Hormonal imbalance and its causes in young females

Abstract

Hormones play a vital role in the health of human females and hormonal imbalance can cause several pathological conditions. Improper diet, stressful or depressed lifestyles and use of drugs can cause hormonal imbalance. This study aimed to find out the causes of hormonal imbalance in females aged between 15-40 years. A cross-sectional and random sampling method was used to collect data from young females of this age group in Karachi, Pakistan. A specially designed questionnaire was used for data collection and a total of 127 females participated in the study. 55% of the females had irregular periods, 39% had excessive hair growth on the face or body, and 6% had both conditions. 11% of the female took junk foods, 6.2% were vegetarians, 14.96% took spicy food, 60.62 % took all the three types of food. 36% took both vegetable and junk foods, and 4.72% took both junk and spicy foods. In addition, 59% of the females took no treatment, 26% took antibiotics, 10.25% were on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and 4.75% took both antibiotics and HRT. 21.26% had depression, 24.41% had work load, 1.6% had both depression and workload while 52.73% had no specific cause for their hormonal imbalance .

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ISSN: 2349-2759
Abstract
Hormones play a vital role in the health of human females and hormonal imbalance can
cause several pathological conditions. Improper diet, stressful or depressed lifestyles and
use of drugs can cause hormonal imbalance. This study aimed to find out the causes of
hormonal imbalance in females aged between 15-40 years. A cross-sectional and random
sampling method was used to collect data from young females of this age group in Karachi,
Pakistan. A specially designed questionnaire was used for data collection and a total of 127
females participated in the study. 55% of the females had irregular periods, 39% had
excessive hair growth on the face or body, and 6% had both conditions. 11% of the female
took junk foods, 6.2% were vegetarians, 14.96% took spicy food, 60.62 % took all the three
types of food. 36% took both vegetable and junk foods, and 4.72% took both junk and spicy
foods. In addition, 59% of the females took no treatment, 26% took antibiotics, 10.25%
were on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and 4.75% took both antibiotics and HRT.
21.26% had depression, 24.41% had work load, 1.6% had both depression and workload
while 52.73% had no specific cause for their hormonal imbalance .
Key words: hormonal imbalances, irregular periods, excessive hair growth.
*Corresponding Author: Safila Naveed, Department of Pharmacy, Jinnah university for women
Karachi, Pakistan. Email : safila117@yahoo.com
1. Introduction
In the health of women, hormones
play a vital role. Fluctuation in hormone
levels, especially estrogen and
progesterone, in a female may have
negative impact on her mood, sexual
desire, ovulation and fertility of a female.
Hormonal imbalance can cause
menopause and some other symptoms
(like hot flashes and neck or shoulder
stiffness) [3] in females. Hormonal
imbalance can be caused by contraceptive
medications and hormone replacement
therapy or HRT, Too much of stress, Poor
diet, Environmental reasons, including
pollution, poisons, Above average
consumption of non-organic and also
animal products that have excessive
amounts with estrogen and Cosmetics [1].
Treatment options for hormonal
imbalance include antibiotics, herbal and
homeopathic medications. A balanced
diet is also crucial for hormonal health [2].
Signs and symptoms of hormonal
imbalance include changes in
JIPBS
Research Article
Hormonal imbalance and its causes in young females
Safila Naveed*1, Sidra Ghayas1, Asra Hameed1
1Department of pharmacy, Jinnah University for women Karachi, Pakistan.

Safila Naveed et al, JIPBS, Vol 2 (1), 12-16, 2015
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menstruation, acne, oily skin, fever,
fatigue, excessive hair growth, dizziness,
anxiety, allergy , low sexual desire, weight
gain, headache, water retention,
endometriosis, urinary tract infections
(UTI’s) and premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
[2].
Menstrual Cycle and Hormonal
Imbalance:
Several factors are present which
may disrupt hormonal balance and a
normal menstrual cycle. Different drugs
and family planning pills, stress, and many
other conditions are blamed for this. Drug
use, reliance on stimulants like alcohol and
caffeine, and improper nutrition seems to
physically change the proteins in the brain
such that they can no longer send the
proper signals for normal ovulation [2].
Other factors which can disrupt hormonal
balance and menstruation include adrenal
exhaustion, eating disorders, ovulation
disorders, polycystic ovary syndrome
(PCOS), and abnormal cervical mucus[2].
2. Materials and Methods
A random sampling method was used to
collect data from the females of age 15-40
years. Data was collected in the month of
April to June, 2014 from different public
places and hospitals. A specially designed
questionnaire was used for data collection.
Data of 127 females was collected and
analyzed. Different questions were asked
from the subjects to collect the data to
conclude the impact of food, treatment
from different medications specially
antibiotics, and other different causative
factors like anxiety/depression and
workload on the hormonal imbalance
showing as irregular periods and hair
growth.
Data Analysis:
We have used tables for representation of
data obtained.
3. Results
According to our survey report 55%
young females of Karachi city facing
irregular periods due to different reasons.
Whereas 39% young females of Karachi
city facing abnormal hair growth due to
different causes while 6% young females
facing these both conditions i.e. irregular
periods and abnormal hair growth due to
several different factors like there food
intake and their treatment with different
medications specially antibiotics and other
causative factors such as depression and
workload.
In our survey on the causes or reasons of
hormonal disturbance in young females,
we asked 127young females about their
food intake practice. 70 young females
faced irregular periods from 127 young
females. 10 of them took junk food, 5 of
them vegetarian food, 7 of them spicy
food, 42 of them all type foods, 2 of them
vegetable and junk food both and 4 of
them took both junk and spicy foods. 49
young females are facing abnormal hair
growth on body and face out of 127 young
females. 2 of them take junk food, 3 of
them take vegetarian food, 9 of them take
spicy food, 33 of them take all type foods, 1
of them takes vegetable and junk food both
and 1 of them take both junk and spicy
foods. 8 young females faced irregular
periods and abnormal hair growth on body
and face out of 127 young females. 2 of
them take junk food, 3 of them take spicy
food, 2 of them take all type foods, and 1 of
them takes both junk and spicy foods.
According to our survey of 127 young
females, total 14 took junk foods, 8 are
taking vegetarian food, 19 are taking spicy
foods, 77 females taking all type foods, 3
are taking both vegetable and junk foods,
and 6 taking both junk and spicy foods.

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Table 1: Type of food intake in Hormonal disturbance female
Table 2: Relationship between Hormonal disturbances and different treatment
causative factors
Total
None
Depression
Workload
Both
Hormonal
disturbance
irrereugalr
periods
39
12
18
1
70
hair growth
26
11
11
1
49
both
2
4
2
0
8
Total
67
27
31
2
127
Table 3: Relationship between Hormonal disturbances and Different factors
Type of food intake
Total
junk
food
vegetarian
spicy
all
types
both
vegetable
and junk
both
junk
and
spicy
Hormonal
disturbance
irrereugalr
periods
10
5
7
42
2
4
70
hair
growth
2
3
9
33
1
1
49
both
2
0
3
2
0
1
8
Total
14
8
19
77
3
6
127
Treatment
Total
no treatment
antibiotic
hormonal
both
Hormonal
disturbance
irrereugalr
periods
37
19
10
4
70
hair growth
35
11
1
2
49
both
3
3
2
0
8
Total
75
33
13
6
127

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In our survey on the causes or reasons of
hormonal disturbance in young females,
we asked 127young females about their
treatment practice of this hormonal
disturbance. 70 young females irregular
periods from 127 young females. 37 of
them took no treatment for their hormonal
imbalance, 19 of them took antibiotics for
their treatment of hormonal disturbance,
while 10 of them HRT or hormone
replacement therapy, and 4 of them take
both hormone replacement therapy as
well as antibiotics for their treatment of
hormonal disturbance.70 young females
abnormal hair growth on body and face
from 127 young females. 35 of them no
treatment for their hormonal imbalance,
11 of them take antibiotics for their
treatment of hormonal disturbance, while
1 of them takes HRT or hormone
replacement therapy, and 2 of them take
both hormone replacement therapy as
well as antibiotics for their treatment of
hormonal disturbance. 70 young females
are facing irregular periods and abnormal
hair growth on body and face from 127
young females. 3 of them take no
treatment for their hormonal imbalance, 3
of them take antibiotics for their treatment
of hormonal disturbance, while 1 of them
takes HRT or hormone replacement
therapy.
Total 75 females no treatment, 33taking
antibiotics, 13 taking HRT, and 6 taking
both antibiotics and HRT out of 127 young
females.
In our survey on the causes or reasons of
hormonal disturbance in young females,
we asked 127young females about their
causative factor of this hormonal
disturbance. 70 young females are facing
irregular periods from 127 young females.
12 of them have depression, 18 of them
have workload and only one of them have
both depression and workload. 39 young
females have no specific causative factor of
their hormonal imbalance. 49 young
females are facing abnormal hair growth
on face and body from 127 young females.
11 of them have depression, 11 of them
have workload and only one of them have
both depression and workload. 26 young
females have no specific causative factor of
their hormonal imbalance. 8 young
females are facing irregular periods as well
as abnormal hair growth on face and body
from 127 young females. 4 of them have
depression, 2 of them have workload and 2
young females have no specific causative
factor of their hormonal imbalance.
According to our survey of 127 young
females, 27 have depression, 31 females
have work load, and 2 of them have both
depression and workload while 67 young
females have no specific causative factor
for their hormonal disturbance.
4. Conclusion:
After our survey on causes on hormonal
imbalance in young females we have
concluded that hormonal balance has
relation with food intakes, use of drugs
and other factors like depression, work
load due to this 70 females out of 127
facing irregular periods, 49 facing
abnormal hair growth and 8 facing both of
these problems.
Acknowledgement:
We would like to thank all the females who
actively participated in our survey and
helped us by answering our questions
regarding their hormonal imbalance.
References
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Mansoor A., Sabir N., Farooqui S.S.,
SidraS.A. various aspects of acne in
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Research Journal of Pharmaceutical

Safila Naveed et al, JIPBS, Vol 2 (1), 12-16, 2015
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