PCOS · Irregular cycles · Insulin · Hormone balance

PCOS & Cycle Health Coaching in Greenville, SC

By Maria Merlo, AFMC-certified Functional Medicine Health Coach · Updated November 2026

Irregular or missing periods, acne, hair where you don't want it and less where you do, cravings and weight that settles around your middle. Maybe you were handed birth control and told that's all there is. PCOS is not just an ovary problem. It's a whole-body hormone pattern, and it responds to what drives it.

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30 minutes · In person in Greenville or virtual · Se habla español

Maria Merlo, PCOS health coach in Greenville SC

Does this sound familiar?

Cycles longer than 35 days, unpredictable, or missing
Acne along the jaw, chin or back
Unwanted facial or body hair, or thinning hair on your head
Sugar cravings, energy crashes, or feeling shaky when you skip a meal
Weight that collects around your middle, even when you eat well
Heavy PMS, mood swings or anxiety before your period
Trouble getting pregnant, or cycles that seem "off" and no one can tell you why

What's really going on with PCOS

PCOS affects about 1 in 10 women and is often missed or diagnosed late. In functional medicine we look at it as a chain reaction, not a single broken part:

Insulin rises. Refined carbohydrates, chronic stress and poor sleep push blood sugar and insulin up.
The ovaries make more androgens. High insulin (and stress hormones like adrenaline) signal the ovaries to produce more testosterone.
Ovulation stalls. Excess androgens interfere with ovulation, so you may ovulate late, weakly or not at all.
Progesterone drops. You only make real progesterone after you ovulate. Without enough of it, estrogen becomes dominant, even when estrogen levels are normal.
The cycle feeds itself. More body fat makes more estrogen, and the brain keeps pushing harder to trigger ovulation, which can raise androgens further.

That's why the symptoms are so varied: acne and hair changes from androgens, cravings and belly weight from insulin, PMS and mood swings from low progesterone.

Other pieces that often get missed

Stress and cortisol. Stress raises blood sugar and insulin on its own, and the body doesn't prioritize ovulation when it feels under threat. Fertility happens in a calm nervous system.
Thyroid. An underactive thyroid can raise prolactin, which interferes with ovulation, and it's more common in women with PCOS. Every program includes a full thyroid panel, so we check it from the start. Thyroid & Hashimoto's →
Gut health and detox. Your gut and liver clear used estrogen. Constipation and an imbalanced microbiome can send it back into circulation. Gut health →
Hormone disruptors. Chemicals in plastics, fragrances and some personal care products can act like estrogen in the body.
Nutrients. Magnesium, vitamin D, zinc and omega-3s are commonly low and support insulin and hormone balance.

How we work on it together

Free Wellness Clarity Call (30 minutes)

We talk about your history and whether my approach fits.

90-Day Whole Systems Optimization Plan

It starts with an in-depth Gameplan Session: questionnaires, a review of your previous labs and medication list, and a clear starting plan. Then coaching every two weeks using my Hormone Dance Method.

For PCOS that usually means:

Blood-sugar-friendly eating that fits you: more vegetables, enough protein at every meal, fewer refined carbs. There's no single "PCOS diet"; we find what your body responds to, and a stricter therapeutic phase is temporary, not forever.
Strength-building movement to improve insulin sensitivity and body composition, not hours of cardio.
Stress and sleep work, because they move insulin and androgens as much as food does.
Cleaning up hormone disruptors at home and in your personal care routine.
Targeted nutrients when they're needed, such as inositol, magnesium or omega-3s, chosen with you and checked against your medications.
Functional testing when useful. Every program includes the Splendhealth Complete Panel (full thyroid panel, HbA1c, lipids, vitamin D, CRP and more). When it would change the plan, the DUTCH hormone test shows how you make and clear hormones, available at direct lab cost with no markup.

Book Your Free Wellness Clarity Call

See the 90-Day plan →

Working with your doctor

PCOS is diagnosed by a doctor, usually with your cycle history, blood tests for androgens and an exam or ultrasound, after ruling out thyroid problems and other causes. I don't diagnose PCOS, and I never start, stop or change birth control, metformin, spironolactone or fertility medication. If you're on these, coaching works alongside them, and any change is a conversation with your prescriber.

If you have no periods for 3 months or more, very heavy bleeding, sudden or severe hair growth or a deepening voice, see your doctor first.

What clients say

"I used to have excruciating menstrual cramps badly enough to affect my work performance… Just in a few weeks… I noticed the difference: breast pain and cramps subsided considerably. I am also not bloated anymore, and my mood is much more balanced."Barbara E., Continuous Improvement Manager

Individual results vary. Testimonials reflect each client's personal experience and are not a promise of results. Client names have been changed to protect privacy.

Maria Merlo is an AFMC-certified Functional Medicine Health Coach (School of Applied Functional Medicine) and Integrative Nutrition Health Coach (IIN), coaching women in English and Spanish since 2014. She is not a physician and does not diagnose or treat disease. Read Maria's story →

Frequently asked questions

Can PCOS be cured?

PCOS is a lifelong tendency, not something to cure. But it's very responsive to its drivers. When insulin, stress and inflammation come down, many women see more regular cycles, clearer skin and steadier energy.

Do I need a PCOS diagnosis to work with you?

No. Many women come with irregular cycles or hormone symptoms and no clear answers. If your symptoms suggest you need medical testing, I'll tell you.

Do I have to cut out carbs completely?

No. We focus on the quality and amount of carbohydrates, pairing them with protein and fiber, and on what keeps your blood sugar steady. Severe restriction tends to backfire and adds stress.

Is inositol right for me?

Inositol is one of the most studied supplements for PCOS and may help insulin sensitivity and cycle regularity for some women, though results are mixed. We decide together whether it fits your situation and your medications.

Can you help if I'm trying to get pregnant?

Yes, alongside your OB/GYN or fertility specialist. Healthy ovulation depends on the same foundations we work on: blood sugar, stress, nutrients and sleep.

¿Trabajas en español?

Sí, todo el programa está disponible en español. Agenda tu llamada →