PCOS is an endocrine disorder
but what does it really mean?
Endorcine Disorder and PCOS
Almost every scientific research I have read starts exactly with this words: “PCOS is a common endocrine disorder.”
But what does it really mean?
Your endocrine system is an incredible communication structure, created to keep your body in balance. Everything is designed to function smoothly and precisely as a whole.
So when all of the hormone-producing glands are balanced and working together in harmony, you feel great. But if something gets off…
If one of the glands, hormones, receptors or organs impacted by hormones does not function correctly everything falls apart – and this is where the endocrine disorder may start.
Hormonal imbalances lead to weight gain, acne, low energy, mood swings, and an increased risk of endocrine disorders like PCOS.
Homeostasis
Your body will always trive to work in harmony (it calls homeostasis).
If one part of the endocrine system is not working properly your body will try to balance things out.
It could do it by producing more of some hormones or less of another hormones.
Endocrine disorder involve:
- Overproduction of certain hormones (“hyper” function)
- Underproduction of certain hormones (“hypo” function
Hormonal Inception
This gets even more complicated knowing that some hormones exist only to control other hormones, which in turns control other hormones.
Hormonal Inception? Well, it calls hormonal cascades.
Hormonal cascades is like a hormonal tree with a mother hormone at the top.
You see all of the hormones are working together to maintain balance and it is not enough to concentrate only on hormone-producing glands.
Many doctors will only look at the ovaries in women with PCOS, but ovaries are not the sole source of hormonal problems in PCOS.
To balance hormones it requires analysis of all the hormones in the body and focusing on the hormones at the top of the cascade.
Endocrine system and PCOS
Glands and organs that will play a role in PCOS are: hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovary, adrenals, fat cells and endocrine pancreas.
PCOS is not only about the hormones, but about the entire endocrine system. Starting from the top, starting from your brain and located inside – hypothalamus.
If you want to manage your PCOS symptoms, you need to understand endocrine processes and how they influence your body.
Because it is about your body as a whole. You can’t separate it.
Endocrine system can seem a little bit complicated, but step by step we will uncover it. So it will be easier for you to understand what is going on inside your body.
Remember I am here to answer your questions.
Yours Agnese
References:
Glintborg, D., & Andersen, M. (2017). Management of endocrine disease: Morbidity in polycystic ovary syndrome. European Journal of Endocrinology, 176(2). https://doi.org/10.1530/eje-16-0373
Proodian, J. (2014, August 13). The hormonal cascade and the danger of hormonal imbalance. Natural Healthcare Center. Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://naturalhealthcarecenter.com/the-hormonal-cascade-and-the-danger-of-hormonal-imbalance/
