’t fix

• Constipation or bloating

• Feeling cold all the time

• Dry skin, thinning hair

• Stubborn weight gain

  
  

When thyroid is overactive (hyperthyroid):

• Feeling restless, sweaty, or jittery

• Weight loss despite eating normally

• Racing heartbeat

• Difficulty sleeping

  
  

Simple support: 

Always start with proper pathology testing - it’s essential. But alongside medical care, naturopathic support might look like making sure you’re getting enough selenium, zinc, and iron (all crucial for thyroid function). Reducing inflammation, looking after your gut, and balancing blood sugar are also key pieces of the puzzle.

3. Insulin Resistance: The Hidden Hormone Disruptor

Most people don’t think of insulin as a hormone issue, but it absolutely is. Insulin’s job is to move sugar from your bloodstream into your cells so you can use it for energy. When your body stops responding properly, you end up with insulin resistance. It’s at the root of PCOS for many women, and it also fuels fatigue, weight changes, and skin issues.

What insulin resistance can look like:

• Feeling shaky or cranky if you miss a meal

• Intense sugar or carb cravings

• Energy dips and brain fog after eating

• Belly weight that won’t budge

• Acne or irregular cycles

  
  

Simple support: 

Build meals around protein and fibre, not just carbs. A handful of nuts with fruit, or eggs with veggies, will stabilise blood sugar much better than toast on its own. Gentle daily movement improves insulin sensitivity too. On the supplement side, magnesium and chromium can be very helpful.

4. Estrogen & Progesterone: The Monthly Dance

Estrogen and progesterone are meant to balance each other out, but when they don’t, symptoms creep in. I see this imbalance all the time - either too much estrogen compared to progesterone (common in younger women), or low estrogen altogether (more common as we move through perimenopause and menopause).

Signs estrogen is too high (relative to progesterone):

• Heavy, clotty, painful periods

• PMS and mood swings

• Breast tenderness

• Migraines or headaches

• Weight gain around hips/thighs

  
  

Signs estrogen is low:

• Hot flushes, night sweats

• Vaginal dryness

• Low mood or anxiety

• Poor sleep

  
  

Signs progesterone is low:

• Short cycles or spotting

• Anxiety or restlessness

• PMS and difficulty sleeping

  
  

Simple support: 

Focus on liver and gut health to help your body process and clear excess estrogen - lots of leafy greens, cruciferous veggies, and fibre. Herbal allies like vitex or peony can be helpful, and magnesium plus vitamin B6 are wonderful for easing PMS. For perimenopausal women, phytoestrogens in flaxseeds, legumes, and whole soy can gently support low estrogen.

5. Testosterone: The Forgotten Hormone

Yes, women have testosterone too! And when it’s out of balance, you feel it.

Signs of high testosterone (often tied to PCOS):

• Jawline acne

• Unwanted hair growth on the face or body

• Irregular or absent cycles

• Fertility struggles

  
  

Signs of low testosterone:

• Low libido

• Flat motivation or drive

• Fatigue

• Less muscle tone/strength

  
  

Simple support: 

High testosterone is often linked to insulin resistance, so stabilising blood sugar is step one. Spearmint tea and zinc can also help. If testosterone is low, strength training, protein-rich meals, and supporting adrenal health are important.

Why Hormone Imbalances Matter

One thing I remind every woman: hormones don’t act in isolation. If cortisol is high, thyroid often suffers. If insulin is off, estrogen and testosterone feel the ripple. That’s why looking at your health through a whole-body lens is so important.

You don’t have to accept PMS, exhaustion, anxiety, or “mystery symptoms” as your normal. They’re not random — they’re your body’s way of waving a flag and asking for support.

Final Thoughts

These are the five most common hormone imbalances I see in women every single week. The good news? With the right support, your hormones can find their rhythm again.

If you’ve been nodding along thinking “this is me,” it’s time to stop guessing and start getting answers. Book a consultation and let’s work together on a plan that’s tailored to you - because your hormones don’t have to hold you back.