The PCOS Girls Podcast (Brigitte and Mel)

This episode has been such a long time coming!!!! If you’re one of what feels like HUNDREDS of people who’ve asked for an episode on the thyroid – get your headphones ready babe because this is the deep dive you’ve been waiting for!!!!

In today’s episode we talk all about the thyroid and the impact it can have on PCOS. We cover:

-       The signs and symptoms of thyroid disease

-       How the thyroid directly impacts PCOS and fertility and DRIVES our PCOS symptoms

-       The THOROUGH tests that are essential for exploring the health of your thyroid

-       The causes of thyroid disease and treatment options for each cause

-       Plus a bit of Mel’s Hashimoto’s experience (we have a bigger catch up on Mel’s thyroid health in a later ep)

This episode is for you if you:

-       Have a thyroid condition

-       Think you have a thyroid condition but the tests came back normal

-       Have your PCOS pretty well under control but still struggle with symptoms like weight management, fatigue, body pain, brain fog, fertility issues or low libido

-       Just can’t seem to get better – your PCOS is a mess, your weight keeps creeping up, you can’t get pregnant etc.

-       Want to thoroughly investigate what’s driving your PCOS. Maybe you have a thyroid condition – maybe you don’t…but wouldn’t you like to rule it out or rule it in?

We LOVED making this episode and can’t wait to hear what you think!

This episode brought to you by PCOS to Wellness - check out Brig's herbies ⁠⁠over here⁠⁠.

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and join us in our private podcast community FOR OUR NEW WEEKLY EPISODE Q+A at ⁠www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls⁠

Mel and Brig xo

As promised – this season we are getting into the nitty gritty of the PCOS types/drivers.

This week it’s all about our frenemy inflammation.

We look at the herbs, supplements and lifestyle practices that can heal this driver and our own personal journeys with it.

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and join us in our private podcast community FOR OUR NEW WEEKLY EPISODE Q+A at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

This episode brought to you by PCOS to Wellness - check out Brig's herbies over here.

Mel and Brig xo

Welcome to one of our most requested topics!

Big trigger warning on this one though guys - we do talk about pregnancy and we do touch on miscarriage too.

Specifically we cover:

- Rates of miscarriage with PCOS

- Egg health

- The hormone Mel really encourages women with PCOS to have tested once they become pregnant

- Nutrients to have tested during pregnancy

- How having PCOS can effect the risk of gestational diabetes

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private and FREE podcast community at   www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Today’s episode features the wonderful Maddy Miles – integrative health practitioner and all-round hormone advocate.

In it we cover:

- Maddy’s eating disorder journey (trigger warning)

- What is cycle syncing?

- How to eat for the different phases of your cycle

- Balancing hormones

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

In this weeks episode we have the incredible nutritionist Shelley McKenzie from Freedom Wellness on to discuss the best nutrients for hormone balance and fertility.

We hear from Shelley about:

- How lifestyle can deplete certain nutrients in your body

- The effect of hormonal contraceptives on nutrient stores

- When to take supplements

- A way to track your macros (carbs, protein and fat), without worrying about the numbers

- The supplements to take from 6 months prior to conception

- Nutrients to boost during pregnancy

- How many serves of fruit and veg we should actually be having each day

- Do you crave caffeine around your period? It may be because of a very simple deficiency!

- The drink that inhibits your absorption of iron.

- What is seed cycling and how to do it

You can find Shelley on Instagram @freedomwellness and at her website www.freedomwellness.com.au

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Most people with PCOS end up hearing about inositol for PCOS at some point but in this episode we share some of the less spoken about ways that inositol can help you - it's honestly mind blowing.

If you're trying to conceive or you're working on regulating your cycle - YOU WILL LOVE THE INFO IN THIS EPISODE.

We really do dive deep on the science of WHY our cycles become irregular and we struggle to ovulate and how exactly inositol fits in.

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

This week we catch up on where we are at on our journeys - and a surprising amount of stuff comes up!! From birth plans to PCOS research to the power of prioritising your health. Specifically we cover:

- How much stress really is a trigger for PCOS and what to do about it

- The mental battle that is pregnancy after miscarriage

- Tuning into your body and listening to what it is telling you

- How the KEY to managing PCOS is understanding your OWN body

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

There are SO MANY incredible supplements that can help PCOS. We believe the absolute key is to find out exactly what's going on within your own body through thorough testing and then working with a natural health practitioner to create a tailored treatment plan that addresses your exact hormonal imbalances and needs.

However, there are some supplements that really standout when it comes to PCOS due to how many benefits they have and we absolutely loved talking about them on this ep!

Please note that these supplements might not be right for everyone and you should absolutely discuss them with your practitioners.

Here's a link to the research paper we referred to in the ep - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1740675720300165

And here's an article about the paper by one of its authors: https://www.larabriden.com/cyclic-progesterone-therapy-for-pcos/

This week we share all the ways we have used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on our PCOS journeys.

In it we cover:

- A brief overview of what TCM is and how it is practiced

- How we used TCM to conceive our babes

- Herbs, granules, acupuncture, massage, cupping and Qi gong – what we’ve done and how they’ve helped

- How Mel used TCM to get her period back post miscarriage and then later postpartum

- How TCM approaches are used to heal gut issues

- How we have used TCM outside of our PCOS and fertility journeys

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

We’re back!! Woo!!! And just to clarify – this ep isn’t just for the newly diagnosed – if you’ve known about PCOS for a while and you’re keen for a new direction or a fresh start or you’re feeling down and just want a bit of comfort about it all – this episode is for you too.

In today’s ep we cover:

-       Tips on how to manage PCOS

-       How PCOS is diagnosed

-       How to properly investigate your PCOS (you can get Mel’s free PCOS testing guide here – https://www.pcospathways.com/pcos-fertility-testing-guide/ -       Your treatment options

Plus a whole bunch of mindset stuff!

Hope you love it! We’re sooooo happy to finally be back.

ALSO - we're introducing something new this season!!! Each week after our episode drops, we'll be hosting a Q+A in our private facebook group, so if you haven't already joined us in there - now's the time because you'll be able to ask us any questions you have from listening to the episode! Join the group at ⁠www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls

This episode brought to you by PCOS to Wellness - check out Brig's herbies ⁠over here⁠.

Mel and Brig xo

So happy to be doing another fertility ep!

This is a short ep but it’s PACKED with very specific tips for supporting and improving egg health.

In the ep we cover:

- The window of time that effects each egg that you ovulate

- Things that can decrease egg quality

- Foods and nutrients that can improve egg quality

- Supplements to boost egg quality

- Lifestyle tips for supporting egg quality

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Rather than focusing on foods that should be avoided (there’s enough of that in the world already right?), Episode 5 is all about our favourite HEALING foods to ADD to your diet for PCOS. Plus it’s also the episode where Mel gets a life changing text message.

In it we cover:

- Foods that can actually HELP with insulin resistance

- How to have your pasta and eat it too. Seriously, in this episode we share an actual PCOS friendly way to eat pasta, rice and potatoes.

- The simple food that keeps us fuller for longer

- The food that can help balance estrogen

- The food group that is a NECESSITY for healthy hormones, ovulation, fertility and mental health.

Links and things from the episode:

- Women need 25 grams of fibre per day and chia seeds contain 5 grams of fibre per tablspooon.

- The episode of Insight that we mention is https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/1171896387665/insight-is-the-gut-the-key-to-health and the expert we refer to from the episode is Dr Michael Mosley.

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come join the  conversation in our private podcast community at  www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Welcome to the final episode for Season 1 of The PCOS Girls Podcast!!

Mel needs to nest and go and have a baby so we've decided to stop here for the year. But we CAN'T WAIT to come back next year and keep on oversharing about our PCOS. Thank you to everyone who has listened to our little poddy this year, it has been SO MUCH FUN for us and we've loved getting to know our podcast community.

So for this episode we decided we would answer YOUR questions. We actually loved doing this and will probably do more of it next year as it's important for us to address what you guys actually need.

In this ep we cover everything from getting your period back postpartum to why you might not have much cervical fluid. Plus we learn Mel's favourite number. Ok you guys didn't actually ask that question but Mel thought it was important that you know.

We may not be releasing episodes for the next little while but you can still stay in touch with us in our FREE private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Thanks for a fab year gang!

Mel and Brig xo

Today's episide is brought to you by Tempdrop! Our first ever podcast sponsors!

Today we have a very special guest - Mel Angus from Tempdrop on to talk about all things fertility awareness, cycle charting and basal body temperature (BBT) monitoring.

Mel is a Fertility Awareness Educator and she provides SO MANY insights into all things cycle.

In this ep we cover:

- What exactly BBT is and how to track it accurately

- Misconceptions around cycle tracking and fertility awareness

- What we can discover about our hormones and cycle health from charting and tracking BBT

- How to use fertility monitoring postpartum

- Why ovulation tests aren't always accurate for people with PCOS

- How Tempdrop can make cycle charting and BBT tracking way easier and how it addresses some of the key issues people with PCOS face when tracking their cycle.

Tempdrop have given us the code PCOSGIRLS for 10% off their all-in-one wearable fertility monitor. Go to https://www.tempdrop.com/discount/PCOSGIRLS to check it out and follow them on Instagram @tempdrop

Find us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

In today’s episode we share our own experiences with gluten and the reason we don’t believe in flat-out saying that women with PCOS should go gluten free.

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private (and free!) podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

We had so much to say about PCOS fertility we decided we had to do a part 2. This time it's all about the science and the supplements.

- Brigitte talks about a PCOS symptom she’s been experiencing that no one really talks about

- We break down our absolute favourite supplements/herbs for fertility - why they work and how they helped us.

- Mel talks about how she naturally passed the retained tissue she experienced after her miscarriage.

- We talk about what might be stopping you from ovulating – big tip: it isn’t the same for all women with PCOS!

- Brigitte blows us away with incredible and informative stats. Mel: She’s so clever!

- Why folic acid isn’t exactly what you should be taking when you’re trying to conceive

- The essential fertility vitamin that 85% of women with PCOS are deficient in

- For all our dairy lovers out there – listen in to hear how to consume dairy in a more fertility-friendly way

- Mel talks about the Nurses Health Study: https://www.nurseshealthstudy.org/

- The Fertility Diet Book that Mel talks about: https://www.amazon.com.au/Fertility-Diet-Groundbreaking-Research-Ovulation-ebook/dp/B0010QI2J4

- The 3rd clinical sign that you should avoid A1 Dairy (that Mel so gracefully couldn’t remember) is recurrent bronchitis or tonsillitis as a child.

- The food group needed to create healthy hormones.

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Gahhhh - it's the final episode of season 2!

Officially, anyway. It's very likely a bonus episode may come your way at some point!

Today we get deep answering all of your questions and as usual, it's a real mixed bag!

We cover:

- How we regulated our cycle

- How to stay positive when everyone around you is falling pregnant

- What to do to prepare to ttc in a year

- How our partners have helped on our fertility and PCOS journeys

- Tips for low progesterone

- How long to stick with a practitioner before trying someone new

- How/if we addressed stretch marks

Plus a whole bunch more.

It's been such a great year with you guys! Stay in touch with us in our facebook group - The PCOS Girls Podcast Community and let us know how your journeys are going!

AND - let us know what you'd love to see from us - deep dive mini-series? Live podcast events? Workshops? Online workshops? What do you need?

Mel and Brig xo

It's fairly common knowledge that inflammation can be a driver of PCOS - but not everyone knows the signs to look for. And some of them are surprising!!

This episode breaks down the signs of inflammation and also shares the powerful ways we can reduce inflammation in our body.

As you will find by our updates in this ep - inflammation has been/IS a huge part of each of our PCOS pictures - we are on this journey just as much as you are.

Hope you enjoy the ep!!

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

About 70-80% of people with PCOS have insulin resistance so this weeks deep dive is such an important one for so many of us.

In this episode we look at the herbs, supplements and lifestyle practices (and nutritional HACKS!) that can help balance your blood sugar and insulin.

If you have insulin resistance – addressing it is one of the most impactful things you can do for your PCOS. Insulin resistance increases our androgens, causing irregular cycles and all of our pcos symptoms PLUS can lead to more chronic health conditions like diabetes – so this isn’t one to gloss over – addressing it can really turn things around for you.

This episode brought to you by PCOS to Wellness - check out Brig's herbies ⁠over here⁠.

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and join us in our private podcast community FOR OUR NEW WEEKLY EPISODE Q+A at ⁠www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls⁠

Mel and Brig xo

If there’s one thing that has been the primary driver of both of our PCOS journeys – it’s been stress.

As business owners, mums and just women in the world – stress isn’t going away. But we have found ways to manage it and support our stress response from the inside out.

In this episode we look at the herbs, supplements and lifestyle practices that can help your body handles stress better and help your mind to be better prepped for stressful periods of life.

If you’re someone who has a high stress job or day to day life but feel like you ‘thrive under pressure’ – don’t ignore this ep. We relate to you so much because we have identified as that in the past too…but stress can be having more of an impact than you realise and you may really benefit from bringing in some support.

This episode brought to you by Mel's soon to be released PCOS fertility course! ⁠⁠Join the waitlist here.⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and join us in our private podcast community FOR OUR NEW WEEKLY EPISODE Q+A at ⁠www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls⁠

Mel and Brig xo

Today's episode is all about the ins and outs of PCOS and inflammation and becomes quite a deep dive on gut health.

In it we cover:

- The causes of inflammation

- The symptoms of inflammation

- The wide effects inflammation has in the body

- Anti inflammatory foods and nutrients

- Supplements for reducing inflammation

- The gut -> inflammation -> immune system connection

- The effect of bad bacteria on inflammation

- What is leaky gut, what does it do and how can you treat it

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Eeee season 4!!! A long time coming. And we've decided to kick the season off with an ep that's been a long time coming too - weight loss tips for PCOS.

Possibly our most requested topic of all time and one we really hope we've done justice to.

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

On today's episode we have Caitlin Johnson, a dietitian who specialises in helping women with PCOS balance hormones and get pregnant.

It's an epic episode that covers advice from when you have PCOS but are not yet trying to conceive, to trying to conceive and then early pregnancy.

Caitlin is kindly offering our listeners 10% off her PCOS + Cycle Tracking course and her PCOS and Pregnant course when you use the code PCOSGIRLSPODCAST - it needs to be all caps. You can find Caitlin's courses at www.pcosfertilitynutrition.com/mini-courses and you can follow her on instagram @pcosfertilitynutrition

In this episode we cover:

- What Caitlin looks for when she first meets a client with PCOS

- Food and lifestyle advice for someone who has PCOS but is not yet trying to conceive

- Things your partner can do to optimise their health and fertility

- Food and lifestyle advice for someone who is trying to conceive

- Recommended tests for early pregnancy

- Food and lifestyle advice for early pregnancy.

The tracking app Caitlin refers to in the episode is www.Cronometer.com

And a recipe for "Egg roll in a bowl", which Caitlin refers to is here: www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/keto-egg-roll-in-a-bowl/

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

We have both suffered from PCOS acne so this was an important episode for us. In it we cover:

- How the pill has affected our skin

- ­Brigitte outlines how and why PCOS acne occurs and the two overall approaches to managing it

- What hormones can effect acne

- What to do if you have been treating your PCOS but you still have acne

- Things to consider if you are a teenager with acne

- We talk about the supplements that have helped improve our skin

- How Mel figured out that a really popular treatment for acne wasn’t helping her.

- How to improve acne when you have high testosterone

- Why you need to think about the health of your gut when treating PCOS acne

- The best topical treatments for PCOS acne

- The surprising thing you need if you have oily skin

- How to stop yourself from picking your pimples

- Professional treatments that can help PCOS acne

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come join the  conversation in our private podcast community at  www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

This week we let you guys know the MUST HAVE things we stock in our pantry/fridge to help us get through the day with balanced hormones and satisfied bellies.

Definitely some surprise items in this one!

Would love to know what your pantry staples are!!

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our FREE private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

In this weeks episode we have PCOS Psychologist Dr Gretchen Kubacky from PCOS Wellness on to discuss Mental Health and PCOS.

We hear from Gretchen about:

- Her own journey with PCOS

- The link between PCOS and Mental Health issues

- The mental health issues that are seen in the PCOS community

- How food can play a role in mental health

- Foods that can help with mental health

- How hormones can effect mental health

- Self-care practices that can improve mental health

Brigitte and Mel also give some random recommendations! Although Mel gives the total wrong name to the show she recommends, let’s blame pregnancy brain. At one point she calls the show “Growing Amy”, then she calls it “Birthing Amy”…no…both incorrect. It’s actually called “Expecting Amy”.

You can find Gretchen on Facebook @PCOSwellness and you can find her book The PCOS Mood Cure on her website www.pcoswellness.com

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

This episode is such a special one!

We talk about Ayurveda a fair bit on the podcast and we've both used Ayurveda on our journeys, but this is the first time we've actually brought an Ayurvedic practitioner on to share their wisdom!

And oh my did we bring in an absolutely incredible woman!

To learn all about Ayurveda and how it can be used for PCOS and fertility, we have interviewed Myra Lewin, the founder of Hale Pule - 

@hale_pule

www.halepule.com

Myra is an Ayurvedic practitioner and master yogini who has been practicing for 30 years. She is also the author of four acclaimed books on Ayurveda and Ayurvedic cookning, and is the host of two podcasts on holistic healing, “Everyday Ayurveda and Yoga at Hale Pule” and “Spark Your Intuition”.

We learnt so much from Myra - make sure you listen to the end because she shares some incredible, practical, eye opening tips that you can start exploring right away.

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Also please leave a review if you're feeling it and subscribe to our podcast!

Mel and Brig xo

This episode is for anyone who has recently gone off the pill or any other hormonal birth control OR is planning to.

Because when we came off the pill we had NO IDEA it could have such a huge affect on your body and we wish we had been prepared for it and supported through it.

Coming off birth control is a transition and there's so much you can do to help make it a smoother one and in this ep we give you every tip we've got.

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

If you’ve recently come off the pill or you’re thinking about coming off it - this week’s ep is for you!

We look at the herbs, supplements and lifestyle practices that can help you transition off the pill and ease the symptoms that can arise once you’re off it.

This episode brought to you by Mel's soon to be released PCOS fertility course! ⁠Join the waitlist here.⁠

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and join us in our private podcast community FOR OUR NEW WEEKLY EPISODE Q+A at ⁠www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls⁠

Mel and Brig xo

Today's episode is brought to you by VUSH! Check out the VUSH AURA here and use our code PCOSGIRLS for 25% off!

This episode is all about body movement - the types of body movement we enjoy, how we incorporate it into our busy lives and why we choose the exercise we choose. There's a few exercise choices that might surprise you!!!

The episode somehow covers a lot of ground and you will for some reason hear references to Cher and the Black Eyed Peas and we talk about all sorts of things - from sleeping in to energy healing.

Don't forget to check out the VUSH AURA at https://au.vushwellness.com/products/aura?utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=thepcosgirls-aura and use our code PCOSGIRLS for 25% off!

Mel and Brig xo

Today’s episode is an epic. We have Lucy Lines from @twolinesfertility on to talk about every facet of fertility treatments – from ovulation induction to IUI to IVF. It is absolutely filled with everything you need to know about the process.

Lucy is an embryologist and fertility guide – this means for a long time, Lucy was actually the scientist in the lab combining the sperm and the egg to make little embryo’s! And now she’s using her absolute expert knowledge to help any couple on a fertility journey to grow their family.

Whether you’re on an IVF journey or not, this is such a great listen for really understanding that journey (and actually, any fertility journey). Because at some point we think most of us who want to have children have in the back of our minds that IVF is an option. This episode really helps us understand what that option means and how best to support it.

In this episode we cover:

- The actual process of ovulation induction, IUI and IVF

- If and when to have ovulation induction, IUI or IVF

- Success rates of these procedures and what you can do to improve your chances

- Why the fertility clinic you choose matters

- Important fertility tests to get if you are trying to conceive

- And all the little ins and outs of fertility and trying to conceive.

Lucy is offering the PCOS Girls community 10% off her Toxins and Fertility Masterclass, which you can find at twolinesfertility.com.au and you can find Lucy on Instagram @twolinesfertility

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

We are finally breaking down one of our most requested topics – overcoming PCOS hair loss.

From herbs to stress management to diet, we delve super deep this week into our experiences with PCOS hair loss and what has worked for us.

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Sometimes you want people to know, sometimes you don't, sometimes you don't know how to say it, sometimes you really don't want to have to say a thing.

In this episode we breakdown how this tricky topic can be navigated, how we have personally approached it and tips for in the moment.

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Another Q + A ep - back by popular demand!

We cover everything from cycles to postpartum to body love (plus teething, weaning and co-sleeping - oh my!).

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

In this week’s episode we have our very first PCOS Success Story!! Kristyn Hodgdon - fellow PCOS girl and founder of The Fertility Tribe (@thefertilitytribe) chats all about her PCOS journey with IVF and the incredible community she has created at The Fertility Tribe.

We loved making this episode because the western medicine path isn't one that we personally have experienced, so it was great learning about the different procedures on offer and how it all works. PLUS, we believe it is SO essential that we convey to you guys how many different pathways there are for treatment and fertility, so it's important to us that we don't only focus on the approaches that we have taken ourselves.

You can find Kristyn's inspiring and moving instagram account over at @thefertilitytribe and you can check out both her free and paid community at www.thefertilitytribe.com

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join  the conversation in our private podcast community at  www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

On today’s episode Brig deep dives into EVERYTHING you need to know about infrared saunas, and how they can help to reduce stress, balance hormones and even manage PCOS symptoms.

We get into the nitty gritty of how infrared saunas can be the perfect detoxification tool, and why many of us may not be sweating enough!

Big thank you to Johannes from Clearlight Saunas who came on to the poddy to share his wealth of knowledge and personal perspective on it all.

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

This week we have PCOS researcher and wellness consultant Dr Dylan Cutler, on to discuss her approach to PCOS with her patients and some of the super-interesting research that is going on with PCOS.

You can find Dylan on Instagram @dr.dylancutler and you can check out her many fantastic resources at phruitfuldish.com

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Episode 1 is all about our PCOS stories and what we have learnt on our journey. In it we cover:

- How PCOS is diagnosed and what on earth the “Rotterdam Criteria” actually is.

- How we came to be diagnosed with PCOS and how we handled the diagnosis.

- How difficult it can be to get diagnosed

- Our experiences with the contraceptive pill

- The treatment approaches we’ve explored – from naturopaths to Ayurveda

- How we have reduced our stress levels to improve our PCOS

- How we improved our fertility and became mama’s

- Our current health goals and where we are at with our PCOS journey

- A common deficiency that effects fertility, metabolism and WAY more, that you may not have considered

- Why, despite everything, we feel grateful for our PCOS

- Handling PCOS postpartum and when breastfeeding

- The one test you need to know about for early pregnancy when you have PCOS

- What we think you should do when you first get diagnosed

- The most important things we have learnt along the way.

Plus we do a giveaway!! To enter, leave a review wherever you are listening and let us know about it @thepcosgirls or in our podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

This has been a long standing and repeatedly requested episode that we have quite frankly, been hesitant to do. We really wanted to do it right and given neither of us have much experience with this symptom - we wanted to make sure we'd really looked into things.

But we are so happy the episode is finally here!

In it we cover:

- What hirsutism is and the various causes of it

- How to treat hirsutism from the inside out

- How to reduce hirsutism topically

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Whether your PCOS is DRIVEN by stress entirely or if stress is just a contributing factor...you do not want to miss this ep. It's about 2 herbs that are absolutely game changing for our stress, adrenals and cortisol levels.

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

This week we have a spotlight episode about our favourite yoga poses that can directly benefit PCOS and fertility and keep our hormones happy.

Yoga has been such a big part of our journeys! Sometimes in a regular-classes kind of a way but often, in a just doing a few powerful poses at home kind of a way.

#allyogaisvalid

Would love to hear if you give these a go!

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Given how prevalent it is in the PCOS community and given our own journeys with it - this week’s episode is all about anxiety.

In it we cover:

- Our personal journeys with anxiety

- How miscarriage affected our mental health

- How having PCOS affected our mental health

- Pregnancy anxiety

- Signs and symptoms of anxiety

- Lifestyle practices for anxiety

- Natural medicines for anxiety

- The different types of therapy for anxiety

- What on earth EMDR is

- Food/nutrients for anxiety

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

We're back!! We've had a nice big break whilst Brig's family has grown and we are so happy to be back on the mic talking all things hormones, fertility and LIFE.

In today's episode we do a big catch up and get to hear all about Brig's birth story for little Willa and what postpartum life has been like. 

We also get an update on where Mel is at with her thyroid and mental health journey. 

Plus we answer some listener questions!

So happy to be back!!

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

This episode is for anyone who’s a bit tired of constantly focusing on all the signs and symptoms of being unwell.

It’s so easy to get bogged down in that and it’s also really easy to be so laser focused on a particular health outcome that you completely miss the subtle little signs that you are actually making progress!

We loved pulling this episode together and chatting about all the little signs to celebrate.

And if you feel super far from healed, we hope this episode highlights some manageable little goals you might like to aim for.

Because yes, we all want the big things ticked, but the little things matter too and sometimes, they feel much more tangible and in reach.

Hope you love the ep! It’s brought to you by Mel's soon to be released PCOS fertility course! ⁠⁠⁠Join the waitlist here.⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and join us in our private podcast community FOR OUR NEW WEEKLY EPISODE Q+A at ⁠www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls⁠

Mel and Brig xo

We are OBSESSED with finding self-care practices that can actually benefit PCOS. In this episode we delve into some of our faves!

- Devastating news for Mel and a big life update from both of us.

- Why brewing a pot of herbal tea can not only help your PCOS symptoms, BUT can also help your mental health (we recommend Cysterhood tea- OF COURSE! hehe)

- Why we love waking up with the sun, and how it can help balance your hormones

- Healthy elixir ideas, and why we don’t really drink smoothies

- How 20mins of yoga is all you need to get the benefits, and how it helps reduce MANY PCOS symptoms

- How meditation can reduce life long stress and trauma

- Sleep, why it’s so important, and how much do you really need for healthy mind, body and hormones

- Unplugging from technology and how to switch off at night

- When not to eat!

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come join the  conversation in our private podcast community at  www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

In this episode we talk about the super important issue of medical gaslighting – what it is, how it affects us and what we can do about it.

Medical gaslighting is something that women with PCOS describe as happening to them ALL. THE. TIME. So to have this language for it now is really helpful and this episode exists to get you really comfortable with the concept so you can recognise when it is happening and advocate for yourself.

If you’re in our podcast community, we would love to hear from you about your experiences with medical gaslighting.

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

You asked for more Q&A episodes, so we're giving you more Q&A episodes! We absolutely love answering your questions and this ep has some great ones that we think will be helpful for so many of you.

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Not going to lie - making this episode made me (Mel) realise that I have a lot of symptoms of magnesium deficiency. I think I already kinda knew but making this episode really drove it home and made me decide to do something about it!

In this episode we talk about all the signs and symptoms of magnesium deficiency, the benefits of having healthy magnesium levels and the various ways we can support our levels.

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Today we have Jessica Maguire from @repairing_the_nervous_system on to chat all about a key area of health that is often not even known about - the nervous system.

This is an epic, highly informative episode that is going to really open your eyes to how truly connected our whole body is. It's also going to shed light on what may be a massive factor for you on your healing journey.

Nervous system regulation should not be overlooked - but so many of us don't even know to look at it, which is why we are so excited to be bringing you this episode!!

In it we cover:

- Nervous system 101

- Vagus nerve 101 (soooooo important!!!)

- How the nervous system effects our hormonal system and cycles

- How the nervous system is connected to our mental health

- Signs and symptoms of a dis-regulated nervous system

- Where to turn if we think we need to work on our nervous system

You can find Jessica Maguire on instagram @repairing_the_nervous_system or on her website www.jessicamaguire.com

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Oh hey, welcome to our FAVOURITE EPISODE EVER!

Today, Mel asks all YOUR questions about Brigitte's newly announced pregnancy and it is SO FUN and so insightful and moving and real.

The due date

Pregnancy symptoms

How she found out

How she is navigating her pregnancy after loss

Pregnancy anxiety tips

"Scan-xiety"

HOWWWW Brig got pregnant (pre-conception routine etc)

Pregnancy diet

Pregnancy herbs/supplements

BIRTH PLAN

Plus so many random in-between pieces of our pregnancy journeys and life and trying to conceive and all the rest.

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

This week we have naturopath Dr Samina Mitha on to talk all about tests!

We get asked about PCOS tests and how to interpret them all the time so we are so excited to bring you Samina's expertise. We also talk about treating insulin resistance.

You can find Samina on instagram @dr.saminamitha.nd and her website is www.saminamitha.com

In this episode we cover:

- How to determine what tests someone with PCOS needs

- What on earth functional tests are and when to get them

- How to interpret the test results

- Optimal test result ranges

- How to use test results to determine the root cause of PCOS

- How to treat insulin resistance

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

We wish we had this to listen to when we were first diagnosed!

This episode is all about the swaps you can make in your home (and some for in your cupboard) that are hormone friendly and so good for managing your PCOS.

Making your home free from endocrine disrupting chemicals is a journey and most of us can't all dive in all at once but we hope this episode gives you some ideas of where to start.

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Guys! This is the final episode of the season!! And we absolutely LOVED discussing the topics that came up in this episode.

The whole episode begins though with a massive catch up on Mel’s health journey this year. It’s been a wild one to say the least – so much progress…but at a bit of a price.

Mel’s been largely off social media for months and hasn’t shared this journey anywhere so if you’ve been wanting to hear what’s been going on – this is the ep for you.

There’s a huge content warning for this episode though because of the chat about Mel’s health – we discuss mental health, depression, weight loss and dieting. So if any of that is uncomfortable or if you just want to skip straight to the actual content of the ep – fast forward through to the 32 minute mark.

We’ve made this episode in the hopes that it will save you some time, money and energy not making the same mistakes we’ve made. And, to share the things that have really made a huge impact on our health journeys.

We hope you find it helpful!

This episode is brought to you by Mel's soon to be released PCOS fertility course! ⁠⁠⁠Join the waitlist here.⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and join us in our private podcast community FOR OUR WEEKLY EPISODE Q+A at ⁠www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls⁠

Mel and Brig xo

Bit of a deep one this week. After two months of no episodes, we might as well jump into the depths with you guys.

For a while we've wanted to do an  episode where we just talk about the whole experience of pregnancy loss.  How we navigated it, the things we've learnt, the things we'd love to  see handled differently.

We weren't ready until now but here it is...the real behind the scenes of pregnancy loss.

This one is undeniably for all our listeners who have experienced  pregnancy loss, but we think it's also really helpful for anyone to  listen to and learn some things that might help them to support someone  going through pregnancy loss in the future.

Listening to people who've gone through pregnancy loss is one of the  only ways the topic will become less taboo and one of the only ways you  can become educated on what to/not to do when supporting someone who's  going through it.

To all our beautiful listeners who have experienced pregnancy loss or  are in the depths of it now - we feel you so deeply and hope more than  anything, that you have all the support you need.

Big content notice on this one obviously xx

p.s. follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

We’re back!

And we are SO stoked about it. We missed making our little podcast!!

In this ep we have a mega catch up on everything from the birth of Mel’s daughter to the reason Brigitte thinks she’s a terrible singer (hint: it’s not at all what you might expect and it’s hilarious). PLUS we talk about our current health goals and how we’re going about achieving them.

We ran out of time but Mel was going to mention the tools she uses to stay focused on her goals and get them done, so we thought we’d mention them in these show notes. The first is The PCOS Journal, which Mel uses to stay motivated and on track. Particularly, she uses the habits chart in the journal to really keep her moving forward with her goals. You can get the journal at www.pcospathways.com/the-pcos-journal. And she also uses a method created by @bossbabe called “The 90 Day Sprint”. This method is a bit more focused on business but can be applied to any area of life. You can get an overview of the method on Episode 62 of The Bossbabe Podcast (not sponsored in any way!).

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

We are so excited to be bringing you this episode today. We are joined by functional nutritionist Jessica Ash who not only specialises in treating PCOS but who also has an entirely different approach to treating PCOS. 

You can find Jess on instagram @jessicaashwellness and you can learn more about what we talk about in this episode by going to https://www.jessicaashwellness.com/podcastlisteners

Jess's approach is centered around metabolism and she shares SO MUCH INTERESTING INFORMATION.

Plus, Mel has been implementing some of Jess's tips over the past couple of months and shares how this has effected her.

In the episode we specifically cover:

- What really determines a healthy woman with vitality (HINT: it DOESN'T all come down to your weight!)

- The metabolic approach to PCOS - what that means and what it looks like

- Is metabolism a PCOS trigger? Or is it even the trigger of the other triggers like insulin resistance and inflammation?

- What causes our metabolism to slow down (this is SO interesting)

- How to tell if your metabolism has slowed down

- What foods and nutrients can help us heal our metabolism

- What changes Mel has made recently and the surprising effect it has had on her health

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

In this episode we cover the many things that can be done to improve fertility before you even start trying to conceive.

- Australian bushfire update

- Mel’s miscarriage journey

- Why are you not ovulating

- Tips to lower your testosterone

- Post pill PCOS

- Herbs to help support conception

- How to increase blood flow to your uterus and why it’s important

- Mel’s love affair with heat packs

- How long it takes to increase your egg quality

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come join the  conversation in our private podcast community at  www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Today we breakdown the different "types" of PCOS!

We look at what the types are, the symptoms of each, how to use testing to figure out your type and the many treatments for each type.

It's a big one!

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Today's episode features the incredibly insightful and wonderful teacher and women's health educator, Demi Spaccavento from Bright Girl Health.

Demi is at the absolute forefront of advocating and actually enacting period, cycle and hormonal health education for students in Australia and worldwide and we absolutely LOVE what she is doing for the future of women's health.

Demi goes to schools in person and now also offers online presentations to educate students on everything we wish we had been taught about in school - from cervical fluid to hormones to cycle length and cups.

In today's episode we cover a lot of ground including:

- period myths/misconceptions

- common gaps in menstrual knowledge

- Demi's personal history of period and hormone health

- Issues with the education system and ways we can empower people going forward

- hormone health

- starting a business

You can follow Demi @brightgirlhealth and to find out more info about Demi's programs head to her website brightgirlhealth.com - if you are a teacher or are the mother of someone in highschool, you could advocate to get Demi's online presentations offered at your school.

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Today's episode is entirely serious...aside from the epic laughing fit Mel had when trying to actually start the episode. If you're keen to hear the cut down but still lengthy recording of her absolutely losing all control, make sure you listen to the outtake at the very end!

Once she got it together though, we dove into an episode all about food!

In it we list off our fave easy meal ideas for PCOS. Our diets are fairly different so there's a good range of meals plus some of our tips and hacks for increasing flavour and nutrition.

To register for Mel's upcoming masterclass all about regulating your cycle with PCOS (on this weekend - 25 September!) click here.

To register interest in PCOS fertility coaching with Mel, click here.

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

WHO DOESN'T LOVE A HACK?!

About 70% of people with PCOS have insulin resistance driving their hormones out of balance and creating all those symptoms we struggle with - the acne, hairloss, hirsutism, skin tags, weight management struggles, moodiness and cravings.

This ep is all about some little tricks that can help you to balance your blood sugar and therefore stabilise your insulin levels.

So excited to share this because there's a lot in here we've never covered before.

Would love to hear if you give any of these hacks a go!

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Yep...we've talked about gluten before. But this episode goes into where we are at with gluten now, and why.

If you're confused about whether on not to try going gluten free - this one is for you!

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

In this week’s episode we have hormone health expert and doctor of Chinese medicine Nat Kringoudis on to give us some deep insight into how Chinese medicine can treat PCOS. Plus we chat about male fertility issues and how to approach them AND how to foster good hormonal health in our children.

You can find Nat on Instagram @natkringoudis and you can check out her extensive blog, programs and membership site at www.natkringoudis.com

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

With all the complexities of PCOS - who doesn't love a simple little hack!!

This is the kind of episode we LOVE making for you guys because we know how much tips like this can help.

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

In this weeks episode we have gut health expert – Dr Cecilia Kitic, founder of Fertile Gut on to discuss Gut Health and PCOS.

We are so excited about this episode because gut health is sooooo important for PCOS, and yet it isn’t talked about enough.

This could seriously be the missing link for you so definitely check this episode out!

You can find Cecilia on Instagram @fertilegut and you can get her amazing prebiotic/probiotic from www.fertile-gut.com

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Before PCOS Awareness Month comes to a close, we wanted to share an episode all about the things we wish people were aware of when it comes to PCOS. These are things we wish the general public knew, things we wish our doctors knew and things we wish all women with PCOS knew.

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

In this week’s episode we have Jordanna Levin - best selling author of "Make it Happen", a book all about manifestation - on to give us some deep insight into what manifestation actually is and how we can use it to improve our health.

We have both used manifestation on our PCOS journeys so we are really excited to be bring this episode to you. We know it might seem a bit random but we believe manifestation is just another tool you can use to step your way to better health.

In the episode we cover:

- What exactly manifestation is

- The exact process you can use to practice it

- Ways to improve self-love and heighten your level of self-worth

- How Mel used manifestation on her journey to her current pregnancy

You can find Jordanna on Instagram @jordannalevin and you can check out her books, podcasts and other offerings at www.jordannalevin.com

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Do you know if you've had thorough PCOS testing done? This episode lists ALL OF THEM, including what day of the cycle is best to get them tested.

Thorough testing can be game changing for PCOS and importantly, can completely change your treatment approach.

PCOS is complex. There are so many factors at play, so many hormones that can be out of balance and so many treatment options - you don't want to be stabbing around in the dark. Thorough testing is like getting a detailed message from YOUR body about exactly what's going on with it.

You can get Mel's free PCOS Fertility testing guide here! (it's still relevant even if you're not trying to conceive!)

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Today is all about STRESS. In particular, ways to reduce that beautifully complicated hormone called cortisol.

In this ep we cover:

- Supplements for decreasing cortisol and improving our reaction to stress

- Lifestyle practices to manage stress and reduce cortisol levels

- The practice that is helping Mel reduce her stress IN THE MOMENT – and that is actually working in a really significant way

- What you can do if you’ve just had a really stressful moment, to help reduce the effect cortisol has just had on your body

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

We've been living through some pretty interesting times lately and we've found ourselves using some practical techniques to get through it and maintain good health. In this episode we share these techniques and how they have helped us.

We've also found ourselves wanting to connect with you guys on more levels, so in this episode we share some changes we are making - hopefully you guys are on board!

And...Mel has done something pretty risky guys...let's hope it all works out!

So excited to be bringing the incredible Bridget Hustwaite to your ears!

Of course, if you've ever listened to Triple J, then Bridget's voice probably isn't a new one.

Beloved radio presenter and author of the super successful How to Endo, Bridget joins us today to share absolutely EVERYTHING about endometriosis.

In it we cover:

- Bridget's own journey with endometriosis and how it led her to start the @endogram instagram account.

- What causes endometriosis

- The most common and the least common symptoms

- How to get diagnosed with endo

- How to support someone with endo

- The main differences between endo and PCOS

- The reason Bridget's book How to Endo is so different to others out there and who it is for.

You can find Bridget on Instagram @bridgethustwaite and her endometriosis account is @endogram. You can get her book from bookdepository.com or booktopia.com.au and Bridget's website is www.bridget-hustwaite.com

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

This episode is for anyone needing some inspiration for breakfast ideas that are PCOS friendly (and SIMPLE).

We're all different and we all need to find our own nutritional approach that suits our body and addresses what's driving our PCOS...but these ideas are what work for us and if they feel good for you to try, we think you will love them.

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

We've got an epic Q+A for you guys! In this ep we covera whole range of topics including:

- Best tips for conceiving

- Topical acne advise

- Improving egg quality

- Coming off the pill

- High testosterone

- Affirmations

- Breast tenderness

We LOVE doing these Q+A eps!

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Today's ep is all about self-care! Specifically, we dive into the self-care practices we personally are LOVING having in our lives right now.

Definitely some we haven't talked about before so we are excited to share!

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Ok, it's one of those episodes where we do all the research, we say it out loud and we go...oh man...sounds like me. Lol.

Nothing like a bit of self education, right?

If you haven't discovered the powerhouse that is zinc, this is the episode for you.

Zinc helps us in SO many ways and you may be surprised by the symptoms that show up when you're deficient.

If you're on a fertility journey - pay special attention to this one!

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Welcome to one of our fave episodes ever!

We love a good Q + A and hope you love it as much as we enjoyed making it.

In this ep we answer a whole bunch of listener questions including:

- Breakfast ideas to keep you full

- Best advice for someone starting their fertility journey

- How we started our businesses

- How to manage low iodine

- How to know how your PCOS is going

- Tips for breastfeeding with PCOS

- Keto vs Vegan

- Skincare products for breakouts

- Fave herb to lower androgens

- Is vitex good for PCOS

- Books we recommend for PCOS

- Workouts to keep stress levels low

Plus a whole bunch of other random bits and pieces!

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Today we talk all about the differences between PCOS and Hypothalamic Amenorrhea. 

There are a surprising amount of similarities but some really key differences your doctor may have missed, that can help you work it out.

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

Today's episode is brought to you by Pollie! Check out Pollie here and use our code PCOSGIRLS for 50% off the first four months of your subscription!

Today we have Jane Sagui from @pollie.co on to chat all about her own journey with PCOS and how that has lead to her becoming the co-founder and CEO of Pollie.

Pollie is an incredible new app for managing PCOS!

Jane has been passionate about women's health, and more specifically hormonal health, since being diagnosed with PCOS nearly a decade ago. She has a background in digital health companies and decided to start Pollie to fix a problem she has experienced firsthand repeatedly: finding proper hormonal health support.

Jane's PCOS journey was really interesting to hear - unique but RELATABLE. And hearing about her epic journey in starting Pollie was really cool.

In this episode we hear all about Jane's diagnosis and journey including experiencing hair fall and her mindset that got her through. We also chat all about health care, symptom management and the importance of personalised advice when it comes to PCOS. 

We also get to hear all about Pollie - how it works, what it's like, the benefits and the incredible results of people who have used their program.

You can find Jane on instagram @pollie.co and you can learn more about Pollie at their website www.pollie.co/ Don't forget to use our code PCOSGIRLS for 50% off the first 4 months of your subscription.

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join  the conversation in our private podcast community at  www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

This week we cover all things ovulation! When it comes to optimal health, we believe ovulation is key - whether you are trying to conceive or not. In this ep, we break down everything you need to know about ovulation:

- What is ovulation?

- The importance of ovulation (even if you never want to have a baby!)

- How the pill shuts down ovulation

- How to know if you have delayed ovulation OR an anovulatory cycle (no ovulation at all)

- Causes of delayed ovulation

- Causes of anovulation

- How to know if your cycle is anovulatory

- The simple, effective, EYE-OPENING things you can do to find out if you are ovulating, track your ovulation and cycle and get the answers you need.

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join  the conversation in our private and FREE podcast community at  www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

We've got a mini ep for you this week with 2 of our FAVOURITE teas for fertility and PCOS and in particular - for ensuring your actual reproductive system is as healthy as can be!

Both these teas have helped us IMMENSELY so we're excited to share about them.

This weeks episode is brought to you by Mel's PCOS Fertility Coaching biz! You can book a 1:1 with Mel over here.

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

This week we talk about our journeys with disordered eating and how prevalent it is in the PCOS community.

We both have struggled with eating disorders that aren’t as commonly known or discussed and we want to open up that conversation because learning that these eating disorders are actually a thing, has been an important step for us in overcoming them.

If this episode uncovers anything for you, we encourage you to discuss it with your doctor/psychologist/counsellor/family/friends as there is support out there for you and you are not alone.

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

We’re back! Couldn’t help ourselves.

We’ve spent the entire season talking about Brig’s pregnancy and it felt wrong to not have one final catch up before the precious little bundle arrives.

So today we hear all about where Brig is up to –

- Birth plans

- All about home birth

- Where the baby is positioned

- All of the “boy or girl” speculation!

- How Brig plans to manage balancing her businesses and having a newborn

- And most importantly – NAME HINTS!

We also do a quick catch up on where Mel is at but her response is about as messy as her life right now. Definitely going to do a deep dive episode/mini series next year on thyroid health and the whole new journey Mel is now on.

Pretty sure this is actually us for the year now – enjoy the holiday season!! p.s. make sure you're following us on Instagram so you can see when Brig announces the birth of her little bundle!! Eeeeeee BOY OR GIRL???!!!!!!

This episode is all about some of the lesser known signs that your hormones are struggling. Because sometimes we have things going on in our body and we don't even realise that it's actually related to our PCOS or to our hormones.

It's all so connected!

And realising the connection can help us to better target our treatments.

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

This is a hugely requested topic by you guys so we are so happy to finally deliver on it!

Today's episode is all about balancing out an elevated LH:FSH ratio (Luteinising Hormone : Follicle Stimulating Hormone ratio).

In the ep we cover:

- how exactly LH becomes elevated

- just how connected each of our hormones are

- how insulin resistance and estrogen levels link in

- the HPO axis - what it does and how it is linked to elevated LH

- specific supplements that can help balance LH:FSH ratio

- how Mel addressed her elevated LH:FSH ratio

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

P.s. we do want to note here how sorry we are that Mel's audio isn't quite as clear as it usually is! Microphone struggles are real sometimes. We still felt it was good enough to release into the world though and hope you all agree!

We get asked a lot about what we eat and what we recommend people eat for PCOS, hormones and fertility.

We definitely both believe that nutrition is very much about the individual but thought we would do an episode all about a super important part of our plates - protein.

In the ep we cover:

- Why protein is part of a balanced meal

- What our favourite protein sources are

- Tips and tricks for getting protein into every meal

- Why plant proteins are so important

- How to combine plant protein to get a complete protein on your plate

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

This season we’re deep-diving on the different ‘types’ of PCOS and we’re starting with this episode, which is all about the signs and symptoms of each PCOS type (we also like to call them PCOS drivers) including what to look for in your test results.

Keep an eye out for our upcoming episodes, where we will breakdown what exactly your options are for healing each type!

ALSO - we're introducing something new this season!!! Each week after our episode drops, we'll be hosting a Q+A in our private facebook group, so if you haven't already joined us in there - now's the time because you'll be able to ask us any questions you have from listening to the episode! Join the group at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

This episode brought to you by Mel's soon to be released PCOS fertility course! Join the waitlist here.

Mel and Brig xo

Gush.

In this ep we just about die of excitement because we get to interview the incomparable Dr Lara Briden!

We cover SO much in this episode and Lara shares SO much wisdom and gold.

Lara is at the absolute forefront of advocacy for women’s health and is a world leading expert on all things hormones, fertility and PCOS.

If you listen to any episode – listen to this one!!

Topics included are:

- The types of PCOS

- The truth about hormonal contraceptives

- What needs to happen on a public health level to slow down the rates of PCOS

- What Lara looks at in an initial consultation with a woman with PCOS

- PCOS misconceptions

- The effect of emergency contraceptives

You can find Lara on Instagram @larabriden and you can check out her INCREDIBLELY INFORMATIVE blog at www.larabriden.com where you will also find her absolute BIBLES of hormone knowledge – the Period Repair Manual and the Hormone Repair Manual.

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

This is an exciting ep for us to put out…but full warning…it also starts with a bit of a heavy catch up at the start.

We recorded it months ago and we did want to make a note now to say that Elma is ok! We’ve still got some possible procedures ahead but since this episode we have found out that whatever it is, it’s NOT cancerous.

So the relief is exploding over here. It was a rough few months.

But back to the topic at hand – this episode dives into some really simple and powerful hacks for working on weight management with PCOS.

We cover everything from lifestyle to supplements to self love and the things that have really helped us on our own journeys with this.

We hope it’s helpful.

And as much as we tried our very best to handle this complex topic with care and respect, we of course need to throw a trigger warning on it – if you’re not feeling like listening to content about weight loss right now, follow that instinct and give this ep a miss.

This episode is brought to you by PCOS to Wellness - check out Brig's herbies ⁠⁠⁠over here⁠⁠⁠.

Follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and join us in our private podcast community FOR OUR NEW WEEKLY EPISODE Q+A at ⁠www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls⁠

Mel and Brig xo

In this episode we share our favourite lifestyle tips for improving fertility naturally.

- Mel shares some interesting test results

- The one thing that is stopping Mel from trying to conceive

- Brigitte talks about how she is handling a PCOS flare up

- We discuss an article all about natural fertility boosters- https://natural-fertility-info.com/top-10-natural-fertility-boosters.html

- The self fertility massage video we talk about is over here - https://www.naturalfertilityshop.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SFMD&Click=75188

- One thing most people trying to conceive are getting wrong

- Tracking your cycle: clinical or magical?

- One thing that can shut down the reproductive system and how to address it

- Brigitte shares a super effective mindfulness technique

- Male fertility and how to approach it

- What to do when you’ve been using a medicine for a long time and nothing has improved

- The concept of “warmth” and why is it important for fertility.

- How long to wait before seeking help with trying to conceive

- The Mayan fertility item that may or may not have helped Brigitte conceive

- The main thing we do to track our cycle

- What your cervical fluid actually means

- The totally weird way that Mel has increased her cervical fluid and fertility

Plus we do a giveaway!! To enter, leave a review wherever you are listening and let us know about it @thepcosgirls or in our podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

In this episode we dive DEEP on the issue of heightened testosterone and androgens.

We discuss everything including:

- Why testosterone/androgens can be elevated

- Our personal experience with testosterone and androgens

- The effect these hormones can have on us

- The many different ways testosterone and androgens can be balanced – from lifestyle approaches to supplements

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

We loved talking about self-care for PCOS so much that we had to do a part 2

In it we cover:

- The self-care practice that all living things need to do.

- The INCREDIBLE self-care practice that made people call Brigitte gross...but it’s totally not gross.

- The random body part to massage for full body healing – hint: it’s not your feet!

- The self-care practice that can improve your mood, temperament, anxiety and relationships in an almost immediate way.

- The self-care practice that can make you eat better AND save money.

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come join the  conversation in our private podcast community at  www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo

In this week’s episode we talk everything PERIODS. Colour, length, pain, cups – the lot.

We cover questions like:

- Are long periods related to PCOS?

- What can the colour of your period blood tell you?

- Is severe period pain normal?

- Is period pain caused by PCOS?

- How much spotting is normal?

Plus we learn Mel’s weird reason for not using menstrual cups, even though she loves them.

Make sure you follow us on Instagram @thepcosgirls and come and join the conversation in our private podcast community at www.facebook.com/groups/thepcosgirls

Mel and Brig xo