Although we don’t often think about them, hormones are incredibly important to the day-to-day functioning of the body, as they are “chemical ‘messengers’ that impact the way your cells and organs function,” says WebMD.com.
Women tend to be more commonly associated with hormonal imbalances due to menstrual cycles and menopause, but men also experience hormone changes throughout their lives, especially as they age. And while each gender has its own unique set of symptoms that occur with a hormonal imbalance, they share the following 12 in common.
1. Libido Changes
If you suddenly find you’re not in the mood to be intimate, a hormonal imbalance could be the cause. In women, this tends to be because of lower-than-normal estrogen levels, which is often because they have hit menopause. Low estrogen can also cause women to experience vaginal dryness or pain during intercourse, which impacts their desire for intimacy.
For men, low libido is due to low levels of testosterone and, in some cases, high levels of prolactin, which Livestrong.com says is “a hormone responsible for breast milk production.” In addition to lacking sexual desire, the source says that too much prolactin in men can cause erectile dysfunction as well.
