Episode #165: PCOS Isn’t Just a Label: It’s a Clue to Better Health

Welcome back to the PCOS Repair podcast. Today, I want to take a few minutes to think back… actually, let me back up. I took a few minutes before recording this episode and thought back to when I first found out I had PCOS. Lately, I’ve had a lot of people reaching out—people who have recently been diagnosed with PCOS. While they’re asking all sorts of questions about what they need to do, how to figure out their root cause, and where to even begin working on it, there’s also this overwhelm—a heaviness that comes with finding out you have an incurable diagnosis. There’s the difficulty of processing all the information you’re hearing, especially when some of it is incorrect—like someone saying it can be cured, or that you can improve it—and trying to understand the difference. What does “improve” even mean? What can you expect?

When I was struggling with PCOS and didn’t know I had it, I remember feeling like everything just seemed harder. It was like I was climbing a hill, and everyone else was climbing a hill too—but I was the only one pulling a huge sled behind me. No one else could see the sled. Only I knew I was dragging this thing, and everyone else just looked at me like, “Why is it so hard for you?” It felt harder than it should, and I started to wonder, “Am I just a wimp? Am I just not as tough or resilient as everyone else? What’s going on?”

On one hand, when I finally received my PCOS diagnosis, it all made sense—and that offered some relief. But it also came with this weight—this need to come to terms with the fact that this is just how it is. This is how my body works. These are the things my body is going to have to deal with. It can feel heavy. It can feel confining. For me—and for many other women I’ve spoken with—it can feel like someone stamped a big “reject” label on your forehead. Now I have this. I own this thing. I am this thing. And when someone labels you with a diagnosis, it can feel like that.

It took me a while to shift that thinking. Someone slapped this label—PCOS—on me. But on the flip side, I finally had some relief in knowing, “Okay, I’m not crazy. I’m not weak. I really am dealing with something different.” This is why things have felt so hard. This is why it feels like I’m not making progress. Now that I know what I’m up against, I can figure out what to do about it. But those two feelings—relief and despair—they clash. When you first find out, it’s confusing. You can feel discouraged, frustrated, overwhelmed.

In this episode, I want to help us make a shift—from feeling labeled, like someone stamped “reject” on you, especially since your doctor may not have much to offer, to something more empowering. For example, when a doctor tells a patient, “You have high blood pressure,” there’s usually a clear path. That’s why you’re having headaches or feeling a certain way, and here’s what we can do about it. Maybe a medication. Maybe a lifestyle plan. There are support groups, meal plans, well-documented protocols. But we don’t get that with PCOS.

Instead, when a doctor says, “You have PCOS. You could try losing some weight…” it feels like they’re telling us to do the very thing we can’t do. The reason we came to them in the first place was because we were struggling to lose weight. So now they’re telling us, “You have PCOS. Just lose some weight and it’ll get better.” But we’re like, “That’s what I’ve been trying to do, and I can’t.” That feels like being handed a label and sent on your way with no tools. That’s how I felt—like someone stamped “reject” on me and gave me nothing to work with.

Now, that was over 11 years ago. Things have changed. There’s a ton of information out there now, but unfortunately, a lot of it is bad. Bad advice, bad suggestions, and overly simplified. PCOS is something that needs a holistic approach. You need some assistance from your medical provider, some lifestyle adjustments, and maybe some nutritional supplementation. All of that works together to create an environment where you can actually manage your PCOS. But that’s not what we’re given. We’re just handed a label and told, “Good luck.”

What I see all the time is women walking away from their diagnosis feeling like they’ve just been given a life sentence. Sure, you can still live your life, but you’ll always have this problem. But when you went to the doctor, it was because you didn’t want to always have this problem. You were trying to figure out why you kept hitting a wall. And now they’re just saying, “Well, that’s just how it is. Good luck.” That can feel incredibly lonely. It makes you question whether trying even makes a difference.

Then you turn to social media and see people marketing programs or supplements. Everyone’s contradicting each other. And you think, “Does anything actually work? Are they just trying to sell me something?” So this is where I want us to take a big, deep breath and completely shift our mindset.

Whether you’ve just been diagnosed, have been living with PCOS for a long time, or know someone who is, this is where I want to focus our energy. We’re going to reframe it. Instead of feeling frustrated, confused, and stuck with a label, I want you to take a deep breath and clear your mind. PCOS is not a label—at least not for you. Your doctor may see it that way, but for you, it’s a clue. It’s the golden ticket. It’s your body telling you something really important.

That’s how I work with women—not to hand them a to-do list or give them dos and don’ts—but to help them understand that PCOS is a gift. It’s your body giving you clues. Sure, your doctor calls it a diagnosis, but these symptoms are your body communicating with you. These clues are your roadmap—not a dead end, but a way forward.

So let’s walk through that today and see how it changes everything. First, when you hear the word “diagnosis,” it can feel heavy. Limiting. Most people hear “You have PCOS” followed by “You should probably lose some weight” or “Here’s a birth control prescription.” It’s brushed off—like it’s no big deal. But you don’t feel fine. Inside, you feel far from fine. You walk away thinking, “I guess I won’t be able to get pregnant unless I do fertility treatments.” Or, “I guess I’ll always struggle with my weight.” You don’t feel like you have any control or choice.

You can work really hard and see no results, while others seem to make progress effortlessly. That’s what PCOS feels like. And that’s the messaging we’re given—messaging that leads to cynicism, or worse, to giving up. You might keep working out, keep trying to eat healthy, but you’re not seeing the results. So you tell yourself, “I guess this is just how it’s going to be.”

But the truth is, with the right tools, guidance, and time, you can reach your goals. Yes, it takes work. But it takes work for everyone. The difference is, when you have PCOS, your hard work isn’t yielding results. That’s your body’s way of giving you clues. It’s saying, “Hey, I need something different. I need more support.”

So let’s reframe it. PCOS is not a sentence—it’s a signal. It’s your body saying, “Something’s off.” That’s powerful. Because now, with that awareness, you can make changes. PCOS gives us patterns—hormones, metabolism, stress—that impact how we feel, how we cycle, our mood, weight, energy. That’s our starting point.

When you take a root-cause approach, you begin to see how no two people with PCOS are alike. That’s why cookie-cutter plans don’t work. One woman may be dealing with insulin resistance, another with chronic stress. They can have similar symptoms, but the root cause is different. Understanding your root cause shifts everything. Now you have a personalized plan.

Instead of, “You have PCOS. Good luck,” it becomes, “You have PCOS, and here’s what it means. Here’s what your hormones and metabolism are doing. Here’s what you can do.” That’s empowering. And it’s why I created the PCOS Root Cause Bootcamp—to teach you how to look at your symptoms and goals, and follow a plan that fits you.

So how do you use your symptoms as a roadmap? It starts by identifying the drivers—your biggest challenges. This takes some learning. That’s why I made the PCOS Root Cause Quiz. Do you have irregular or missing periods? Acne? Hair loss? Cravings? Fatigue? Mood swings? Where’s the stubborn weight gain? When is your energy low? These things—plus lifestyle patterns—show us what’s going on under the surface.

You might start with labs, but honestly, symptoms often tell us more. Labs can help clarify, but they don’t always show the full picture. Tracking your cycle, for example, can offer a ton of insight. Once you gather the clues, you get to personalize your care. Balance your meals. Prioritize sleep. Watch how your cycle responds. Are things becoming more regular? That’s a sign you’re on the right track.

I hope this helps you shift how you think about PCOS. We can’t let one label define us. Plenty of people deal with health issues—thyroid problems, old injuries, you name it. We can either let them define us or use them to guide us toward what we really want. You are not your diagnosis. PCOS is part of your story, but it’s not your identity. You are a whole person with dreams and goals. And with the right support, healing is absolutely possible.

If you’re feeling stuck or defeated, I encourage you to see PCOS as a wake-up call. It’s an invitation to reconnect with your body. Your body needs effort—PCOS or not. You have to brush your teeth or you’ll get cavities. Same thing. When life gets busy, it’s easy to put your own care on the back burner. But for women with PCOS, we’re more sensitive to those things. So what if that label ends up being what wakes you up? What if this is how you discover how to have more energy, more confidence, more joy?

When you feel better, your life feels better. It’s not just about acne, hair loss, or fertility—though those matter. It’s also about feeling good in your day. So if PCOS has made you feel stuck, I hope this episode helped lift that weight and open your eyes to new possibilities.

If you’re ready to go deeper, start with the PCOS Root Cause Quiz. Learn how to build a sustainable healing plan. PCOS doesn’t have to hold you back. It can become the wake-up call that helped you create a life you love. I encourage you to explore the Bootcamp—it’s designed like a choose-your-own-adventure book! My kids love those. And I think you’ll love how this walks you step by step through what works for you.

Until next time, I hope this mindset shift lightens your load and helps you see that living with PCOS doesn’t have to feel like something holding you back ever again. It can become the reason you now live more fully, more intentionally, and more joyfully. Have a wonderful week. Bye for now.