By Lori Caruso 

 In our twenties and thirties women may experience irregular periods, or infertility that prompts then to inquire about their hormones. If you are planning to conceive, getting assessed six to twelve months prior is good practice to be sure your body is functioning at its healthiest. 

Testing after giving birth is a fantastic way to be sure your body is normalizing. With the many changes that have happened, getting a clear blueprint of what is happening internally will give you a reset plan as well as peace of mind, enabling you to move forward with confidence. 

Then along comes menopause, making you feel like you are on a roller coaster. You might experience multiple symptoms that confuse and distress you all at once. Between hot flashes, sleep disturbances, mood swings, and sagging skin, you may feel as if a foreign agent has invaded your body. This is a critical time to get your hormones analyzed as estrogen, which plays a critical role in bone density, mood, skin, sexual health and overall wellbeing, and can be in flux. Ensuring all the key players, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are in balance will make a significant improvement in the quality of life as aging progresses. 

And speaking of vital hormones lets us not forget the adrenal hormones-cortisol, aldosterone and adrenaline that help to regulate metabolism, blood pressure, and stress. The adage of “wired and tired” is referring to adrenal malfunction, describing the feeling of a racing mind and anxiety, yet struggling to rest completely when you try to. 

 If the above-mentioned concerns you, be sure to investigate your adrenal function. Getting a complete analysis is as simple as using an at home test. Your provider will contact you with your results and offer treatment options to get rebalanced. In addition to supplements for adrenal regulation, activities like yoga, Pilates, tai chi, and mindful meditation can add benefits to regulating your nervous system, relieving stress, and reprogramming your system. 

For men, beginning in the third and fourth decade, symptoms like low libido, fatigue, erectile dysfunction, and mood disturbances can surface. In addition, if you and your partner are having fertility issues, hormone testing can be helpful to identify solutions. 

Finally, if you have a family history of hormonal problems or specific conditions can also signal reasons to get evaluated.