PCOS Explained

Join Clare in today’s episode as she chats with Ovie community member Naomi about her personal journey with PCOS.

Diagnosed at 27 after years of unexplained symptoms and fertility struggles, Naomi opens up about the rollercoaster of challenges she faced—from irregular periods and weight gain to chronic fatigue.

Throughout our conversation, Naomi offers fantastic tips for managing PCOS, emphasizing the importance of personalized treatment and making lifestyle changes. She also highlights the value of community support and encourages listeners to approach medical advice with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Tune in for a dose of hope and empowerment!



Take the Ovie questionnaire and figure out the best PCOS management plan for you.

Have you already completed the questionnaire? Are you ready to sign up and take control of your PCOS? Sign up HERE.

Welcome to part two of our breastfeeding experiences podcast — sharing real stories from our community. 

After sharing her personal breastfeeding journey, Clare received numerous messages from women concerned about facing similar challenges. Inspired by these conversations, Clare is dedicating this week’s episode to exploring the diverse experiences of breastfeeding.

In this episode, PCOS Explained host and Ovie Founder, Clare, presents a collection of stories from different women, each sharing their unique breastfeeding journeys. Drawing from her own experience of breastfeeding her daughter and navigating a low milk supply, Clare aims to challenge common misconceptions and provide a broad spectrum of perspectives.

We’ll delve into the realities of breastfeeding, discuss various risk factors, and emphasise the importance of being prepared for different outcomes. This episode offers valuable insights and support to women preparing for breastfeeding.

A special thank you to our guests: Samantha, Naomi and Belinda for sharing their stories with us!

 

Take the Ovie questionnaire and figure out the best PCOS management plan for you.

Have you already completed the questionnaire? Are you ready to sign up and take control of your PCOS? Sign up HERE.

In today’s episode, we revisit an important conversation that resonates with many listeners: the connection between hormonal birth control and weight gain.

Join Clare, the host of PCOS Explained, as she dives deep into the nuances of hormonal contraceptives. We’ll explore the historical context of these concerns and break down the various types of contraceptives— from combined pills and progestin-only options to implants and IUDs.

Through a careful examination of current studies, Clare analyses the potential weight changes associated with different contraceptive methods. Clare will discuss how these options can not only regulate menstrual cycles but also influence factors such as ovulation, androgen levels, cortisol, and insulin resistance.

Our goal with this episode is to empower you with knowledge and insights, encouraging you to reflect on your own experiences and make informed choices about your health.

Tune in and join the conversation!


Take the Ovie questionnaire and figure out the best PCOS management plan for you.

Have you already completed the questionnaire? Are you ready to sign up and take control of your PCOS? Sign up HERE.

In this inspiring episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Elizabeth Nash, an Ovie community member, who shares her remarkable journey of reversing PCOS.

Despite being told by her doctor that she didn’t exhibit typical symptoms of PCOS, Elizabeth trusted her instincts and advocated for herself, ultimately securing a proper diagnosis.

Faced with the option to return to the contraceptive pill, Elizabeth sought a more sustainable approach to managing her symptoms. By immersing herself in learning—through our podcast and following the protocol—she made small, incremental changes that significantly improved her condition.

Join us as Elizabeth reflects on her journey from feeling overwhelmed by dietary restrictions to embracing an 80/20 lifestyle approach.



Take the Ovie questionnaire and figure out the best PCOS management plan for you.

Have you already completed the questionnaire? Are you ready to sign up and take control of your PCOS? Sign up HERE.

In this episode, Clare sits down with Emily Malcom, one of our amazing Ovie community members, to chat about her journey with PCOS. Emily shares her story, starting from her early puberty when she faced challenges like acne, irregular periods, and unwanted hair growth. She opens up about how these issues impacted not just her health but also her mental wellbeing.

After years on the contraceptive pill, Emily decided it was time for a change. Inspired by insights from previous podcast episodes, she took the leap to come off hormonal contraception and dive into some big lifestyle changes. Emily talks about what that transition was really like and how she found a more sustainable way to live—focusing on flexibility with food and embracing progress over perfection.

She also dives into the tough realities of dealing with insulin resistance, the stigma that comes with it, and the personalised dietary changes that have worked for her. 

Join us for this conversation as Emily shares her journey, the ups and downs, and the empowering steps she’s taken to create a healthier, happier life.



Take the Ovie questionnaire and figure out the best PCOS management plan for you.

Have you already completed the questionnaire? Are you ready to sign up and take control of your PCOS? Sign up HERE.

One of the most common concerns we hear in our discovery calls is that people are unsure if they have PCOS because their symptoms don’t match what they believe to be typical.

In today’s episode, Clare and Emma dive into the misconception of a “typical” PCOS patient, highlighting that PCOS presents differently in everyone.

They explore the various symptoms of PCOS, such as weight gain, hair growth, and menstrual cycle irregularities, and how these can present in different ways. They emphasise that PCOS symptoms do not follow a predictable pattern. Additionally, they discuss genetic factors, hormonal profiles, and the importance of lifestyle modifications.

This episode stresses that, regardless of the symptoms you experience, effective PCOS management isn’t just about weight loss but involves a holistic approach to overall health and well-being.



Take the Ovie questionnaire and figure out the best PCOS management plan for you.

Have you already completed the questionnaire? Are you ready to sign up and take control of your PCOS? Sign up HERE.

When it comes to managing our health, we're often told that doing more is better. However, in the realm of PCOS, this isn't always the case. Overdoing it with numerous changes, supplements, and intense exercise might actually be counterproductive. Sometimes, doing less can be the key to better results.

In today’s episode, Clare and Emma explore why more is not always better in managing PCOS. They discuss the pitfalls of overloading on changes, supplements, and exercise, and introduce the bell curve theory of health, which highlights the importance of balance and avoiding extremes.

Through their personal experiences and clinical insights, they emphasise the effectiveness of concentrating on a few core habits and making them sustainable over time. The episode also covers the psychological aspects of behaviour change, the significance of manageable lifestyle adjustments, and the misconception of perfectionism in health.

Join Clare and Emma for practical advice on achieving sustainable PCOS management by focusing on balanced and consistent lifestyle changes.



Take the Ovie questionnaire and figure out the best PCOS management plan for you.

Have you already completed the questionnaire? Are you ready to sign up and take control of your PCOS? Sign up HERE.

TW: mentions of miscarries and struggles with infertility 

In today’s episode, host Clare, the founder of Ovie and PCOS Explained, sits down with Ovie community member, Belinda Jarvis, to explore her remarkable journey with PCOS. 

Belinda's journey with PCOS began when she was just 19 years old. Despite seeking help from doctors, she was often told to return only when she wanted to conceive. This early dismissal left her to navigate years of irregular periods and the emotional and physical toll of fertility treatments largely on her own. Her path included undergoing five rounds of IVF, experiencing miscarriages, and facing a diagnosis of Graves' disease postpartum.

The turning point in Belinda's story came during the pandemic lockdown. As traditional medical advice failed to provide relief, Belinda began exploring alternative approaches to managing her PCOS. This is when she committed her journey with Ovie (previously the PCOS Protocol). Through a combination of nutritional changes and addressing insulin resistance, she discovered new ways to manage her condition that significantly impacted her well-being.

Belinda’s story highlights the importance of advocating for oneself in the face of conflicting medical advice and exploring all possible treatment avenues. We are sure her journey will leave you feeling inspired and empowered about facing similar challenges.

Take the Ovie questionnaire and figure out the best PCOS management plan for you.

Have you already completed the questionnaire? Are you ready to sign up and take control of your PCOS? Sign up HERE.

When we talk about bloating, we’re not just referring to the occasional fullness after a meal. We’re delving into the intense pressure and pain that can accompany bloating and disrupt daily life. 

In this episode, Clare and Emma tackle the complexities of bloating, a prevalent symptom often associated with conditions like IBS and PCOS. They discuss the various underlying causes of bloating, including SIBO, food sensitivities, parasites, and inflammation. They also explore how lifestyle factors, stress, and even childhood habits can impact gut health.

Emma opens up about her personal journey with bloating, sharing her struggles and the strategies she used to find relief after years of challenges. The conversation emphasises the importance of identifying and addressing the root causes of bloating rather than relying solely on elimination diets that offer only temporary relief.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who suffers from bloating and is looking for a comprehensive, holistic approach to treatment.



Take the Ovie questionnaire and figure out the best PCOS management plan for you.

Have you already completed the questionnaire? Are you ready to sign up and take control of your PCOS? Sign up HERE.

After sharing her personal breastfeeding journey, Clare received numerous messages from women concerned about facing similar challenges. Inspired by these conversations, Clare is dedicating this week’s episode to exploring the diverse experiences of breastfeeding.

In this episode, PCOS Explained host and Ovie Founder, Clare, presents a collection of stories from different women, each sharing their unique breastfeeding journeys. Drawing from her own experience of breastfeeding her daughter and navigating a low milk supply, Clare aims to challenge common misconceptions and provide a broad spectrum of perspectives.

We’ll delve into the realities of breastfeeding, discuss various risk factors, and emphasize the importance of being prepared for different outcomes. This episode offers valuable insights and support to women preparing for breastfeeding.

A special thank you to our guests: Steph Wrathall, Lucy Duncan, Isabel Moratiel, and Fannie Cai, for sharing their stories with us.


Take the Ovie questionnaire and figure out the best PCOS management plan for you.

Have you already completed the questionnaire? Are you ready to sign up and take control of your PCOS? Sign up HERE.