The PCOS 365 Podcast

PCOS in Your Teens: What I Wish Someone Had Told Me If you were the teenager with irregular periods, acne, or a PCOS diagnosis—and no real answers—this episode is for you. And if you’re a mom watching your daughter go through that now, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. We’re talking about what should have been explained early on: how the cycle works, why symptoms are connected, and ho...

If you’ve been told birth control is your only option for PCOS—or to “come back when you want to get pregnant”—this episode is for you. After attending the FACTS About Fertility Conference, I’m sharing what I witnessed: physicians practicing restorative reproductive medicine—focused on understanding your cycle, finding root causes, and actually supporting your body. We’ll also talk about organizat...

Many women are diagnosed with PCOS and leave their doctor’s appointment feeling discouraged—told to lose weight, take birth control, or come back when they want to get pregnant. But PCOS is not a life sentence. In this episode, we talk about why that message is incomplete and how PCOS symptoms often improve when hormones like insulin, cortisol, and inflammation are properly supported. You’ll also...

Do you ever feel like your PCOS symptoms—fatigue, acne, brain fog, sugar cravings, irregular cycles—are completely random? Like your body is working against you? You are not broken—your body is simply sending signals, and this episode will help you decode them. In this deep dive, we explain why your symptoms cluster together, how imbalances in one system can cascade into multiple others, and why u...

If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS, you’ve probably heard the advice: “lose weight and take birth control.” It’s simple, quick, and easy to say—but for most women, it’s not effective. In this episode of The PCOS 365 Podcast, we unpack why this common advice often fails and can even make symptoms worse. We’ll also explore what real, sustainable support for PCOS looks like—and how you can start appl...

When your doctor tells you “you have PCOS,” it can feel like a full stop—like someone handed you a diagnosis but forgot to explain what it actually means for your body, your hormones, or your life. In this episode of The PCOS 365 Podcast, we break down what a PCOS diagnosis really is, what doctors often leave out, and why that lack of clarity can leave women feeling unsupported, frustrated, and co...

If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS and left your doctor’s office feeling confused, dismissed, or like your body is failing you — this episode is for you. In this episode of The PCOS 365 Podcast, we’re reframing one of the most damaging beliefs women with PCOS carry: that their symptoms mean something is wrong with them. The truth? You are not broken. You are unsupported. PCOS is not just a reprodu...

We've covered a lot of labs in the last few episodes-- so let's recap with how they're connected. Remember, we can't simply look at one number and have an answer-- we have to look at the big picture-- are my numbers trending in one direction? are these labs telling me a different story when I look at them all and not just one? We'll close out this mini-series by bringing it all together. And remem...

You’ve been told your blood sugar is “normal”… but your body is telling a very different story. In this episode, we’re breaking down fasting insulin, fasting glucose, and HOMA-IR — three pieces of data that can completely change how women with PCOS understand their symptoms, their cycles, and their hormones. As a former laboratory scientist turned hormone coach (and a fellow PCOS gal), I’ll walk y...

Inflammation is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot — but rarely explained in a way that actually helps us understand what’s happening in our bodies, especially with PCOS. In this episode, we’re slowing things down and breaking inflammation all the way back to the basics. We’ll talk about what inflammation actually is, why women with PCOS are more prone to chronic low-grade inflammati...

Are you exhausted but everyone says your labs are “normal”? Are your cycles heavy, your hair thinning, or your energy dipping no matter what you do? This episode breaks down the iron labs that most women never get explained: iron, ferritin, hemoglobin, and TIBC. We’ll talk about what each one means, how to spot hidden iron deficiency before it becomes anemia, and why women with PCOS or perimenopau...

If you’ve ever wondered whether your thyroid might be part of your PCOS puzzle, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for. Today we’re breaking down the full thyroid panel — TSH, free T4, free T3, thyroid antibodies (TPO & TgAb) — and talking about what each of these actually means in real-life terms. No medical jargon, no confusion… just clear, compassionate science you can finally understand....

Ever wonder why acne, hair loss, excess facial or body hair, and stubborn cycles seem impossible to manage with PCOS? It often comes down to your androgens—hormones like testosterone, DHEA, and DHEA-S. In this episode of The PCOS 365 Podcast, we break down these key hormones in a way that actually makes sense. We'll cover: What total and free testosterone really mean, and why SHBG matters The role...

Ever wonder what your lab results are really telling you? In this episode of the PCOS 365 Podcast, we’re breaking down the basics—your Complete Blood Count (CBC) and Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)—so you can understand what your numbers mean, why they matter, and how they relate to PCOS. We’ll cover: What each part of the CBC measures, from red and white blood cells to hemoglobin and platelet...

Feeling dismissed by your doctor? You’re not alone. In this episode of The PCOS 365 Podcast, we dive into how to advocate for yourself in a way that actually works. Learn how to turn your experiences into actionable data, from tracking cycles and symptoms to using your PCOS Lab Checklist. I share real-life examples of how concrete numbers can make your doctor listen, tips for making appointments p...

You’ve heard about all the amazing supplements that can support women with PCOS — from inositol and NAC to curcumin and CoQ10 — but how do you actually choose one that’s worth your money? In this episode, Shawna breaks down how to find high-quality supplements that actually deliver results. You’ll learn what to look for on a label, why the form of each nutrient (like methylcobalamin vs. cyanocobal...

If you’ve ever gone down the PCOS supplement rabbit hole and ended up more confused than when you started — this episode’s for you. Today we’re breaking down three science-backed supplements that actually live up to the hype: Berberine, NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine), and Selenium. In this chat, Shawna — your favorite hormone coach and former lab scientist — explains what these nutrients do inside your b...

When it comes to supplements for PCOS, there’s a lot of hype out there—but curcumin and CoQ10 are two that actually have research to back them up. In this episode, we dig into what the science says and why these two nutrients can be powerful tools for managing symptoms naturally. Here’s what we’ll cover: How curcumin (from turmeric) reduces inflammation and supports hormone balance. The role of Co...

If you’ve ever googled “best supplement for PCOS,” chances are you’ve seen inositol at the top of the list. But with so many options—myo-inositol, d-chiro-inositol, or blends promising the “perfect ratio”—it can feel overwhelming to know what’s legit and what’s just marketing. In this episode, we’re breaking it all down together: What inositol actually is (and why it’s not really a vitamin). The d...

What does it mean when your cycle is shorter than “normal”? For those of us with PCOS, a short cycle isn’t just about bleeding more often — it’s usually a sign that something is off with ovulation, progesterone, or the delicate balance of hormones driving the cycle. In this episode of The PCOS 365 Podcast, we’re unpacking short cycles: What actually counts as a “short” cycle Why ovulation that hap...

Spotting between periods? Bleeding that shows up out of nowhere? If you’ve ever wondered whether it “counts” as a real period—or just felt confused about what your body is doing—you’re not alone. In this episode of The PCOS 365 Podcast, we’re breaking down spotting and breakthrough bleeding in plain language. We’ll talk about what each one actually means, why they happen so often with PCOS, and ho...

Ever feel like your cycle is “normal” on the calendar, but something just feels off? For many women with PCOS, ovulation doesn’t always happen on time—or sometimes not at all. In this episode, we break down why ovulation can be delayed, what that means for your hormones, and how to recognize the signs in your own cycle. We dive into the science behind the brain-ovary conversation, explain how insu...

One of the most frustrating things about PCOS is when our periods just… vanish. We’ve all been there—staring at our apps, wondering if we should expect a bleed this month or if our cycle has just ghosted us again. In this episode, we’re diving into what’s really happening inside our bodies when cycles go missing with PCOS. We’ll unpack why things like insulin resistance, high stress, thyroid shift...

The length of your luteal phase—the time between ovulation and your period—can reveal a lot about your hormone health. In this episode, we dive deep into short luteal phases, why they happen, how they affect fertility and overall health, and why charting your cycle and paying attention to cervical fluid can be a game-changer. We’ll cover practical tips for supporting healthy ovulation and a robust...

Heavy periods can feel overwhelming and exhausting—especially when you’re managing PCOS. In this episode, we dive deep into why heavy bleeding happens, what your hormones are doing behind the scenes, and how common PCOS-related factors like inflammation and insulin resistance play a role. I’ll also share practical tips and natural strategies—from supplements to lifestyle tweaks—that can help reduc...