The Hidden Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance in Women: What You Need to Know by Natasha Prymak, FNP-C

Just recently, I was trying to explain how off I felt to my doctor. I told my OB-GYN about the nights filled with racing thoughts, the endless to-do lists spinning through my head, and the persistent feeling that I wasn’t doing enough. Her response? “That’s normal.”

As a 40-something, I found myself struggling with fatigue, weight gain, and irritability, but no one seemed to think it was anything more than a typical part of aging. Thanks to the power of social media, I found today’s guest author and learned that the symptoms of hormone imbalance in women can often be overlooked or dismissed by traditional healthcare.

That’s why I’m thrilled to introduce you to Natasha Prymak, a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner and the owner of The Fix Clinic in Ashburn, VA. Natasha’s journey into healthcare was deeply personal. After struggling with exhaustion, weight gain, and mood swings postpartum, she too learned that the symptoms of hormone imbalance in women are often dismissed or misdiagnosed. Through her own health struggles, she discovered the crucial role hormone imbalances play in our well-being and now dedicates her career to helping women restore balance and feel like themselves again.

In this post, Natasha shares her eye-opening experience, highlighting the importance of listening to our bodies and advocating for our health. If you’ve been struggling with symptoms of hormone imbalance in women, Natasha’s insights could be the start of your own journey toward optimal wellness through functional medicine in Northern Virginia. Because as Natasha says: “Feeling good shouldn’t be a luxury—it should be the baseline.”

“It’s Normal,” They Said—But I Knew Better

I was tired, irritable, gaining weight, and the only explanation I received from my doctor was that it was all “normal.”

I remember that season of life so clearly. I was a young mom with two children under the age of two—my second had just been born a few months earlier. In my well-intentioned plan, I’d decided to have my children close together so I could avoid being an “old” grandmother someday. But what I didn’t fully grasp at the time was how demanding those early years would be.

With two babies needing constant care, I was barely sleeping, eating on the go (if at all), and putting everyone else’s needs ahead of my own. It wasn’t long before the toll it was taking became undeniable.

At my six-month postpartum check-up, I remember trying to explain how off I felt. I told my OB-GYN about the nights filled with racing thoughts, the endless to-do lists spinning through my head, and the persistent feeling that I wasn’t doing enough. I talked about the days when I felt emotionally flat, irritable, or even disconnected from the joy of motherhood. Her response? “That’s normal. Probably just postpartum depression. Let’s try an antidepressant.”

Finding the Root Cause with Functional Medicine

Desperate for relief, I agreed. But after four months on the medication, nothing had improved—if anything, I felt even more anxious, more detached, and more unsure of what was happening to me.

That’s when I decided to get a second opinion from my primary care physician, who also practiced functional medicine. He listened carefully and then suggested we run a full panel of hormone tests.

The results were startling: my progesterone level was at zero.

I had no idea what that meant at first. But he explained it simply—progesterone plays a vital role in balancing estrogen and stabilizing mood. When estrogen goes unbalanced by low or absent progesterone, the result is a cascade of symptoms of hormone imbalance in women: fatigue, weight gain, mood swings, irritability, and sleep disturbances. Essentially, I was experiencing estrogen dominance without the buffer progesterone is meant to provide.

The Power of Hormone Balance

Within weeks of beginning progesterone supplementation, the fog started to lift. I began sleeping through the night. My moods stabilized. I slowly came off the antidepressant. And the weight? It started to come off too—without any drastic lifestyle changes.

That experience opened my eyes—not just to my own health, but to the broader issue of how often women are dismissed, misdiagnosed, or given a “band-aid” solution that doesn’t address the root cause of their symptoms.

A Career-Defining Moment

That experience was more than just a personal health revelation—it was a career-defining moment.
That was when I decided to become a Nurse Practitioner and be the provider who takes the time to really listen to women and what their bodies are trying to communicate to them.

Too often, women are dismissed, told their symptoms are “normal,” or prescribed a quick fix that doesn’t address the root cause. I knew there had to be a better way—one that acknowledged the complexity of women’s health and honored the intuition we have when we know something just isn’t right.

Helping Women Restore Balance through Functional Medicine in Northern Virginia

Now, as a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner, I specialize in hormone health and HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). I work with women every day who are exhausted, anxious, gaining weight, and feeling disconnected from their bodies at any point in their lifespan —and I help them uncover why. Through comprehensive lab testing, in-depth conversations, and personalized treatment plans, I help women restore balance and feel like themselves again.

Because feeling good shouldn’t be a luxury—it should be the baseline.

The Hidden Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance in Women: What You Need to Know