The first World Hormone Day took place on 24 April 2025 to raise awareness of the vital role hormones play in rare and chronic disease. Under the banner #BecauseHormonesMatter, the campaign brought together the global endocrine community to share the small steps everyone can take to improve hormone health.

We joined the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE), the European Hormone and Metabolism Foundation (ESE Foundation), and partners worldwide to put hormones in the spotlight and at the forefront of public health conversations.

#BecauseHormonesMatter

Hormones are vital to our wellbeing as they tell the cells and tissues in our body what to do. They are responsible for our growth and development, metabolism, sexual function and fertility and for our cognitive processes.

If our hormones are out of balance, this can lead to poor health and disease. Thyroid disease, diabetes, rare disease, osteoporosis, obesity and cancer are just some of the diseases that can develop when our hormones are out of harmony.

With an estimated 1 in 20 people in the UK living with a thyroid condition, we are endorsing the European Society of Endocrinology’s recommendations for good hormone health which include lifestyle measures, such as getting enough sleep, having a good diet and being more active, as well as reducing our exposure to harmful chemicals.

Julia Priestley, Chief Executive Officer, British Thyroid Foundation, said: “Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as phthalates, bisphenol A [BPA] and forever chemicals  (PFAs) found in things like cleaning products, personal care products, cosmetics, plastics, clothing, cookware, and in our food, water and drink, as well as in the air (air pollution) can disrupt our hormones.

“We know that pregnant women, infants and children are most vulnerable to the effects of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. For example, the female thyroid is more sensitive to exposure to EDCs and this contributes to the higher incidence of thyroid disease in females.

“Concerningly, the UK is now failing to match and falling behind vital EU regulatory protections from endocrine-disrupting chemicals.  We therefore cannot stress enough the importance of World Hormone Day’s message of #BecauseHormonesMatter.”

What are common signs of hormone disorders?

As with thyroid conditions, symptoms are often unspecific and can include:

• Unexplained weight gain/loss
• Sensitivity to cold
• Fatigue
• Early or late puberty
• Irregular menstrual cycles, infertility and loss of libido
• Dry and flaky skin
• Excessive thirst

What steps can I take?

Find out more about endocrine-disrupting chemicals

CHEM Trust is a charity working to protect humans and wildlife from harmful chemicals and provides lots of resources to help you understand more and reduce your risks.

Facts about EDCs

Reduce your risks

Take action

Watch our webinar on EDCs and their effect on thyroid health