Where I’ve Been:

At the age of nineteen, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) due severe amenorrhea and high levels of androgens found in my blood. I went to a few OB-GYNs and an Endocrinologist to get multiple opinions after the initial diagnosis, and was told the same thing each time - hormonal birth control was the only way to manage PCOS.

At the time, I was experiencing a lot of inflammation and hormonal acne. I felt puffy and not like myself. As a college athlete who had never had any trouble maintaining a healthy weight, I was struggling and still competing at the Division I level in Cross Country and Track. My energy was at an all-time low and my athletic performance was steadily declining.

On a more emotional level, I felt very insecure. I developed body image issues and was embarrassed by my hormonal acne. My confidence was rocked. I was beyond frustrated, angry, and lost. My diagnosis and prescribed treatment didn’t make sense to me. I didn’t know where to turn to get the answers I needed. I was scared I would experience infertility later on and dreaded having to have those conversations with my future significant other. I worried PCOS would make me undesirable. At 19, my biggest fear was not being able to have a family one day.

I kept asking myself, what can I be doing right now to safeguard my fertility and tackle the root cause of my diagnosis? What, if anything, is in my control?

How I’ve Grown:

The best decision I ever made was taking responsibility for what was happening to my body by doing my own research and seeking out a functional medicine doctor. Once I took this step, choosing not to accept my diagnosis and the hormonal birth control pill as my only option, I felt empowered and hopeful. I have so much gratitude for my body and what it is capable of. I was able to completely reverse the hormonal imbalance and get my body back to normal through changes to my nutrient intake, the way I approached fitness, and of course, lifestyle. My husband and I are expecting our first child in December and did not run into the fertility issues I was told I would certainly have.

I love empowering other women to make the necessary life and dietary changes so that they can achieve the health they deserve. Most important of all, I want to restore everyone’s faith in their body’s ability to heal and give them hope for the future.