Hormonal Imbalance in Women and Headache
Q: Hi, my girl friend went to her gynecologist who ordered pregnancy test second time today. It came negative. The doctor said if she does not have her menses next week, she will need to come back for an USG. Until now she had no menstruation and she always has headaches What condition she might be experiencing? Thanks again.
-By Huge
Reply:
Since your girlfriend has still not had a normal menstrual period, this is suggestive that she currently has some hormonal imbalance in her body.
Female body basically has to deal with two reproductive hormones, namely estrogen and progesterone. These are secreted in a cyclic manner in a normal cycle by triggers received by the master gland Hypothalamus.
Many factors can affect this normal pattern of hormone secretion; like-
- Any Mental Stress
- Pills (like Norethindrone)
- Physical stress- under eating, any illness.
During such phases, we treat the patient with external hormones
supplements for some time. Your doctor wants to do the same. This corrects the disturbed pattern of hormone secretion and reverts it back to normal. However, it may take some time, 3 to 6 months.
Also, a well-balanced diet and a healthy amount of exercise would aid in speedy recovery. It would not be proper to crash diet nor eat too much of fatty stuff. Don’t let her feel like a patient. Let her be active and happy. She will surely be alright.
As for the headaches that you mentioned, the reason is again the hormonal imbalance in her body. Female brains are wired to be highly responsive to sex hormones. These vital hormones, namely estrogen and progesterone, exert their effects, dampening ones mood, making one irritable, causing headaches or just causing some blues. Estrogen acts as a natural elevator of mood while progesterone is more of a downer variety. The interplay between these mood-altering hormones and brain chemicals such as serotonin, which rises and falls with estrogen and must remain at certain levels to prevent depression and anxiety. This helps to maintain the overall emotional balance.
As her hormonal levels come back to normal measures, headaches will also wane off. Meanwhile, over-the-counter pain relievers can be taken.
Take Care,
Buddy M.D.
