Adrenal Fatigue and Hormonal Disruption in Women

Are you feeling more stressed than usual, craving salty or sweet foods at unusual times, not feeling like yourself, and experiencing energy bursts in the evening? It could be adrenal fatigue, a condition that has gained increasing attention in recent years. It is not recognised as a medical condition, but functional health experts use it to describe symptoms that are believed to happen when the adrenal glands do not function properly due to chronic stress. While this condition can affect both men and women, women are affected more due to chronic stress from work, life, family, medical conditions due to hormonal imbalance, or due to lifestyle. By understanding adrenal hormones, their effects and function, you can take measures to support your health. Continue reading to know more.

What Are the Adrenal Glands?

Adrenal glands are small glands shaped like a triangle and located at the apex of each kidney. These glands produce hormones such as adrenaline, cortisol, aldosterone, and DHEA, which regulate bodily functions, including blood pressure, metabolism, the immune response and the stress response. The adrenal glands serve as the link between the endocrine and nervous systems, managing the stress response. In short-term stress, it triggers the fight-or-flight response and releases adrenaline. In chronic stress, the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis activates the adrenal glands to release chronic stress hormones. When these glands are healthy, they function in the background, but prolonged activation can affect your health.

What is Adrenal Fatigue?

The adrenal glands are small organs located on top of the kidneys that produce hormones for critical bodily functions. Cortisol is one such hormone, produced in response to stress. Some functional/wellness medicine experts suggest that excessive stress overworks these glands, leading to increased cortisol production and affecting their normal functioning, a condition known as adrenal fatigue. However, numerous studies have been conducted, and none could prove it to be a medical condition.

Adrenal gland disorders exist, and when these glands do not make enough hormones, it is called adrenal insufficiency, according to endocrinologists. A blood test to check adrenal levels is a reliable diagnostic test for this condition. Low levels indicate adrenal insufficiency, and in people with adrenal fatigue, these tests are normal. Since there is no specific test to diagnose adrenal fatigue, and the symptoms are general and apply to many conditions, diseases or lifestyles, medical doctors are concerned about self-administration of cortisol, which may pose a risk when taken without proper guidance.

Causes & Risk Factors

• Chronic physical, mental and emotional stress
• Lack of sleep, shift work that disturbs sleep or sleep apnea
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Exercising too much
• Postpartum stress
• Perimenopause or menopause
• Underactive thyroid, chronic fatigue syndrome
• Poor diet
• Consuming too much coffee or caffeine
• Autoimmune disorders such as autoimmune adrenalitis

How Does Adrenal Dysfunction Impact Women’s Hormones

How Does Adrenal Dysfunction Impact Women’s Hormones

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• Menstrual cycle: The cycle can be affected by changes in flow and timing. Delayed periods, light or heavy bleeding, or skipped cycles are symptoms. Long-term stress may cause anovulation, where eggs are not released from the ovaries, making conception difficult.
• Thyroid function: The adrenal glands produce hormones that control mood, energy and metabolism. Chronic stress alters the thyroid gland's functioning and causes hypothyroidism symptoms like weight gain, fatigue and depression.
• Progesterone stealing: Cortisol, estrogen, and progesterone are hormones produced by the adrenal glands. Progesterone is needed to make cortisol. Due to prolonged stress, excess cortisol is produced, and progesterone is used up to make cortisol. Because progesterone is busy producing cortisol, it cannot perform its other functions, becoming deficient and unbalanced.
• Difficulty conceiving: Hormonal disruption in women lowers fertility by affecting the hormones that promote ovulation and, later, implantation. If you are going through a fertility treatment, stress and hormones can impact the treatment results.
• Menopause symptoms: Chronic stress can speed up menopause or worsen symptoms by causing fatigue, brain fog, night sweats, severe hot flashes and mood swings.

Common Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue/HPA Axis Dysfunction

• Energy and sleep: Lack of stamina, tiring easily, body aches, difficulty waking in the morning, fatigue in the morning or afternoon. Frequent waking at night, difficulty falling asleep.
• Memory and mood: Poor memory, difficulty concentrating, and mental fog. Mood changes, which include irritability, anxiety and depression.  
• Hormonal changes: Low libido, irregular cycles, heavy or longer periods, and fertility issues.
• Metabolic: Unexplained weight gain, especially around the belly, salt or sweet cravings, low blood pressure, and low blood sugar.
• Immune system: Frequent infections, poor healing of wounds, and a general feeling of sickness.

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Diagnosis/Assessment

Since adrenal gland fatigue is not considered a medical condition, getting diagnosed can be challenging. Diagnosing this condition often requires evaluation of DHEA-S and cortisol levels and a comprehensive hormone panel using blood tests if you have persistent symptoms of adrenal fatigue. In some cases, a saliva test may help detect abnormal levels, whereas blood tests may not. It is essential not to self-diagnose the condition and to consult a functional medicine physician familiar with it.

Treatment & Management Options

• Stress management: Look for ways to reduce physical, mental and emotional stress. Practice relaxation methods, like deep breathing and meditation. Set aside time for hobbies and experiences you like.
• Adequate sleep: Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night by maintaining a consistent schedule and creating a quality sleep environment. Regulate your sleep-wake cycle with exercise and morning sunlight to reset your internal clock.
• Diet: The best way to treat adrenal fatigue is with a balanced diet. Consider more fresh vegetables, fruits and protein sources.. Eliminate sugars and salty foods. Limit caffeine and alcohol, as they can disrupt sleep. Take magnesium, vitamin C and B vitamins.
• Exercise: Shift from rigorous forms of exercise to easier ones, such as Yoga, Pilates, swimming and walking. These forms of movement put less strain on the body and still promote some movement.
• Adrenal Fatigue Prevention: The changes to your life will support adrenal function and help reduce stress. In addition to making time for a calming activity, you want to remove stressors. Make sustainable changes to your life, understand the hormonal changes you can expect at different stages of life, and schedule regular medical check-ups.
• Adrenal fatigue is not a recognised medical condition, and self-treating is risky. If symptoms continue, see a doctor.

When to See a Doctor?

• When there is extreme fatigue that does not resolve with proper rest.
• Unintentional weight loss or weight gain.
• Sudden pain in their lower back, stomach and or legs.
• Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea.
• Confusion, fainting, or loss of consciousness.

Conclusion

Adrenal fatigue is a condition that affects overall well-being. This condition needs a multifaceted treatment and recovery approach as it is dependent on the mind, body and hormone connection. Relief from symptoms is possible through lifestyle changes, stress management, and calming activities. Recovery is a gradual process, and if symptoms don’t subside, work with a healthcare provider who understands adrenal health.

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