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PCOS & PMOS Naturopath
Wānaka & Online across New Zealand
PCOS - now more accurately termed PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome) - is a complex hormonal and metabolic condition that affects far more than your cycle. At Naturalist, I take a testing-led, root-cause approach to PCOS care that identifies your specific type, investigates what's actually driving your pattern, and builds a plan from that picture. Not a generic low-GI diet. A roadmap built from your results.
What is PCOS and how is it affecting me?
PCOS is the most common hormonal condition affecting women of reproductive age - yet it remains widely misunderstood and frequently undertreated. Most women are offered the pill, metformin, or a generic lifestyle protocol without anyone identifying which type of PCOS they have or what's actually driving the pattern. That matters because the treatment is different for each type.
Ovulation may not happen regularly
Disrupted or absent ovulation causes irregular, infrequent, or absent periods and is one of the primary fertility challenges associated with PCOS. But the reason ovulation is disrupted varies by PCOS type and that distinction determines how we support it.
Hormones can be out of balance
Elevated androgens - testosterone, DHEA, androstenedione - drive acne, hair thinning at the temples, unwanted hair growth, and cycle irregularity. Understanding which androgens are elevated and why is the starting point for effective treatment.
It is linked to blood sugar and metabolic health
Insulin resistance is present in most women with PCOS - not just those who are overweight. Elevated insulin directly drives androgen production and disrupts ovulation. Addressing insulin is often the most powerful lever available, regardless of body weight.
It impacts more than your cycle
PCOS intersects with gut health, mood, inflammation, thyroid function, and adrenal physiology. Treating only the cycle while ignoring these systems is why most approaches plateau.
Understanding your PCOS type Not all PCOS is the same. The treatment shouldn't be either.
One of the most important things we do at Naturalist is identify which type of PCOS is driving your specific pattern. Because insulin-driven PCOS requires a completely different approach to adrenal PCOS. Post-pill PCOS resolves differently to inflammatory PCOS. Many women have features of more than one type — which is exactly why testing matters more than guessing.
The most common type. Elevated insulin directly stimulates androgen production by acting on the cells surrounding developing follicles - driving excess testosterone, suppressing SHBG (the protein that mops up free androgens), and disrupting ovulation. Central weight gain, jawline acne, post-meal energy crashes, sugar cravings, and skin tags are common presentations.
Importantly: Insulin resistance in PCOS is not just a diet problem. PCOS skeletal muscle has a specific defect in how glucose is transported into cells, creating a cycle where high insulin drives more androgens, and more androgens worsen insulin resistance further. This is why standard dietary advice alone often isn't enough.
The pill does not cause PCOS. But if symptoms appear after stopping hormonal contraception, two things may be happening - either PCOS was already present and the pill was masking it, or a temporary hormonal disruption is occurring as the HPO axis re-establishes its own rhythm. This can take 6–9 months.
The pill also depletes key nutrients involved in hormonal function - B vitamins, zinc, magnesium, and selenium among them. Restoring these alongside supporting the HPO axis reboot is often the most effective approach for this type. Inflammatory PCOS involves chronic low-grade inflammation driving androgen production, even at normal body weight, and even in response to normal glucose intake.
In adrenal PCOS, the primary driver is the adrenal glands, not the ovaries. Chronic stress causes the HPA axis to overproduce DHEA-S, which peripheral tissues convert into testosterone. Elevated DHEA-S is often the only elevated androgen - LH, insulin, and fasting glucose may all be completely normal.
Cortisol dysregulation also directly suppresses GnRH, which disrupts ovulation. Hair thinning at the temples (not the crown), stress-triggered cycle disruption, anxiety, and fatigue are key patterns. Often seen in high-stress women, endurance athletes, and women with a history of chronic stress or adverse childhood experiences — all of which create lasting changes in HPA axis reactivity.
The most frequently missed type - partly because the outdated stereotype of PCOS as a condition affecting overweight women still influences clinical pattern recognition. Women with lean PCOS are regularly told they cannot have PCOS because they are not overweight. This is clinically inaccurate and causes significant diagnostic delay.
The primary drivers are inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and often thyroid dysfunction working together. Gut bacterial imbalance allows toxins to enter the bloodstream, triggering a systemic inflammatory response that suppresses the hormonal signals needed for ovulation. Thyroid dysfunction is found in approximately 22–27% of this group, around three times the general female rate and directly impairs ovarian follicle development.
Critically - 75% of lean women with PCOS have insulin resistance despite normal BMI when tested properly. Standard metabolic screening misses this entirely, which is why the cardiometabolic risks of lean PCOS are frequently overlooked.
The hallmark presentation is profound fatigue, brain fog, bloating, and cycles that fluctuate slightly but are dismissed as normal. A common clinical clue is the day-after effect - a food choice triggers a flare of fatigue, acne, or bloating the following day, reflecting immune-mediated inflammation rather than a simple food intolerance.
How to get started
Three pathways depending on where you are.
Meaningful hormonal and metabolic change takes time. Most clients see measurable progress within 8–12 weeks and significant shifts by month three or four. Your commitment to the plan is as important as the plan itself.
Recommend Functional Test - EndoMAP
NutriPath's most comprehensive dried urine hormone assessment
The EndoMAP is NutriPATH’s most comprehensive at-home dried urine test, offering a full assessment of hormonal, metabolic and environmental factors that influence hormone health. It provides detailed insights into four major hormone pathways: oestrogen, androgens, progesterone and glucocorticoids - giving a complete picture of hormone production, metabolism and clearance. The panel also includes organic acids, endocrine disruptors and heavy metals, helping identify deeper drivers of hormonal imbalance.
Women with endometriosis, PCOS, painful or heavy periods, PMS/PMDD, fertility concerns, bloating, inflammation, mood changes, or complex hormonal symptoms. Ideal when standard blood tests are normal but symptoms persist.
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Type: Advanced dried urine hormone, metabolite, and environmental toxin assessment
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Collection Method: At-home urine collection
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Turnaround Time: Usually 2-3 weeks
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The EndoMAP is included in the Thrive with PCOS Program, the PCOS Blueprint, and the PCOS Reset package. It is also available as a standalone test through a consultation.
Testing is ordered through NutriPath and your kit is posted directly to you anywhere in New Zealand. See the functional testing page for full details on how testing works.
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What we investigate and address
PCOS is not one problem - it is a pattern of interconnected system failures that looks different in every body. Here is what we look at and why each one matters.
Hormonal and androgen imbalance
Identifying which androgens are elevated, where they're coming from - ovarian or adrenal and what's driving the excess is the first clinical step. The EndoMAP gives us the full androgen picture including DHEA, testosterone, and their metabolites so we can target the actual source rather than managing symptoms on the surface.
Blood sugar and insulin resistance
Insulin resistance drives androgen production in most PCOS types - even in lean women with normal fasting glucose. We assess fasting insulin, glucose, and metabolic markers to understand the full insulin picture, then use targeted nutrition, evidence-based supplementation, and lifestyle support to improve insulin sensitivity at the cellular level.
Inflammation and immune function
Chronic low-grade inflammation both contributes to and is worsened by PCOS. It drives androgen production, disrupts ovulation, and affects gut and immune function. We identify the inflammatory pattern driving your case and address it as a clinical priority - not just an afterthought.
Gut health and oestrogen metabolism
The gut microbiome directly influences how oestrogen is processed and cleared from the body. Dysbiosis can cause oestrogen to recirculate - worsening hormonal symptoms and metabolic patterns. We assess and address the gut-hormone axis together because in PCOS they are inseparable.
Stress and adrenal physiology
Cortisol directly influences androgen production, insulin sensitivity, and ovarian function. In adrenal PCOS, stress physiology is the primary driver. In other types it's a significant contributor. We assess cortisol patterns through the EndoMAP and build a targeted nervous system and adrenal support strategy.
Real women. Real results. These are their words.
"I'd been told my irregular cycles and acne were just PCOS and that the pill was my best option. I didn't want to go back on it - I wanted to actually understand what was happening. Within three months my cycle had shortened significantly and my skin was the clearest it had been in years. The difference was that we found the actual driver, insulin resistance and addressed it properly."
Thrive with PCOS Program Client
"I was doing everything right - clean diet, exercise, no sugar and my weight wouldn't shift and my energy was still terrible. When we tested properly it was clear why. My insulin picture was driving the whole pattern and nobody had ever looked at it that way. Once we had the full picture the plan actually made sense. Two months in I felt like myself again for the first time in years."
Thrive with PCOS Program Client
"What got me was that Tegan didn't start with a generic low-GI plan. She started with testing, identified which type of PCOS I was dealing with, and built everything from that. The support between sessions meant I was never left guessing. I finally understand my own body - and that's worth more than any symptom improvement on its own."
Thrive with PCOS Program Client
Client testimonials
Tegan’s personalised approach, expertise, and genuine care made a huge difference in my health journey. She took the time to understand my needs and provided practical solutions that truly worked. I’m so grateful for her support!
Kate | Naturopath client
I can’t recommend Tegan highly enough! She has been incredibly supportive and caring throughout my journey, and I’ve seen amazing improvements in my overall health and well-being. Her knowledge, care, and personalised approach have made all the difference. I’m feeling so much better, and I’m so grateful for her guidance and support.
Sarah-Lee | Naturopath client
I had the pleasure of working with Tegan recently, and felt grateful for her expertise and care. She was incredibly thorough in her approach, taking the time to understand my concerns and create personalised herbal tonics that significantly boosted my immune system and helped alleviate a persistent cough. Tegan's holistic approach made me feel at ease and truly listened to, which made a big difference in my healing journey. Additionally, she shared some wonderful nourishing recipes that have been a great addition to my routine for overall well-being. I highly recommend seeing Tegan as a Naturopath—her knowledge, professionalism, and warmth are unmatched!
Zoe | Naturopath client
Tegan’s nurturing demeanor and wealth of knowledge have been incredibly helpful on my personal journey. She’s provided me with practical tools to become more mindful of how I nourish and care for myself, both physically and mentally. Her approach is compassionate and empowering. I highly recommend her to anyone looking to deepen their connection with themselves and nature.
MacKenzie | Naturopath client
Naturalist has been an incredible asset to my health journey. Tegan is not only knowledgeable and skilled in creating personalised health plans, but she also truly listens and provides realistic, transparent recommendations. After working with Tegan for just two months, I have experienced my first pain-free period!
Rebecca | Naturopath client
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Your symptoms are not random. There's a reason and it's findable.
If you've been told your results are normal while your body says otherwise, it's time to investigate properly. Book a Clarity Call and we'll spend 40 minutes talking through your history and working out the right next step for your situation.