Читать книгу The Ultimate PCOS Handbook - Theresa Cheung - Страница 16

There may also be a link between PCOS and the production of the stress hormone cortisol. Studies¹² have indicated that high testosterone levels associated with PCOS could be caused by a fault in the way the body produces Cortisol. This is the active form of the hormone released into the body by the adrenal gland to help it cope with stress and is turned into cortisone, the inactive form, by enzymes in the body. Researchers have found that some women with PCOS don’t have these enzymes. This means their bodies cannot process cortisol properly, causing higher levels of testosterone to be produced.

This suggests that stress may play a part in the development of PCOS. If you’re under stress your adrenal glands release the stress hormones – adrenaline and cortisol, as well as testosterone – to help you cope with that stress. If there’s a problem with the conversion of cortisol, you produce too much testosterone and this makes your symptoms worse and drives your body towards the classic PCOS symptoms of insulin resistance, weight gain and irregular periods. More research needs to be done, but knowing that stress may be a contributory factor can help you to take steps to ‘stress-proof’ your life, and you can do this with our action plan on page 266.