Beyond the Diagnosis: What Root-Cause Testing Found Behind This Woman’s PCOS
If you’ve been handed a PCOS diagnosis and left to “Google your way to healing,” you’re not alone. Most women we see at Motherland come to us with little more than a label and a prescription or worse, a shrug. Their labs are “normal,” their symptoms are brushed off, and their next step? Unclear. PCOS can often be an overwhelming diagnosis because there are so many factors (or what we call root causes) that contribute to symptoms and often it’s not a one size fits all approach, despite what Google might tell you.
But there’s always a why. And getting real answers starts with looking beyond the surface. Today we’re walking you through one real patient’s labs, symptoms, and transformation so you can see what root-cause care actually looks like for PCOS.
From Dismissed to Understood: A’s Story
A came to Motherland after years of trying to piece things together on her own.
She had been managing a long list of symptoms, including:
Afternoon energy crashes
Difficulty concentrating
Intense sugar cravings
Debilitating migraines
Irregular periods (for which she was prescribed Provera “just to bleed”)
Her goals were simple and powerful:
To have more energy
To feel at peace in her body
To finally feel nourished—without guessing
What Her Labs Revealed (That No One Else Had Noticed)
We ran a full panel of functional labs, digging deeper than the standard checklist. Here’s what came back:
Fasting insulin: elevated (early sign of insulin resistance)
DHEA-S: high (pointing to adrenal involvement)
Progesterone: suboptimal (poor ovulation quality and adrenal stressors)
LH/FSH ratio: imbalanced (a classic PCOS marker)
Androgens: mildly elevated
Blood sugar: unstable throughout the day
HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis): depleted minerals, poor adrenal resilience
These weren’t just “numbers”—they were signposts showing us why A felt so off in her own body.
What Changed with Root-Cause Care
Instead of trying to induce a period with synthetic hormones, we focused on restoring balance at the source. Here’s what shifted between her initial and follow-up testing:
Progesterone: 0.3 → 14.4
Estrogen: 42.3 → 133
E2/Progesterone Ratio: 7.09 → 108.3 (huge improvement in hormone harmony)
Symptom Assessment Score: 51 → 18
This wasn’t just about numbers—it was a full-body shift.
So What Did It Actually Mean?
PCOS isn’t a one-size-fits-all condition. It shows up differently in every woman. A’s labs pointed to a blend of insulin-resistant PCOS and adrenal-driven PCOS, two subtypes that require very different support than just “the pill.”
While her OB focused on forcing a bleed through synthetic progestin, we focused on the deeper root causes:
Why ovulation wasn’t happening
Why her energy crashed by 3pm
Why her migraines flared when blood sugar tanked
This is why we don’t treat symptoms, we follow the story behind them.
What We Wish More Women Knew About PCOS
You don’t need to check every box to deserve support.
You can have PCOS without having cysts.
You can feel terrible—even when your labs look “normal.”
Your symptoms aren’t random. They’re your body asking for help.
After her time in 1:1 care with our team, here’s what A reported:
✅ No more migraines
✅ Stable energy all day (goodbye 3pm crash)
✅ Four real cycles—no Provera needed
✅ Improved libido
✅ Sleep is solid
✅ She’s tracking and confirming ovulation like a pro
Her self-rated progress:
Nutrition awareness: 1 → 6
Body awareness: 3 → 7
Stress resilience: 3 → 7
Mood balance: 4 → 8
“Before working with Motherland, my PCOS and Hashimoto’s symptoms were completely taking over my life. I felt ignored by doctors, stuck on meds that didn’t help, and exhausted every single day. Now? I’ve had four real cycles, my symptoms are barely there, and I finally feel aligned with my body. I can’t recommend this care enough.”
Looking for Answers About Your Hormones?
If you're reading this and thinking “wow, this sounds like me”—you’re not alone. Most women with PCOS have never been told their type, let alone received a plan tailored to it.
That’s exactly what we do inside our six-month 1:1 program, The Flourish Formula. Through functional testing, personalized protocols, and real root-cause healing, our patients see an average 75% reduction in symptoms—and many finally feel like themselves again.
If you're ready for care that’s deeper than symptom management and actually works with your body, not against it... Click here to learn more about The Flourish Formula.
Want More Wellness Insights?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter The Squeeze, where we share actionable tips, nourishing recipes, and empowering insights to help you feel at home in your body.
If you’re ready to uncover the root cause of your symptoms and receive personalized support with in-depth lab testing, let’s work together to create a roadmap for lasting wellness. Apply to work with us today!