PCOS
Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome
PCOS is a label for a collection of symptoms--there are 4 types and they can present very differently from one woman to another. A diagnosis of PCOS can feel life-altering and depressing. It can cause symptoms that make you want to run and hide, or spend piles of money on procedures to curb the visibility of them--facial hair, acne, obesity, infertility, or thinning hair can cause extreme distress to a woman's self-esteem when suffering from PCOS. When seeking help, often women are given little information or guidance, or even properly diagnosed. The standard treatments bring their own side effects and women struggle to find true relief from their symptoms. Symptoms can cause women to question if their bodies can ever work "normally". Sadly, if left unmanaged, PCOS increases a woman's risk for chronic disease, including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and GYN cancers. The traditional offerings of birth control, diuretics or diabetes medications do not come close to addressing the root issues and worsen the issues!
Our patients come to us for PCOS symptoms when they have exhausted the regular therapies or are fed-up with the lack of guidance (or workup) from their providers and they want to know the real situation going on! Often, they don't even know they have PCOS, they simply know they have symptoms that are degrading their self-esteem and creating frustration. Acne, body hair/facial hair, thinning hair, infertility, irregular periods (often missing for months at a time), struggles with weight (despite exercising) or blood sugar dysfunction. Some have seen similar patterns in their family and tragically, assume that's "just the way it is". Fortunately, there is so much more than can be done and effectively support a women with PCOS. They come to us when they're told "PCOS means you can't have children" or "PCOS requires birth control (or other prescriptions)", yet they continue to feel like junk. It prevents them from having the hormonal balance they seek. It holds them back from feeling confident or having the fertility they seek.
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It's generally when they realize they've been spending more and more time feeling like they're going through the day exhausted, bloated, broken out or wondering if they'll ever have another period and Googling “how to heal XYZ…” that they decide it's time for some professional help.
If you're ready to have regular cycles, eliminate the awful facial hair or acne, feel hormonally aligned and feeling like your body is working properly, we're here to help you figure out what type of PCOS you have (or whether you even have PCOS!) and the best approach to healing.
Some common complaints we see related to PCOS:
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weight that won't budge or seems out of control not matter what you do
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irregular, or absent periods
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digestive issues (bloating! constipation or diarrhea...or a mix)
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irregular periods (infrequent, inconsistent)--not a definitive symptom
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mood swings, often depression/anxiety
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acne
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hair loss, thinning hair on scalp
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hair growth on face/body (chest/stomach)
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infertility
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family history of similar symptoms
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insulin resistance
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lower resilience for stress
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fluctuating libido
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severe PMS/PMDD
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cysts on ovaries from ultrasound
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Your body can function properly, it does take some unique support and each woman with PCOS requires different things. But with the right approach, you can have regular cycles and minimized negative symptoms.
Together we’ll focus on diagnosing the actual cause of your symptoms (sometimes not what or where we think), and work to address the root issues. We help to achieve proper diagnoses, minimize negative symptoms and support optimal hormone levels so you can feel your best and be healthy now and in the years to come.
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OUR APPROACH HELPS YOU IN:
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Fully assessing where your hormone levels are
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Evaluating the physical manifestations
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Determining what your body is doing with your hormones
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Identifying where to target therapy
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Addressing contributing factors
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Increasing healthy ratios/levels of hormones
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Returning to appropriate mood and energy levels
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Resolving the pesky symptoms that make you want to hide from life
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Giving you the ability to feel like the best version of you
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YOUR BODY
IS READY
TO CYCLE REGULARLY
HOW IT WORKS:​
It's very simple. Book your Initial appointment so we can do a full intake, a complete physical assessment, determine the necessary lab work and build a customized plan based on your diagnosis.