I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) in early 2017 after coming off the hormonal birth control pill. I was on the pill for 13 years for “painful periods” and acne, and although the pill did initially help these things, it was masking my symptoms of an underlying hormonal imbalance. In 2017, decided to get off the pill because I was genuinely curious as to what my natural hormones were like and was finally ready to embrace my natural female health. What I didn’t realize is that getting off the pill was NOT a cakewalk and quickly experienced all of the symptoms that scream hormonal imbalance such as severe acne, mood swings, amenorrhea (lack of a period altogether), adrenal fatigue, weight gain and hirsutism (excess hair growth).

I remember finally getting diagnosed with PCOS months after these symptoms had presented. My doctor called me after my blood work came back and simply said “you have PCOS. Do you have any questions?” as if it was plain as day what PCOS was and how I was supposed to manage it. I asked if there was anything I could do to manage it and she said no, other than going back on the hormonal birth control.

I knew this wasn’t the direction I wanted to take and quickly dug into the research, anecdotal stories and studies to figure out a different path in managing my hormones. What was a very frustrating couple of years learning how to manage my new condition, set me up on a path to teach and share what I’ve learned to work in balancing hormones.

I’ve been managing my PCOS ever since holistically without any medications or medical interventions. This approach has allowed me to heal most all of my symptoms and conceive naturally and quickly with our first baby. I not only feel empowered by taking charge of my own health but armed with the knowledge I need to respect and work intuitively with my body.

It’s important to note that I am not a licensed medical professional. I share what worked for me personally to help balance my hormones and this information should not be taken as medical advice. You should always consult with your healthcare provider before incorporating, changing or removing anything from your health plan.