Symptoms

Acute & early symptoms

  • Visual disturbance / peripheral blurring / changes in vision

  • Lack of breast milk / reduced supply

  • Low blood pressure

  • Dizziness

  • Muscle weakness

  • Difficulty sleeping

  • High urine output

  • Headache

  • Fatigue / exhaustion

  • Thirst

  • Brain fog / unable to think clearly

  • Unsteadiness / clumsiness / feeling drunk or drugged

  • Diarrhoea / vomiting

  • Racing heart

  • Irritability

  • Anxiety

  • Feeling shaky

  • Joint and muscle aches

  • Mid / low back pain

  • Hot flushes / night sweats

Chronic & longer term symptoms

  • Fatigue

  • Brain fog

  • Short term memory loss

  • Anxiety / depression

  • No menstruation / irregular periods

  • Hot flushes / night sweats

  • Infertility

  • Difficulty sleeping

  • Weight gain around middle

  • Loss of muscle bulk

  • Loss of bone density

  • Low libido

  • Hair loss / thinning / losing hair at ends of eyebrows

  • Unexpected weight loss

  • Vaginal dryness

  • Muscle and joint aches

  • Constipation

  • Diarrhoea

  • Brittle nails

  • Thinning of skin

  • Wrinkles around eyes and mouth

  • Irritability

  • Generally feeling unwell

  • Heart racing / fluttering

  • Shaking hands

  • Poor tolerance to cold / heat

  • Difficulty sustaining exercise

Listen to your body

Symptoms of hormone deficiencies and excesses are wide ranging and can overlap with each other (and side effects from medication). This can be frustrating and confusing, especially when you are newly diagnosed or seeking a diagnosis.

It is important that you listen to your body and start to recognise patterns of symptoms. It will help you to better communicate with your health professionals and learn to manage your condition. This is an important part of becoming an expert patient, along with learning more about your hormones and your body.

Keeping a diary of your symptoms is an ideal way to monitor how you are feeling, particularly once you progress onto hormone replacement medications.

We have listed common symptoms on this page and in each hormone section. This isn’t a definitive guide, so if you have any queries please speak with your doctor