Hormone Health, Explained Properly
PCOS, high androgens, insulin resistance and cycles that show up whenever they feel like it are not four separate problems. They are one system having a conversation with itself. This is where we translate.
Symptoms That Travel Together
Recognise three or more of these? They are probably connected rather than coincidental. Which sounds ominous but is actually great news, because it means one lever moves several of them at once.
- Cycles shorter than 21 days, or longer than 35, or frankly unlisted
- Cystic acne along the jaw, chin and neck
- Hair thinning at the temples or crown
- The 3pm crash, followed immediately by wanting toast
- Dark velvety skin at the neck or underarms
- Weight that will not budge despite doing everything you were told to do
The Order That Actually Works
Order matters more than intensity. Work these top to bottom and give each one a fair trial before you add the next.
Test, do not guess
Fasting insulin, HbA1c, total and free testosterone, DHEA-S, LH/FSH, SHBG, TSH, vitamin D. Most of us get handed about half of this and a reassuring smile.
Lower the insulin load
For most PCOS phenotypes this is the lever furthest upstream. Protein at breakfast, fibre before starch, a walk after your biggest meal. Riveting stuff, genuinely effective.
Then go after androgens
Once insulin improves, free testosterone often follows it down. Spearmint, zinc and actually sleeping all nudge in the same direction.
Confirm you are ovulating
A bleed is not proof. Temperature charting, LH strips or a day-21 progesterone will tell you whether the system is genuinely cycling or just going through the motions.
Read Next
Why the ratio matters more than the milligram count, what the fertility trials found, and how long to give it.
Temperature, LH strips and day-21 progesterone: what each one can tell you, and where each one goes quiet.
Lean, inflammatory, post-pill and insulin-resistant PCOS all need different first moves.
Word-for-word phrasing that has worked on hundreds of sceptical GPs. Print it. Bring it.
The post-pill androgen rebound, roughly how long it lasts, and what actually softens the landing.
How your fasting glucose can look perfectly fine for years while your fasting insulin quietly does laps.
Myo-Inositol + D-Chiro 40:1
The most-studied PCOS supplement there is, at the ratio the trials actually used: 4,000 mg myo with 100 mg D-chiro. Not the ratio the marketing team preferred.
- Evidence: Strong (RCTs)
- Cost/day: $0.72
- Score: 9.6/10
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Noura — Founder