The Vicious Cycle of Stress and Hormonal Imbalance Chronic stress and hormonal imbalance create a vicious cycle: Stress raises cortisol production. Raised cortisol reduces testosterone levels. Low testosterone induces fatigue, low libido, and weight gain. These signs further increase stress levels, memorializing the cycle. For example, weight gain induced by stress-related hormonal imbalance can lead to deficient self-esteem, which raises stress and worsens the hormonal disorder. https://www.talesquare.com/how-stress-affects-male-hormones/