I’ve been getting a lot of questions about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and so I invited expert Dr. Heather Rhodes on the podcast this week to talk about it. She’s had experience on both the clinical and personal ends of this condition and has helped guide many women toward improved hormonal health.

PCOS is not straightforward in its diagnosis or solution and affects a broader spectrum of women than people - or the medical community - realize. 

Dr. Rhodes is breaking it all down and offering helpful nuggets of great hormonal advice. You will love her spiritual context, refreshing mindset and professional insight.

EPISODE 75: Holistic Approach to Hormones and PCOS with Dr. Heather Rhodes

SHOW NOTES

(0:00) Intro

• Welcome back to the club!

• Introducing today’s special guest: Dr. Heather Rhodes:

  • Dr. Heather Rhodes is a holistic pharmacist with a passion for women's health. She makes understanding your hormones simple and teaches you practical steps for maintaining hormone balance. Her natural approach to healing creates lasting results and symptom relief specifically for PCOS, PMS, Acne, and Fertility. She’s a cross fit instructor, ice cream addict, toddler mom, and adoption advocate! 

  • Welcome to the Christian Health Club Podcast!

(3:18) Q. For those who don’t know or understand -What PCOS is and how does it present? 

• Polycystic ovary syndrome:

  • Ovaries develop small cysts every month.

  • With PSOC, hormone signaling is off. The ovaries may develop numerous small collections of fluid (follicles) and fail to regularly release eggs.

• PCOS is not always presented as overweight.

• Our periods are a marker of health.

  • Taking Charge of Your Fertility

(9:20) Heather shares her background story on PCOS.

• Experiences and struggles leading to passion and purpose.

(17:00) Q. How do you begin to diagnose PCOS?

• Have a combo of at least 2 of the following: High androgen levels (male hormones), irregular cycles, or confirmed cysts on ovaries via ultrasound.

• Insulin resistant PCOS

• The integral role of hormones

  • Side effects of birth control

• How do we support the design and function of the body God provided?

  • The body has innate intelligence.

(27:37) Q. What is the conventional approach to PCOS?

• Ovulation meds

• Birth control - medication is controlling the amount of hormones you get and when you get them.

  • Birth control is never healing the underlying problem.

• Your body knows how to go back into balance all it needs is the support to do it.

• Supplements: You don’t want to overtake something that will make the body lazy to produce the appropriate feedback on it’s own.

  • Addressing root causes

  • Symptoms (signals) get louder and louder until we address what the root cause is.

  • Cascade effect of signs into symptoms

(35:52) Testing:

• Addressing flaws in the medical system.

• Hormone testing:

  • Progesterone (has to be tested on a certain cycle day)

    • High stress is the number one cause of low progesterone.

  • Looking at the snapshot: Understanding how you feel day to day is a great tool in figuring out what is out of balance.

(40:38) Foundational shifts.

• Cycle as an indicator

• What are your signs and symptoms?

• What does your day to day look like?

  • 1. Stress

  • 2. Nutrition

    • Stabilizing blood sugar, moderately moving in a way we enjoy (not overloading cortisol), mindfulness and emotions.

  • Using the original design and function of the body and finding out how to best support it.

(47:03) I love that you’re a pharmacist but call yourself an anti-drug dealer. That is so fab - tell me more!

• Can we support your body with diet and lifestyle instead of giving you a “quick fix”?

• Approach with balance- there are times when medication is needed.

(49:47) Q. What have you found to be the biggest game-changer when it comes to balancing hormones and for addressing PCOS naturally?

• Understanding the type of PCOS you have.

• MTHFR gene - intolerances

• Lifestyle - Could this be contributing to some of the symptoms I’m having?

• Stabilizing blood sugar

• Lowering stress hormone levels

• Understanding movement in a way that will support hormones.

(54:35) Anchor Questions!

1. What is your anchor meal? (go-to healthy meal, always have ingredients on hand)

   • Cashew-based (non-chicken) soup!

2. What is your anchor verse? (Bible verse that is keeping you grounded right now)

   • Isaiah 42:16

(59:40) Please share where everyone can connect with you. 

• IG: @drheatherrhodes

• hello@drheatherrhodes.com

• FB group: Hormones Simplified.

(1:01:00) Outro & Disclaimer

Thanks for listening! Have a healthy and blessed week!

XOXO,

Chelsea