Is it PCOS… or something deeper?

It’s no secret that PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) has become a bit of a blanket diagnosis. If you’ve been told you have PCOS, you might have left your doctor’s office feeling confused, dismissed, or even hopeless.

Maybe you’ve heard:

"Just go on the Pill to regulate your cycle."

"Try weight loss and metformin."

"Come back when you're ready to get pregnant."

But let’s pause for a moment—because PCOS isn’t just about irregular periods or cysts on your ovaries. It’s a syndrome, not a singular cause. Which means: we need to ask better questions.

So what is PCOS, really?

PCOS is a collection of symptoms that typically include:

• Irregular or absent periods

• Acne or oily skin

• Excess facial or body hair (hirsutism)

• Hair thinning on the scalp

• Blood sugar issues or insulin resistance

• Difficulty with weight loss or weight gain around the midsection

• Difficulty getting pregnant

  
  

Notice how many of these symptoms could stem from a metabolic issue, a hormonal imbalance, or a stress/adrenal dysfunction? That’s the key. PCOS is often a label, not an answer.

Why PCOS is mismanaged in conventional medicine:

Most of the time, treatment focuses on:

• Birth control to “regulate” your cycle (but let’s be real—it just gives you a withdrawal bleed, not a true period)

• Spironolactone to suppress androgens and reduce acne or hair growth

• Metformin to improve insulin sensitivity

• Fertility medications like Clomid or Letrozole to force ovulation when trying to conceive

  
  

But here's the thing: these are symptom managers, not root cause solutions.

Clomid (clomiphene citrate) and Letrozole (Femara) are ovulation-inducing medications. They may stimulate your ovaries to release an egg temporarily—but they don’t correct why your body isn’t ovulating in the first place. If your hormones, insulin, nervous system, or inflammatory pathways are still imbalanced, you're left playing hormonal whack-a-mole without real resolution.

The 4 Root Causes of PCOS (that no one is talking about):

Let’s break it down. PCOS can actually present in different “types”—and each type has a different root cause.

1. Insulin-Resistant PCOS

This is the most common type, and it’s often driven by blood sugar dysregulation. Chronically high insulin levels signal the ovaries to pump out more testosterone. This leads to irregular ovulation, acne, and hair growth in unwanted places. Clue: You crash after meals, crave sugar/carbs, and have stubborn belly fat.

2. Adrenal PCOS

When cortisol is chronically elevated (thanks, stress!), the adrenals can start producing excess DHEA-S, an androgen. This form of PCOS may not show insulin resistance, but it will show up as hormonal chaos. Clue: Labs show elevated DHEA-S, but normal testosterone and LH/FSH ratios. You feel wired but tired.

3. Inflammatory PCOS

Chronic inflammation (think leaky gut, food sensitivities, or unresolved infections) can impair ovulation and trigger excess androgen production. Clue: You experience joint pain, fatigue, brain fog, or IBS-type symptoms along with cycle irregularity.

4. Post-Pill PCOS

Coming off hormonal birth control can temporarily cause your ovaries to overproduce androgens—especially if the pill was suppressing symptoms in the first place. Clue: You were regular on the pill, but your cycle vanished or became erratic after stopping.

What functional nutrition does differently:

We don’t slap on a label—we ask why. We look at:

• Blood sugar regulation and insulin sensitivity

• Cortisol and DHEA patterns (especially via DUTCH or saliva testing)

• Gut and liver function

• Micronutrient status (like magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins—all critical for hormone conversion and insulin regulation)

• And emotional stressors that can trigger hormonal shutdown

  
  

Because guess what? You can’t out-supplement, out-biohack, or out-medicate a system that’s out of alignment. You have to bring the body back into communication with itself—nervous system, adrenals, liver, gut, and ovaries included.

The good news?

PCOS is manageable—and often reversible—with the right root cause approach. I’ve seen women go from “no period in a year” to ovulating consistently in just a few months by supporting the body in the right way.

If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS and told there’s “nothing you can do but take the Pill,” I want you to know: that’s not the full story.

Your body is not broken—it’s communicating. The real question is, are we listening?

Curious about which type of PCOS you’re dealing with?

Want a root-cause, personalized plan to heal your hormones?

Let’s talk.

Fill out our New Patient Form: https://newpatients.nmccenters.com/intake and someone from our office will be in touch to schedule.

— Dr. Kendra Kautz Chiropractor | Holistic Health Consultant | Women’s Wellness Advocate

Costa Mesa, CA | Virtual Appointments Available for California Residents

Text or Call: 714-540-0555 to schedule