What is Adrenal PCOS? Root Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
In This Article
Adrenal PCOS Type/Root Cause
Adrenal PCOS, the second most prevalent type, is primarily caused by high levels of stress hormones.
In previous posts, we discussed how excess insulin leads to increased testosterone production by the ovaries, which is the most common root cause of PCOS, affecting at least 80% of cases.
In the case of adrenal PCOS, the issue stems from the adrenal glands, not the ovaries.
High stress prompts the brain to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which in turn stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, adrenaline, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), aiding our response to stress or danger.
Prolonged stress results in elevated levels of both cortisol and DHEAS, leading to Adrenal PCOS.
DHEAS, being part of the androgen family like testosterone, can cause similar symptoms such as acne, hair loss, and excessive hair growth.
Studies indicate that 20-30% of women with PCOS have excess adrenal androgens.
While research in this area is still developing, several studies suggest a possible genetic link in women with adrenal androgen excess, implying that some women might be more genetically predisposed to this type of PCOS.
"Adrenal PCOS is essentially an abnormal response to stress."
You might experience a similar amount of stress to your friend or partner, but find that while they can carry on relatively unscathed, your PCOS symptoms flare up like they’re
going out of fashion.
How does DHEAS cause PCOS symptoms?
What causes high stress hormones?
When mentioning "stress," it often brings to mind images of an overburdened businesswoman swamped with emails and deadlines, or a frazzled mother navigating traffic with noisy kids in the backseat.
But there are various "stressors" that can lead to increased cortisol and DHEAS production.
Psychological stress from scenarios like these is a common aspect of our modern lives and contributes to stress hormone production.
However, there are other factors that might be influencing your PCOS symptoms, which include poor sleep, chronic infections, loneliness, restrictive diets, excessive exercise, autoimmune diseases, and high caffeine intake.
You might not always feel overtly "stressed out," but it's possible to be hypersensitive to normal levels of stress hormones.
In my book, PCOS Repair Protocol, I go deep on a study indicated that stress experienced during puberty could lead to the development of PCOS later in life.
Enduring high stress levels during this critical developmental period can "hardwire" the brain to be overly sensitive to stress in later years.
This information could be relevant if you experienced a significant loss, trauma during adolescence, or if you were involved in extreme dieting or exercise during those years.
A Personal Story – Adrenal PCOS was my missing link
Discovering Adrenal PCOS was a game-changer for me, linking together all my symptoms after years of struggle.
Five years into dealing with PCOS, I was eating to manage insulin resistance, which greatly improved my sugar cravings, moods, and energy levels.
My skin was clearing up, yet my menstrual cycles were still irregular, occurring every 60-70 days.
Despite diligently working on my health while balancing two jobs, university, and a social life, the irregularities persisted.
A doctor's visit led to testing my testosterone levels, which surprisingly came back normal, leaving the irregularity of my cycles unexplained.
Suspecting other androgens might be involved, I took a urine test for DHEAS and cortisol.
The results were eye-opening: my DHEAS levels were extremely high, and my cortisol levels were off the charts, indicating I was more stressed than I had realized.
This realization led me to reassess the impact of stress on my PCOS.
My routine included 5am HIIT workouts to improve insulin sensitivity, followed by a hectic schedule of work, night classes, and social activities.
I was strictly adhering to a low-carb diet and pushing myself to excel in every aspect of life.
It wasn't until I eased up on my self-imposed expectations that my symptoms began to improve.
I replaced some HIIT sessions with leisurely walks or swims, started my day with a ten-minute meditation to reduce stress hormones, and learned to say no to activities that didn't bring me joy. I also adopted an 80/20 approach to my diet.
After three months of this more balanced approach, my menstrual cycles regularized to 32 days, and my skin cleared up entirely. This holistic method was the key to healing my PCOS at its core.
While the HIIT workouts and strict diet were beneficial for my insulin, adhering to them rigidly was increasing my stress hormones and DHEAS levels.
I needed to find a balance that managed both cortisol and insulin simultaneously.
In the following section of this chapter, we'll explore strategies for managing multiple root causes of PCOS concurrently.
Common signs and symptoms of Adrenal PCOS
Take the quiz below to rate the likelihood of high stress hormones being a root cause of your PCOS.
Each time you answer yes, give yourself one point.
If you said yes to six or more of the points above, there’s a high chance stress hormones are a driving force behind your PCOS.
If you aren’t sure or would like to confirm this with testing, see below for the best tests to confirm this.
What if I have high scores for Insulin Resistance and Adrenal PCOS?
A common form of PCOS is a combination of Insulin Resistance PCOS and Adrenal (type 1 + 2).
This happens because high stress hormones can lead to increased insulin resistance, and insulin resistance, in turn, places more stress on the body, exacerbating adrenal PCOS.
Essentially, each condition feeds into and worsens the other.
While this might seem daunting initially, it's actually beneficial because addressing either root cause first positively impacts the other.
If you strongly identify with both types, I recommend beginning with the Insulin Resistance Core Treatment Protocol outlined here.
Once you're comfortable with that, you can then incorporate the Adrenal Core Treatment Protocol, gradually integrating these strategies into your existing routine.
Alternatively, if you feel that stress is a more pressing issue for you at the moment, it's perfectly okay to start with the Adrenal PCOS treatment and then move on to the Insulin Resistance protocol.
Both approaches are effective regardless of the order, and you'll notice several common elements between the two protocols.
Testing to confirm Adrenal PCOS
Adrenal PCOS Core Treatment
About The Author - Tamika Woods
Related Products
Quizzes & Calculators For Your Hormones
Hormone Healing Recipes
References used for this article
Metab Disord. 2007;8(4):331-342.
Christodoulaki C, Trakakis E, Pergialiotis V, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone-
Sulfate, Insulin Resistance and Ovarian Volume Estimation in Patients With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. J Family Reprod Health. 2017;11(1):24-29.
SPOTLIGHT: Hayley’s story with Adrenal PCOS
Core Treatment #1: Empty Your Stress Bucket
Core Treatment #2: Create a Stress-Lowering Morning Ritual
Ideas for Morning Rituals:
Core Treatment #3: Make Time For Joy
Core Treatment #4: Remove or Reduce Caffeine
Core treatment #5: Assess Your Exercise Levels
"Exercise Should Make you feel more energized soon afterward."
Core Treatment #6: Balance Your Melatonin and Cortisol
Core Treatment #7: Consider a Stress-Lowering Herbal Blend
Core Treatment #8: Support Stable Blood Sugar
SUMMARY: Core Treatments for Adrenal PCOS
About The Author - Tamika Woods
Related Products
Quizzes & Calculators For Your Hormones
Hormone Healing Recipes
References used for this article
Metab Disord. 2007;8(4):331-342.
Christodoulaki C, Trakakis E, Pergialiotis V, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone-
Sulfate, Insulin Resistance and Ovarian Volume Estimation in Patients With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. J Family Reprod Health. 2017;11(1):24-29.