Stop Trying to "Balance" Your Hormones

This is way too vague—here's what to focus on instead.

It’s 2017. I’m 27 years old, sitting in my OB’s office. Edie, based on your ultrasound images, physical symptoms, and blood work, you have PCOS.

My mind went blank. PCO—what?

She dove into conventional wisdom: birth control, medication for my blood sugar, and eventually, fertility drugs. After living most of my adult life with an irregular cycle, I finally had an explanation. But I walked away feeling equal parts overwhelmed and discouraged.

Could I take a more holistic path to healing? Could I support my symptoms without relying solely on medication? Was it possible to feel empowered—not defeated—by my diagnosis?

Armed as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, I knew I could take a more root-cause approach. Thus began my healing journey to minimize my PCOS symptoms—naturally. I dove deep into the science of how our hormones actually work.

Spoiler alert: I eventually put my PCOS in remission. And along the way, I got pregnant with two little boys (cue all the gratitude).

But if there’s one phrase I continued to see plastered everywhere, it was this: “Balance your hormones!”

The truth is, “hormone balance” is vague—and chasing it can lead you down a rabbit hole of overpriced supplements and confusing nutrition advice. So, let’s take a different approach.