By Mike Kocsis | 7 minutes read | Last updated: November 7, 2025 Categories: Hormone imbalance
Medically Reviewed by Dr. George Touliatos
According to experts, hormonal imbalance is far more common than most people realize yet many remain unaware of its underlying causes.
Hormonal fluctuations are a normal part of life and occur during important life stages such as puberty, menopause and aging.
However, when they become persistent or severe, this can indicate underlying health issues like insulin resistance, chronic stress and poor diet.
Explained below are the ten common causes of hormonal imbalance in men and women.
1. Damage to the endocrine gland
Endocrine glands produce and release hormones (body’s chemical messengers) directly into the bloodstream. Damage or injury to any of these glands, such as thyroid, pituitary or adrenal, can disrupt hormonal balance and body functions.
These injuries can occur during surgeries, head trauma, infections and radiotherapy.
2. Tumor growth
Both cancerous and noncancerous tumor growths on glands can disturb their functioning and cause either too much or too little production of hormones.
3. Chronic stress
Studies show that individuals who lead high-stress lifestyles personally or professionally are much more prone to hormone production and regulation issues.
This is mainly because they produce excess cortisol which interferes with many other hormones like male hormone testosterone.
If you must live a life with a lot of stress, you should explore stress management techniques to ensure your body is coping well with the amount of stress you are putting on it. Failure to do so could interfere with your body’s ability to regulate hormone levels.
4. Poor diet
Your diet is another external factor that can impact your hormone levels.
Nutritional imbalance can result into nutrient deficiencies, obesity and related diseases – all of which can disturb hormone production.
Processed food and junk food consumption has become very common these days. We should try replacing unhealthy fats, refined sugars and high carb foods with a healthy diet consisting of whole foods for optimal health.
5. Inadequate sleep
Though many people do not realize it, the amount of sleep you get on a daily basis has a very heavy impact on your general health. And, as we say, general health is hormone health.
You cannot have good hormone health if you do not have good general health.
So, develop a consistent sleep schedule and get 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep every night.
6. Too much or too little physical activity
Over or under exercising can also disturb hormone levels.
It is seen that people with sedentary lifestyle have a higher risk of developing insulin resistance than individuals with an active lifestyle.
Similarly, too much exercise without proper rest and diet also impacts hormones, especially reproductive hormones like testosterone and estrogen.
7. Medications
Certain medications directly alter hormone production and function related activities within the body. Common examples include:
- Birth control pills
- Steroids
- Synthetic hormones
- Antidepressants
- Hormone replacement medications
8. Cancer treatments
Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy all can increase or decrease your hormone levels based on which body part is exposed to them.
In such cases, doctors usually suggest lifestyle modifications that help with hormone regulation and related symptoms management.
9. Environmental toxins
We get exposed to different sorts of chemicals daily, some of which are called endocrine disrupters as they tend to disturb endocrine system.
Common examples of these chemicals include pesticides, BPA, PFAS and phthalates. We get exposed to them through skincare products, food packaging, carpets, etc.
Make sure you check ingredient list of products before purchasing them. Use BPA free plastic and natural skincare products.
10. Certain medical conditions
You can have hormonal imbalance if you have any of the following health conditions:
- Thyroid dysfunction (such as underactive thyroid gland – low thyroid hormone levels and overactive thyroid disease – high thyroid hormone levels)
- Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- Autoimmune conditions
- Hypogonadism
- Cushing syndrome
- Addison’s disease
- Pituitary gland disorder
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Acromegaly
- Eating disorders
- Growth hormone deficiency
How do I know if I’m hormonally imbalanced?
If you are hormonally imbalanced, you will experience hormone imbalance symptoms such as:
- Unexplained weight gain or poor body fat storage
- Skin and hair changes
- Reproductive health problems like poor sexual function and infertility
- Adult acne
- Changes in sex drive
- Disturbed sleep wake cycle
- Mood swings
- Fatigue
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness in women
- Excessive hair growth
- Irregular periods in women
- Loss of muscle mass
After examining your hormonal imbalance symptoms, your healthcare professional will further confirm the problem through a blood test. These tests show your hormone’s concentration within your blood.
How is hormone imbalance treated?
The appropriate treatment for hormone imbalance depends on what’s causing the problem in the first place.
If the cause is a lifestyle factor like weight gain, then healthy lifestyle modifications like weight loss, exercise, and balanced diet may be suggested.
When lifestyle changes alone are not enough to restore hormone levels, then doctors may prescribe hormone replacement therapy, hormonal birth control, vaginal estrogen and other medications.
In some cases, when hormonal problem is due to tumor growth or a similar issue, surgery may be required to restore it.
Hormone replacement therapy
One of the most effective and time-tested methods for treating hormone imbalance in individuals who produce inadequate amounts of hormones is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Popular examples of HRT include testosterone therapy and estrogen therapy which are used to increase sex hormone levels.
Through HRT, an individual can artificially regulate their hormones. A certified specialist can inject hormones directly into the body or deliver them in via gels, creams, pills, skin patches, etc.
Through this method, people have been known to regain their proper hormone balance and reduce side effects that come along with imbalanced hormones.
Hormone replacement therapy isn’t for everyone, though. You should consult a medical professional and someone that specializes in this type of treatment to find out if you are a good candidate.
FAQs about causes of hormone imbalance in men and women
Can weight gain cause hormonal imbalance?
Weight gain can fluctuate levels of certain hormones, including adiponectin, leptin, reproductive and thyroid hormones. This can affect many aspects of your health such as metabolism, mood, appetite and more.
Can lack of sex cause hormonal imbalance?
No, lack of sex does not impact hormone levels directly.
Can hormones cause itchy skin?
Itchy skin is a common concern among menopausal and postmenopausal women. It happens due to estrogen hormone fluctuations. Using moisturizer regularly and staying hydrated can help manage this problem naturally.
Can hormone imbalance cause anxiety?
Yes, certain hormone related conditions like hyperthyroidism and adult-onset growth hormone deficiency can lead to anxiety.
Summing it up
Hormonal changes occur throughout a person’s life but if they stay persistent, you may have an underlying health problem.
Different hormonal imbalances have different causes, some are lifestyle related while others are medical conditions related. These hormone problems can impact your overall health if they are left untreated.
Diagnosing hormonal imbalance early can help prevent further complications and start a treatment on time.
Reach out to our professionals today if you need help related to hormone tests and hormone therapies like TRT.
References
Calcaterra, V., Verduci, E., Stagi, S. and Zuccotti, G., 2024. How the intricate relationship between nutrition and hormonal equilibrium significantly influences endocrine and reproductive health in adolescent girls. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11, p.1337328.
Borkar, M.S. and Joshi, P.P., 2023. Hormonal imbalance in women-Their causes, symptoms and treatment. BIOINFOLET-A Quarterly Journal of Life Sciences, 20(2b), pp.310-312.
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About the Author: Mike Kocsis
Mike Kocsis has an MBA with a focus on healthcare administration and is an entrepreneur and medical case manager for Balance My Hormones which offers medical services in the UK and Europe. Mike has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector, much of that working with people who have hormone imbalances. Mike has appeared on podcasts and radio and is an expert speaker on the subject of hormone imbalance. He specialises in Testosterone Replacement Therapy and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and has helped thousands of people suffering from hormone imbalances recover and regain control of their lives. You can follow him on LinkedIn and on the Balance My Hormones YouTube Channel.
Last update: November 7th, 2025
