Sue G
Aug 2022
You can’t help but feel a good vibe at Sprout Natural Health. Both Conor and Hannah are professional, caring and understanding in a relaxed environment. I feel like I’m in good hands.
View on GooglePCOS & hormonal health · Naturopathy online, acupuncture in clinic
PCOS & hormonal health
Naturopathic support for PCOS, irregular cycles and the hormone changes that come with them. I’m Hannah Ward, a degree-qualified naturopath with a Masters in Reproductive Medicine, and naturopathy with me is online across Australia; acupuncture runs in clinic at Paradise Point.
Where to start
When your hormones don’t add up on paper
Most people who book have already tried a few things before they get to me, and a lot of them have been told their blood tests are “normal” but still don’t feel well day to day. That’s exactly what naturopathic care is for, starting from wherever you are and looking at why your body is responding the way it is rather than treating one number on its own.
Where it fits
What this can support
PCOS
Irregular or absent cycles, the blood sugar and androgen patterns that often sit underneath, and the skin and hair changes that can come with it.
Hormone imbalance
When everything’s been called “normal” but you don’t feel normal: energy, mood, skin and cycle changes that don’t quite add up on paper.
Irregular & painful periods
Periods that are irregular, absent, heavy, or painful in a way the usual things don’t seem to touch.
Perimenopause & menopause
The hormone changes of perimenopause and menopause, and the symptoms that come along with them.
Coming off the pill
Supporting your own cycle to come back after the pill, and looking at what shows up while it does rather than covering it over.
Thyroid, energy & mood
Thyroid concerns, tiredness that comes and goes, and the anxiety and nervous-system side of hormone changes.
PCOS
Why PCOS looks different in every woman
PCOS is one of the most common things I see, and one of the most misunderstood, because it looks so different from one woman to the next. For some it’s mainly irregular or missing periods, for others it’s the blood sugar side, the energy crashes, the carb cravings, weight that settles around the middle, and for others it’s the skin and hair changes that come with raised androgens, and plenty of women have a mix.
I start with your cycle history and ovulation signs, then your bloodwork read properly. A result can scrape into range and still be doing you no favours, and with PCOS the useful information usually sits in the blood sugar and androgen patterns more than in any single flagged number. From there the plan starts with the basics done well, food, movement, sleep and stress, with nutritional and herbal support added where there’s a clear reason for it, and all of it sits comfortably alongside care from your GP or fertility specialist.
Read my longer piece on PCOS and fertility →
Trying to conceive with PCOS? See our fertility naturopath page →
How it works
All online, wherever you are
1
A proper initial consultation
Over video, with time to go through your cycle, your history, any results you already have, and what you’ve tried so far.
2
Testing read properly
I go through the bloodwork you already have and can organise functional testing remotely, but only where the result would actually change the plan.
3
A plan built around your life
The basics done well first: food, movement, sleep and stress, with targeted nutrition and herbal medicine added where there’s a clear reason for it.
4
Ongoing care
Herbs and supplements are dispensed and posted out express, and at follow-ups I adjust the plan as things change.
Google Reviews
Rated 5.0 from 40 reviews
Start with a free 10-minute call
If your cycle or hormones have felt off for a while and you’re not sure where to start, a quick call is an easy, no-pressure way to see whether this is the right fit.
On the Gold Coast?
Pair it with acupuncture
If you’re local, acupuncture runs in person at our Paradise Point clinic and sits well alongside my online naturopathic care, plenty of women do both.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have cysts to have PCOS?
No. Plenty of women with polycystic ovary syndrome don’t have cysts at all, what shows up on an ultrasound is a higher number of small, immature follicles. The diagnosis rests on a combination of irregular ovulation, signs of higher androgens and how the ovaries look, and you don’t need all three.
Is naturopathic care for PCOS and hormones all online?
Yes. Naturopathy at Sprout is online over secure video with me, testing is organised remotely, and anything I prescribe is posted out express, anywhere in Australia. If you’re on the Gold Coast and want acupuncture alongside, that runs in person at our Paradise Point clinic.
Will I be sent home with a cupboard full of supplements?
No. I’m really deliberate about not over-prescribing. The plan starts with the basics done well, and I add nutritional or herbal support only where there’s a clear reason for it. I’d much rather get you well and keep you there than leave you relying on a shelf of products.
Does this replace my GP or specialist?
No. Naturopathic care sits alongside whatever your GP or specialist has in place, and I’d actively encourage that. My postgraduate training means I can read your results in both languages and work with your medical care rather than around it.
My hormone results keep coming back normal. Is this still worth it?
A lot of the women I see have been told everything looks normal. Reference ranges are broad, and a result can scrape into range and still be doing you no favours, and with PCOS and hormones the useful information usually sits in the blood sugar and androgen patterns rather than any single flagged number. That second look is a lot of what an initial consult is for.
Can you help with PCOS if I’m trying to conceive?
Yes, that’s a big part of what I do. With PCOS, fertility tends to come down to ovulation, and the months before you start trying are the time to focus on your cycle. There’s a dedicated fertility naturopathy page, and the two areas overlap a lot.
What does a PCOS naturopath actually do?
A PCOS naturopath looks at what sits underneath the diagnosis for you: blood sugar and insulin, androgens, thyroid, stress and sleep, and how your cycle actually behaves. I read the results you already have, organise functional testing only where it would change the plan, and build the plan around food, movement and targeted herbal or nutritional support. The aim is a more regular cycle and symptoms you can live with, alongside whatever your GP or specialist has in place.
Ready when you are
Appointments are booked online or by phone, or start with a free 10-minute call.