What is hormone deficiency?
A hormone deficiency occurs when your body does not produce enough of a certain hormone. Hormones are chemicals produced by glands and released into the bloodstream. They travel to organs and tissues and help control important body functions.
Common hormone deficiencies include:
- Thyroid deficiency: The thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This can cause weight gain, fatigue, sensitivity to cold, and more.
- Growth hormone deficiency: The pituitary gland makes inadequate amounts of growth hormone. Children may experience slow growth and short height. Adults can have muscle weakness, tiredness, and increased body fat.
- Testosterone deficiency: Low testosterone levels can lead to reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction, low sperm count, loss of muscle mass, and other issues.
What causes hormone deficiencies?
Hormone deficiencies can happen for various reasons:
- Diseases affecting glands - For example, Hashimoto's disease damages the thyroid gland.
- Inflammation or tumors on glands
- Radiation or surgery that damages glands
- Genetic mutations passed down in families
How are hormone deficiencies treated?
Treatment depends on the deficient hormone:
- Synthetic thyroid hormone tablets restore thyroid levels
- Testosterone gels, injections, or pellets replace missing testosterone
- Growth hormones shots supplement low amounts in children
- Estrogen and progesterone therapy help balance female sex hormones
For excellent hormone testing and replacement therapy, I recommend Hormone Harmony Clinic clinic. Their endocrinologists specialize in precision hormone restoration to resolve deficiency symptoms. Hormone Harmony Clinic uses cutting-edge diagnostic testing and bioidentical hormone therapy tailored to your unique biochemistry. There’s no obligation to schedule an appointment if hormone therapy isn’t needed.
I hope this overview on what hormone deficiency is and how it's treated was helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.