The term “endocrine disorder” is probably not new to you. Many people, especially women, are naturally labeled as “endocrine disorders” when their bodies are in a state of flux, such as acne and pigmentation, insomnia and anxiety, or weight changes and menstrual disorders. So, what is “endocrine disorder” all about? ”Endocrine disorders” and “hormones” Before understanding endocrine disorders, we need to learn another word: “hormones”. Hormones are chemical substances produced by endocrine glands, which regulate various physiological activities. The hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thyroid, pancreas, adrenal glands, ovaries and testes are the classic endocrine glands that can secrete hormones, while the broad endocrine tissues include liver, heart, gastrointestinal tract, fat and so on. Hormones give people the impression that they are powerful and mysterious, and seem to be in charge of everything from growth and development, to happiness and sadness, to eating and drinking. In fact, hormones themselves do not have these functions; their role is only to transmit instructions, like a key to open the lock that matches it. If there are too many keys, too few keys, or mismatched keys, it will cause the so-called “endocrine disorder”. This “hormone” is not the other “hormone”. Hormones are a general term, and the familiar androgens, estrogens, insulin, thyroid hormone, glucocorticoids, etc. are all important members of the hormone family. In different contexts, people use the term “hormone” to refer to different objects. For example, the “hormones” that promote puberty in adolescents refer to androgens and estrogens secreted by the testes and ovaries, respectively. The “hormone” disorder in women with abnormal menstruation refers to the abnormal function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary endocrine axis. The “hormone” replacement therapy used to treat menopausal syndromes in middle-aged and elderly women mostly refers to estrogen and progestin. Hormones” are commonly used to treat asthma, allergies, and various immune diseases, especially glucocorticoids. There are also “insulin” for diabetic patients, “thyroxine” for hypothyroidism, “growth hormone” for children with dwarfism, and “gonadotropin-releasing hormone” for patients with abnormal sexual development …… These are all hormones, but their sources, effects and functions are completely different. Confusion about various hormones is the source of many misconceptions and prejudices in life, so that many people are afraid of talking about “hormone therapy” and even blindly resist it. A correct understanding of “endocrine disorders” In a broad sense, any disorder in the endocrine system that causes changes in hormone secretion and abnormal hormone effects can be called endocrine disorders. As for the various symptoms of endocrine disorders in women mentioned above, they have their own causes, some of which are hormone-related and some of which are not related to endocrine secretion. For example, the rapid development of sebaceous glands and the secretion of large amounts of lipids under the influence of androgens is certainly an important physiological basis for the occurrence of acne, but there is no clinical need to routinely check the hormone levels of acne patients, and very few acne cases actually require anti-androgen treatment. Another example is that the same “menstrual disorder” may be caused by endocrine disorders, anatomical abnormalities, hematological disorders, inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system, or even tumors. Therefore, when you encounter problems, you should consult a specialist and not make a hasty self-diagnosis of “endocrine disorder”, nor should you be influenced by certain health advertisements and blindly choose health care drugs, essential oil recipes or massages that claim to be able to “regulate endocrine”. In conclusion, “endocrine disorder” is a vague and broad concept that should not be used to explain various symptoms and diagnose various diseases. For each kind of endocrine disorder, doctors will weigh the pros and cons and use hormones or other treatments appropriately, so we should not hold stereotypes and blindly reject hormones. Lastly, and most importantly, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to endocrine regulation, so please remain suspicious and vigilant of any health products or treatments containing such words.