Hormonal Causes – The responsibility for hormone production shifts from the ovaries to the adrenal glands during menopause. For example, progesterone is not produced in the ovaries after menopause and if the adrenal glands have weakened over time, they will not be able to produce enough progesterone to keep the hormones balanced.

The first step to correcting the underlying causes of menopausal symptoms is assessing adrenal hormone function. Menopausal symptoms such as night sweats, hot flashes and insomnia interfere with the immune system’s critical repair work accomplished during the sleeping hours.

Melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep, is also a key to immune system function. Low bedtime melatonin levels result in problems falling asleep. Low melatonin during the early morning hours causes people to wake between 2 am and 4 am. Anytime melatonin levels are low immune system function is depressed, which can allow infections in the digestive system and a resulting stress on the adrenals.

Digestive Causes – Cholesterol is the precursor, or building block, to all sex hormones, including estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Low fat dieting can also contribute to menopausal problems. Addressing your body’s digestion is an important first step in hormone balancing. If the digestive system is sluggish, or is fighting a chronic infection, menopausal symptoms may be exacerbated. Food allergies and gluten intolerance will also cause a problem.

Detoxification Causes – If our chief detoxification organ, the liver, is over taxed, normal conjugation of hormones fails to take place. This is a common underlying cause for hormonal imbalances. Women who experience poor reactions to taking birth control or using traditional replacement therapy often have underlying toxic livers. If the body has a build up of synthetic hormones or foreign chemicals that act like hormones (called xenoestrogens), all kinds of symptoms can be caused.

Testing – It is essential to test and correct the adrenal glands through optimizing diet and lifestyle. If this is not done, it is very difficult to balance female hormones during and after menopause.