Root Cause PCOS Care
Functional Medicine for PCOS: Treating the Root Cause, Not Just the Cycle
PCOS is the most common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age, yet most conventional approaches only address the surface. Functional medicine for PCOS identifies the specific metabolic and hormonal drivers in your case and builds a targeted protocol. In-person in Marquette, MI and virtual in Michigan.
Trusted & loved by our patients.
Years of clinical experience
Why Standard PCOS Treatment Falls Short
PCOS Is a Metabolic Disorder That Presents as a Hormone Problem
PCOS has at least four distinct phenotypes. Treatment that works for one can be ineffective for another. Functional medicine for PCOS begins by identifying your phenotype through comprehensive metabolic and hormone testing, including genetic analysis for androgen metabolism variants. In-person in Marquette, Michigan and virtually in Michigan. Related: estrogen dominance, low progesterone.
- Comprehensive PCOS hormone panel: testosterone, DHEA-S, LH, FSH, estradiol, and SHBG
- Full metabolic panel: fasting insulin, fasting glucose, HbA1c, and inflammatory markers
- Genetic testing to identify androgen metabolism variants and inflammatory gene expression
- InBody 570 body composition analysis to track metabolic and body composition changes through treatment
Is This Right for You
Functional Medicine for PCOS Works for Women Who Want to Address What Is Actually Causing Their Symptoms
Irregular or Missing Periods
Cycle irregularity in PCOS is driven by LH-to-FSH ratio disruption that prevents normal follicle development and ovulation. Functional testing reveals the exact pattern in your case.
Weight Gain That Will Not Shift Despite Diet Changes
Insulin resistance is present in 70 to 80% of women with PCOS. It drives fat storage, particularly abdominal fat, and makes standard dietary approaches much less effective without metabolic support.
Acne, Excess Hair Growth, or Hair Loss
These androgenic symptoms reflect elevated testosterone or DHEA, often compounded by genetic variants affecting how efficiently your body clears androgens.
Mood Issues and Anxiety Tied to Your Cycle
PCOS-related progesterone deficiency and androgen excess both affect neurotransmitter function. Cyclical anxiety, depression, and mood swings are common and addressable.
Trying to Conceive With PCOS
Optimizing insulin sensitivity, normalizing the LH-to-FSH ratio, and reducing androgen excess improves ovulation regularity and overall fertility in PCOS.
You Have Only Been Offered Birth Control
Birth control suppresses symptoms without addressing the underlying metabolic and hormonal drivers. Functional medicine identifies and treats the source. Virtual care is available in Michigan.
Over 22 years of medical experience ★★★★★
The Monarch FM Process
How We Approach Functional Medicine for PCOS at Monarch FM
PCOS is not one condition. It is a hormonal and metabolic syndrome that presents differently in each woman. Our process starts by identifying your specific PCOS phenotype and the dominant drivers in your case, then builds a protocol around that picture rather than a generic PCOS template.
- 22 Years of Clinical Experience
- MMS | PA-C | FMACP Certified Provider
- In-Person in Marquette, MI | Virtual in Michigan
PCOS Phenotype Identification
We run a comprehensive PCOS-specific evaluation covering testosterone, DHEA-S, LH, FSH, estradiol, SHBG, fasting insulin, fasting glucose, HbA1c, AMH, and inflammatory markers. We add genetic testing to identify androgen metabolism variants and metabolic susceptibilities that help explain why your PCOS presents the way it does.
Addressing Insulin Resistance First
In most women with PCOS, insulin resistance is the upstream driver of androgen excess. High insulin stimulates the ovaries to produce more testosterone, perpetuating the cycle. Our protocol addresses insulin sensitivity directly through targeted nutritional strategies and supplementation before attempting to regulate hormones downstream.
Hormonal Rebalancing Protocol
Once the metabolic foundation is addressed, we target the hormonal imbalances specific to your PCOS pattern. This includes support for androgen clearance, estrogen and progesterone balance, and adrenal health. Your protocol is built around your lab results and genetic profile, not a standardized PCOS supplement stack.
Tracking Body Composition and Metabolic Progress
Progress in PCOS treatment is tracked through repeat metabolic and hormone labs, and through InBody 570 body composition analysis for in-person patients. Virtual patients receive the same clinical follow-up and protocol adjustments throughout the program, with lab retesting at key milestones.
A Better Approach to PCOS
PCOS Does Not Have to Run Your Cycle, Your Weight, or Your Mood.
The cycle irregularity, the weight gain, and the mood shifts in PCOS are all downstream effects of identifiable metabolic and hormonal drivers. Functional medicine for PCOS finds the driver and corrects it. Related: estrogen dominance, low progesterone, hormonal mood swings. Available in Marquette, MI and virtually in Michigan.
Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the functional medicine approach to PCOS?
Functional medicine for PCOS treats the condition as a syndrome with multiple potential root causes rather than a single hormonal disorder requiring a single solution. The approach begins with a comprehensive evaluation that identifies your PCOS phenotype: classic hyperandrogenic PCOS with insulin resistance, inflammatory PCOS, lean PCOS, or post-pill PCOS. Based on this phenotyping, the protocol is built to address the dominant drivers in your case. For most women, this means addressing insulin resistance and androgen excess together, while also evaluating genetic variants affecting androgen clearance, estrogen metabolism, and inflammatory response. Care is available at our clinic in Marquette, MI and virtually for patients across Michigan.
Can functional medicine resolve PCOS symptoms?
PCOS does not have a clinical cure because it has a genetic component that does not change. However, the symptoms, hormonal imbalances, and metabolic dysfunction driving PCOS can be significantly reduced and in many cases brought into functional remission where cycles regularize, androgen symptoms resolve, and metabolic markers normalize. Functional medicine achieves this by addressing the actual biological drivers, particularly insulin resistance and androgen excess, rather than masking symptoms with medication. Many patients completing a focused functional protocol experience significant improvement in cycle regularity, weight management, skin health, and mood.
Is insulin resistance always present in PCOS?
Not always, but frequently. Insulin resistance is present in approximately 70 to 80% of women with PCOS, including many who are not overweight. Lean PCOS accounts for roughly 20% of cases and involves insulin resistance despite a normal body weight. This is one reason why standard weight loss advice fails many women with PCOS. At Monarch FM, we test fasting insulin, fasting glucose, and HbA1c as a standard part of PCOS evaluation. For more on the metabolic dimension, see our hormone treatment overview.
Can PCOS be treated naturally without medication?
For many women with PCOS, natural functional medicine protocols that address insulin sensitivity, androgen metabolism, inflammation, and hormonal balance can produce substantial improvements without prescription medication. This typically involves low-glycemic nutritional strategies, evidence-based supplementation including inositol, berberine, NAC, and others depending on your labs, and lifestyle adjustments for stress and sleep. Whether medication is required depends on the severity of your PCOS, your specific goals including fertility, and your lab results. Julie McDonald evaluates each case individually before determining the right approach.
Can PCOS affect fertility?
Yes. PCOS is one of the leading causes of female infertility because the hormonal imbalances it creates, particularly the disruption of the LH-to-FSH ratio and chronic anovulation, prevent regular ovulation. Insulin resistance compounds this by further disrupting ovarian function. Functional medicine protocols that restore insulin sensitivity, reduce androgen excess, and normalize the LH-to-FSH ratio have been shown to improve ovulation frequency and overall fertility in women with PCOS. At Monarch FM, fertility optimization through functional medicine is part of how we approach PCOS in women who are trying to conceive. This service is available both in-person and virtually.
How long does it take to see improvements from functional PCOS treatment?
The timeline varies by symptom and severity. Metabolic improvements, including reductions in fasting insulin and improvements in energy, often begin within 4 to 8 weeks. Cycle regularity takes longer, typically 2 to 4 months of consistent treatment. Androgenic symptoms like acne and excess hair have the longest lag time, with most patients seeing significant improvement within 3 to 6 months. The 12-Week Reset (The 12 Week Reset is our foundational program, and where every patient begins. Comprehensive bloodwork (including hormones) and genetic testing give us a clear picture of what’s driving how you feel — so we can build your specific plan across Nutrition, Sleep, Stress, Supplements, and Mindfulness, the foundation functional medicine builds on), is structured to address the most impactful changes in the first three months, with follow-up support for ongoing progress.
Is PCOS care available virtually at Monarch FM?
Yes. We offer complete virtual PCOS care for patients anywhere in Michigan. Lab work is coordinated through a draw site near you, and all consultations and follow-up appointments are delivered via telehealth. The clinical aspects of the 12-Week Reset program (The 12 Week Reset is our foundational program, and where every patient begins. Comprehensive bloodwork (including hormones) and genetic testing give us a clear picture of what’s driving how you feel — so we can build your specific plan across Nutrition, Sleep, Stress, Supplements, and Mindfulness, the foundation functional medicine builds on), including your lab evaluation, protocol design, and ongoing clinical support, are fully available remotely.
How do I get started with PCOS treatment at Monarch FM?
Start with a free 15-minute strategy call. No referral is required. You can also review the 12-Week Energy, Hormone and Metabolism Reset (The 12 Week Reset is our foundational program, and where every patient begins. Comprehensive bloodwork (including hormones) and genetic testing give us a clear picture of what’s driving how you feel — so we can build your specific plan across Nutrition, Sleep, Stress, Supplements, and Mindfulness, the foundation functional medicine builds on), page to understand the program structure and pricing. PCOS care is available in Marquette, Michigan and virtually for patients in Michigan. Bring any existing labs to your strategy call; Julie can review them and let you know whether additional testing is needed.
Patient Results
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Precision PCOS Care
Your PCOS Phenotype Determines Your Protocol. Not a Generic Template.
At Monarch FM, PCOS care begins with phenotype identification through comprehensive metabolic and hormone testing, including insulin, androgen markers, and genetic variants. Julie McDonald does not start with a standard PCOS protocol because no two PCOS cases are identical. In-person in Marquette, MI and virtually in Michigan.
Ready to Start
PCOS Has Biological Drivers. Let's Identify Yours and Build a Protocol Around Them.
Functional medicine for PCOS at Monarch FM starts with a comprehensive evaluation that identifies the specific metabolic and hormonal patterns driving your symptoms. No templates. No generic protocols. In-person in Marquette, MI or virtually in Michigan.
Join hundreds of patients who have reclaimed their energy, hormones, and health.
