A common but often misunderstood hormonal disorder that affects many women, primarily those of reproductive age. Many women erroneously believe this is a gynecological condition due to irregular menstrual cycles, when it is an endocrine condition.  Because of this, women often go to a women’s health provider seeking care often receiving a treatment that hasn’t changed for the last 30 years. This treatment often includes birth control pills and metformin (Glucophage).  This treatment doesn’t reverse this condition; it merely puts it on hold. Another misconception is that it causes excess androgens (male hormones) leading to acne, hair loss, and excess hair in certain body parts.  The amount of testosterone is not an issue; it is its conversion to DHT (dihydrotestosterone) that causes those symptoms. Females born from a cesarean birth, are at higher risk due to poor gut health. It can be a challenging condition to manage, but with the right knowledge and lifestyle changes, it can be fully reversed. Our own provider has a history of PCOS which ignited her passion for functional medicine after she reversed this condition in herself with nothing but lifestyle modifications. Different types of PCOS: Insulin Resistant PCOS, Adrenal PCOS, and Inflammatory PCOS.