The PCOS Repair Podcast

• MD, Naturopath, or Functional? Choosing the Right PCOS Care

  In this episode of the PCOS Repair Podcast, you’ll discover how to build your best support team to navigate your PCOS journey with confidence. If you’ve ever left a doctor’s appointment feeling like your concerns were dismissed, or if you’ve found yourself unsure whether to turn to an OB/GYN, naturopath, or functional medicine provider, this episode will bring clarity. You’ll learn how to determine who to see, what to ask, and how to create a care team that truly supports your goals and long-term health.Navigating Medical Providers for PCOSLet’s begin by exploring what traditional medical providers like OB/GYNs and primary care physicians typically offer, including diagnosis and prescription support. While these providers are valuable for initiating care, many women find their advice stops short of addressing the root causes of PCOS. This episode explains why that often leaves you feeling stuck and how understanding the limitations of traditional care can help you make more informed decisions about your options and next steps.Functional and Naturopathic Medicine for PCOS Root Cause HealingNext, you’ll learn how functional medicine providers and naturopathic doctors can complement traditional care by focusing on the metabolic and hormonal imbalances often driving PCOS symptoms. You’ll discover how these practitioners may use advanced lab testing, supplements, and a lifestyle-centered approach to dig deeper into your root causes. This episode also explores practical steps for finding the right provider and includes considerations like insurance coverage and testing options.How to Know What Type of PCOS Support You NeedWhether your primary concern is cycle regulation, fertility, energy, acne, or weight, this episode guides you through how to identify the right provider based on your unique goals. You’ll learn tips for vetting providers, understanding their specialties, and knowing when to start with a traditional diagnosis versus when to lean into functional or naturopathic care. You’ll also gain insight into how to combine different types of care across your PCOS journey and how to watch for red flags like extreme approaches or false promises.Creating a Personalized and Supportive PCOS Care PlanThis episode encourages you to think about your PCOS journey in phases and helps you map out the next step that aligns with where you are right now, whether it’s getting a diagnosis, addressing a specific symptom, or preparing for fertility treatments. You’ll be reminded that PCOS is a lifelong condition that can be well-managed with the right support and that your lifestyle is one of your most powerful tools. The PCOS Root Cause Bootcamp is highlighted as a resource to help you understand your symptoms and implement sustainable lifestyle shifts without extreme measures.Don’t forget to download the free Your PCOS Period Repair Manual. If you have questions or ideas for future episodes, come say hi on Instagram @nourishedtohealthy.You can take the quiz to discover your root cause hereYour PCOS Period Repair ManualLet’s continue the conversation on Instagram!What did you find helpful in this episode and what follow-up questions do you have?The full list of Resources & References Mentioned can be found on the Episode webpage at:https://nourishedtohealthy.com/ep-171

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• Saw Palmetto & PCOS: Can This Herb Help Balance Hormones?

  In this episode of the PCOS Repair Podcast, you’ll discover how saw palmetto can play a valuable role in supporting hormone balance for women with PCOS. Saw palmetto is best known for its anti‑androgen properties, which reduce excess male hormones like testosterone that contribute to symptoms such as acne, unwanted hair growth, and hair thinning. You’ll learn how this herbal supplement works and when it may be worth discussing with your healthcare provider as part of your PCOS management plan.What Makes Saw Palmetto Unique for Women with PCOSSaw palmetto is derived from a palm tree native to the southeastern United States, and its berries have been used in traditional medicine for centuries. In this episode, you’ll learn how this herb doesn’t just lower testosterone levels but rather blocks an enzyme called 5‑alpha‑reductase, which converts testosterone into its more potent form, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is often the culprit behind hair loss, oily skin, acne, and excessive facial or body hair—making saw palmetto a potential natural ally for managing these common PCOS symptoms.When Saw Palmetto Might Be Right for YouYou’ll discover when saw palmetto can be most helpful, typically once you’ve stabilized your root‑cause health through nutrition, movement, and overall hormone balance, yet still struggle with lingering androgenic symptoms. It’s important to note that saw palmetto isn’t suitable for those trying to conceive or during pregnancy, as it can affect hormone activity. This episode explains why it’s not a fertility‑safe option and provides insight into when it can fit safely into your overall wellness plan.How Saw Palmetto Works in the BodyIn this discussion, you’ll learn how saw palmetto acts gently on the hormonal system, offering a softer alternative to stronger pharmaceutical approaches. Rather than drastically lowering testosterone, it helps fine‑tune hormonal activity by preventing testosterone from converting into DHT. You’ll also hear why lab results don’t always tell the full story, hormonal “normal” ranges vary greatly, and sometimes small shifts can create big changes in how your body feels.In this episode, you’ll learn how saw palmetto can be a valuable part of a holistic approach to PCOS when used correctly. It’s not a magic fix, but it can help soften stubborn symptoms of high androgens when combined with balanced nutrition, stress management, and movement. To make supplement decisions easier, you’re invited to download the free PCOS Supplement Guide, which includes trusted brands and a 20% discount through Fullscript for podcast listeners.You can take the quiz to discover your root cause herePCOS Supplement GuideLet’s continue the conversation on Instagram! What did you find helpful in this episode and what follow-up questions do you have?The full list of Resources & References Mentioned can be found on the Episode webpage at:https://nourishedtohealthy.com/ep-170

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• Insulin, LH, and PCOS Hormonal Chaos: Understanding the Connection

  In this episode of the PCOS Repair Podcast, you’ll explore how luteinizing hormone (LH) plays a pivotal role in ovulation, and how its interaction with insulin can create hormonal chaos in PCOS. LH is the hormone responsible for triggering ovulation, but when it becomes imbalanced, cycles can become irregular or even anovulatory. This discussion sheds light on why LH may be elevated and how this elevation disrupts ovulation, especially when paired with high testosterone levels.How Cycle Chaos Unfolds: Elevated LH and OvulationInsulin resistance, common in PCOS, contributes to elevated testosterone and disrupts LH levels. Even without insulin resistance, women with PCOS may experience high insulin levels due to dietary habits. This elevation prompts the ovaries to produce more testosterone, which in turn increases LH. The result? Disrupted ovulation, missed LH surges, and cycles that are difficult to interpret.When LH levels are chronically elevated, the body misses the distinct surge that’s necessary for ovulation to occur. You’ll discover how this prevents egg release, contributes to cystic ovaries, and leads to inconsistent or missed periods. Practical Tools to Lower Insulin and Restore OvulationYou’ll learn practical strategies for lowering insulin and restoring hormone balance. This includes optimizing nutrition and strategic eating patterns to support better glucose regulation and lower daily insulin loads.For deeper insight into how your body handles food and stress, a CGM can be a powerful tool. In this episode, you’ll learn how to use a CGM to observe patterns, make small dietary changes, and experiment with meal timing and movement to lower insulin responses and improve hormone balance.Exercise is another key lifestyle tool for improving insulin sensitivity. You’ll hear how Zone 2 exercise and strength training help your body use insulin more efficiently. These simple habits can dramatically reduce post-meal glucose spikes and improve overall hormonal function.Stress is a major hormone disruptor. You’ll discover how elevated cortisol increases insulin, promotes fat storage, and throws off hormonal rhythms, including LH and ovulation. This episode covers how daily stress management practices are essential to support hormonal healing.Supporting Ovulation with SupplementsOnce foundational root causes are addressed, well selected supplements can further support insulin sensitivity and ovulation. This episode explains when and how to incorporate these supplements and provides resources for trusted product recommendations.If you’ve struggled to interpret LH tests, manage irregular ovulation, or understand the hidden factors behind PCOS symptoms, this episode breaks it down in a clear, practical way. You’ll leave with an understanding of how insulin impacts LH and what daily strategies, like movement, food timing, and supplements, can help regulate this delicate hormonal balance.You can take the quiz to discover your root cause hereGet the PCOS Supplement Guide for trusted product recommendations and discounts. Let’s continue the conversation on Instagram! What did you find helpful in this episode and what follow-up questions do you have?The full list of Resources & References Mentioned can be found on the Episode webpage at:https://nourishedtohealthy.com/ep-169

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• PCOS and Fertility Treatment Dropout: What Comes Next?

  In this episode of the PCOS Repair Podcast, you'll explore the emotional and psychological realities behind why so many women with PCOS choose to step away from fertility treatments. Drawing from a research article titled “Dropout of Infertility Treatments and Related Factors Among Infertile Couples”, this conversation dives into the personal reasons behind treatment discontinuation and what that means for women who are still hoping to grow their families. If you’ve ever felt the heavy emotional toll of month-to-month hoping, anxiety and disappointment, this episode offers a compassionate insight into a part of the fertility journey that’s rarely discussed openly.Needing a Break Fertility Tracking and TreatmentsWhether you're undergoing IVF or tracking cycles naturally at home, the journey is often marked by uncertainty, exhaustion, and emotional pain. You'll learn how psychological stress, not just finances or physical challenges, is the number one reason many women choose to take a break or stop trying altogether.This episode explores a mixed-method study conducted in Iran that analyzed over 400 infertile couples, combining global research, patient data, and in-depth interviews. What makes this study unique is how it blends hard data with emotional insight. While financial and physical stress were certainly contributing factors, the most significant reason women stepped away from treatment was emotional burnout. You'll discover how a lack of communication, misunderstood diagnoses, and feeling dismissed by medical teams created a deep sense of powerlessness that pushed many women to their emotional limits.The Emotional Toll of Fertility Treatments for Women with PCOSWomen with PCOS often face more intense and prolonged fertility journeys. Between irregular ovulation, hormone imbalances, and metabolic challenges, treatment cycles can be longer, less predictable, and more emotionally taxing. In this episode, you’ll hear how the emotional burden builds and why some women feel like their care becomes a runaway train, something happening to them, rather than a process they are in control of. You’ll also hear encouragement that it’s okay to take a break and that doing so can actually be a powerful step toward reclaiming emotional and physical wellbeing.Reclaiming Agency in Your Fertility JourneyOne of the key takeaways from this research is the concept of agency. In this episode, you’ll learn why making informed, empowered decisions about your fertility care, even when that means pausing or walking away, is essential. Ashlene discusses how women can ask the right questions, advocate for themselves with their care team, and get the emotional support they need outside of medical appointments. Whether that support comes from a therapist, coach, or trusted community, it’s a vital part of the process that often goes ignored in standard fertility treatment plans.You can take the quiz to discover your root cause hereDropout of infertility treatments and related factors among infertile couplesLet’s continue the conversation on Instagram! What did you find helpful in this episode and what follow-up questions do you have?The full list of Resources & References Mentioned can be found on the Episode webpage at: https://nourishedtohealthy.com/ep-168

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• Ozempic, Weight Loss Medications and PCOS: What You Need to Know

  This episode of the PCOS Repair Podcast, explores the hot topic of Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications and their potential role for PCOS. These drugs are making headlines for their potential to improve weight loss efforts, but how do they truly fit into a PCOS management plan? You’ll learn what these medications are, how they work in the body, and what the current research says about their use in women with PCOS. Most importantly, this episode helps you understand how to think critically about whether a GLP-1 medication may or may not be right for your situation.What GLP-1s Do and Why They’re Gaining PopularityGLP-1 receptor agonists mimic the natural GLP-1 hormone in your body, helping regulate blood sugar, slow gastric emptying, increase insulin sensitivity, and reduce appetite. Originally developed for diabetes, they’ve recently surged in popularity as weight loss tools. Since insulin resistance is a major root cause for many women with PCOS, it's no surprise these medications have drawn attention in the PCOS space.Benefits and Limitations After listening to his episode, you’ll feel more empowered to ask the right questions when discussing GLP-1 medications with your provider. You’ll understand the importance of personalizing your PCOS treatment and how these medications might play a role as one part of a broader strategy. You’ll also hear why understanding your unique PCOS root causes is the most valuable starting point in your healing journey, whether or not medication is part of the path you choose.You can take the quiz to discover your root cause hereLet’s continue the conversation on Instagram! What did you find helpful in this episode and what follow-up questions do you have?The full list of Resources & References Mentioned can be found on the Episode webpage at:https://nourishedtohealthy.com/ep-167

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