Hormone imbalances.

What the phrase covers, and what it does not.

Hormones are chemical messengers made by glands such as the thyroid, the adrenal glands, the ovaries or testes, and the pancreas. They regulate metabolism, cycles, mood, energy, and temperature, among other things. When one of those systems is producing too much or too little of a hormone, doctors call that an imbalance. On its own, the phrase is not a diagnosis. It is shorthand for whatever specific condition turns up once testing is done, and until that testing happens, nobody can say which condition is actually present.

What commonly causes it.

The accepted medical causes include thyroid disorders such as an underactive or overactive thyroid, perimenopause and menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes and insulin resistance, and problems with the adrenal or pituitary glands. Certain medications, including some birth control and steroid medications, can shift hormone levels as well. Age, pregnancy, and some chronic illnesses change hormone patterns too. Which of these applies, if any, is something only testing can answer.

What the signs typically look like.

The symptoms people associate with hormone imbalance are wide-ranging, which is part of what makes the term confusing. Changes in your menstrual cycle, hot flashes or night sweats, unexplained weight change, fatigue, mood changes, changes in skin or hair, temperature sensitivity, and changes in sex drive are all commonly mentioned. Nearly every one of those symptoms can also come from something unrelated to hormones, which is exactly why a symptom list alone cannot tell you what is going on.

What a doctor typically checks.

A physician will start with your history and a physical exam, then decide which tests fit your symptoms. Blood work commonly includes a thyroid panel, sex hormone levels, and a fasting glucose or insulin test. Depending on the findings, imaging or a referral to an endocrinologist or an OB-GYN may follow. The results are read against your history and your exam, not in isolation, which is why the same lab number can mean different things in different people.

What you can reasonably do next.

Keep track of what you have noticed and when it started, including any pattern with your cycle if that applies to you. If you have already been tested, bring those results to your next visit rather than starting over. If you have not been tested, your primary care physician or an OB-GYN is the right place to begin, and naming your specific symptoms will help them choose the right tests instead of ordering everything at once.

What Boss Chiropractic actually does here.

Boss Chiropractic is a chiropractic office. We examine and treat mechanical problems in the spine and joints, and if pain from your back or neck is disturbing your sleep or wearing you down, that part is something we can examine here. Ordering hormone panels, interpreting them, and treating what they show is medical work that belongs with your physician or an endocrinologist. We do not do that work, and we will say so plainly rather than guess at what a lab result might mean.

Boss Chiropractic has served Sterling Ridge and The Woodlands since 2001. You can read how we think about this whole area on our holistic health and wellness page, or contact us with a question before you book.

Reviewed and approved by Dr. Christopher Boss, DC, Doctor of Chiropractic since 1998 and the treating chiropractor at Boss Chiropractic. Last updated September 11, 2026.

This page is general information, not medical advice. What is right for you depends on your exam. Dr. Boss will tell you straight whether we can help, and where to go if we cannot.