#1 Excessive weight gain or an inability to lose weight
One very common side effect of a hormonal imbalance is excessive weight gain or the inability to lose weight even when following a good diet and exercise plan.
There are multiple hormones which are tightly interlinked with body weight and body composition, including fat on the body, the type of fat we hold on our bodies and where it’s stored, muscle mass and water, all of which can and will affect how much we weigh and how easy or difficult it is to lose weight.
#2 Hair loss
Hair loss is for sure a warning sign of hormonal imbalances that you should keep an eye on. One very relevant group of hormones to hair health are thyroid hormones.
#3 Excessive Fatigue
Fatigue is normal in short bursts. But, fatigue that is long-lasting and chronic is not normal and is a sign that your hormones are imbalanced. Fatigue is especially important to pay attention to if you’re doing everything you know you should. If you’re eating enough food, sleeping at least 7 hours per night and exercising on a regular basis and you’re still fatigued, then you should pay more attention to how certain things you are consuming or doing are affecting your energy levels. One common hormonal culprit of excessive fatigue is too much cortisol, which can ironically be caused by drinking too much coffee.
#4 Adult Acne
If you’re experiencing persistent acne, or have been well into your 30s, 40s and beyond, then this could very well be a sign of underlying hormonal imbalances. One hormonal cause of persistent acne is excessively high androgen levels. As a woman, having some testosterone is normal, even though it is the male dominant hormone - just like men also have estrogen, the female dominant hormone. However, very high testosterone levels in women are associated with acne problems. With age, the testosterone level of women can increase and with this increase, acne can potentially increase in its frequency and severity.
#5 Decreased Desire For Intimacy
A sign that hormones are out of balance is a rapid decline in a desire for intimacy.
#6 Muscle Atrophy
Muscle mass is important not only to look toned and athletic, but also for general health. Research has shown that people with more muscle and more strength tend to live longer lives.
The more muscle you have, the stronger your metabolism is going to be, the less likely you are to get injured while falling and even brain health has been positively associated with muscle mass.
When you have a lack of certain hormones, it’s more difficult to keep your muscle as you get older and also build more muscle as you begin a resistance training workout program at home or at the gym.
Consuming enough protein in your diet is a key factor in determining how well you’re going to be able to reverse age-related muscle atrophy (loss).
#7 Night Sweats
We’ve all woken up in the middle of the night and experienced night sweats and hot flashes when we’re sick or feeling unwell.
However, persistent night sweats and hot flashes are a clear sign that there is an underlying problem. Did you know that nearly all women going through perimenopause experience hot flashes at night as well as night sweats?
Research shows that a common symptom of having low estrogen levels are hot flashes. It’s a really unpleasant feeling and begins by experiencing heat that begins in the chest area and travels up your neck and head.
#8 Digestive Issues
Digestive issues aren’t typically seen as something that’s associated with hormonal issues as many people tend to only associate hormones with things such as love hormones.
However, digestive issues can very well be caused by an irregular hormonal profile. For example, sex hormones like estrogen directly affect your microbiome (the range of good and bad bacteria that live in your gut).
Research has also shown that this relationship between hormones like estrogen and gut health can be tied into negative symptoms such as discomfort, abdominal pain, constipation, and so on.
