1. Reduced Sex Drive

Major life events that cause stress, like starting a new job or moving to a new city, may lower libido.

This can occur when elevated levels of cortisol suppress the body’s natural sex hormones.

2. Irregular Periods

Acute and chronic stress can fundamentally alter the body's hormone balance, which can lead to missed, late or irregular periods. 

3. Acne Breakouts

Raised levels of cortisol in the body can cause excess oil production that contributes to the development of acne breakouts. A 2003 study observed that female college students experienced more breakouts during exam periods due to increased stress.

4. Hair Loss

Significant emotional or psychological stress can cause a physiological imbalance which contributes to hair loss. Stress can disrupt the life cycle of the hair, causing it to go into its falling-out stage. While you may not notice hair loss during or immediately following a period of stress, the changes can occur three to six months later.

5. Poor Digestion

Prolonged stress can greatly impact the digestive system by increasing stomach acid, causing indigestion and discomfort, and in some cases contributing to the development of IBS and ulcers. Reducing stress is key to maintaining a healthy digestive system.

6. Depression

Women are twice as likely to experience depression as men, and recent research has looked to differing stress responses and stress reactivity between the sexes to explain this discrepancy. Elevated levels of cortisol resulting from the chronic stress of a long-term, low grade job stress or the acute stress of a difficult life event like death or divorce can act as a trigger for depression.

7. Insomnia

Most of us know the feeling of tossing and turning at night, thinking over the events of the day or problems at work. Unsurprisingly, stress is a common cause of insomnia, which can in turn lead to difficulty concentrating, irritability and a lack of motivation.

8. Weight Gain

Research has linked higher levels of cortisol to a lower waist-to-hip ratio in women (i.e. more weight around the belly area), as well as a decreased metabolism. High stress levels are also correlated with increased appetite and sugar cravings, which can lead to weight gain.

9. Decreased Fertility

While further research is needed to better clarify the link between stress and fertility, recent studies have found that women with high levels of alpha-amylase, an enzyme linked to stress, had a more difficult time getting pregnant. Women with the highest concentration of the enzyme during their menstrual cycle were 12 percent less likely to conceive than women with the lowest concentration of alpha-amylase.

10. Increased Risk Of Heart Disease And Stroke

According to a 2012 study of over 22,000 women, women under high amounts of stress at work were 40 percent more likely to experience a cardiovascular event (a heart attack or stroke) than women who reported low levels of job-related stress. Strokes are also more common among individuals with with stressful lives and tightly-wound personalities.