By: Molly Franzonello
For Ginny Noce, MS, RN, CNC, an interest in hormone health, fertility, and wellness began with her own health struggles. As a nursing student, she dealt with persistent cystic acne, irregular cycles, and other signs of hormonal imbalance. Yet, it took years to receive a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
“It took a long time for me to be diagnosed because I didn’t look like the typical PCOS patient — I was thin, and I wasn’t insulin resistant,” Noce shared. “Despite having irregular cycles, hormonal acne, and signs of androgen excess, I was dismissed and offered hormonal birth control as a quick fix rather than being investigated further.”
Since Noce did not fit the classic profile for PCOS, it was not considered high on the list of differential diagnoses.
“The possibility of PCOS was repeatedly brushed off because I didn’t fit the textbook image, which is a common and frustrating experience for many women,” she said.
Ultimately, Noce had to advocate for herself, asking her OB-GYN to run lab tests and order an ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis. Even then, the only treatment options presented to her were birth control or a ketogenic diet.
“The possibility of PCOS was repeatedly brushed off because I didn’t fit the textbook image, which is a common and frustrating experience for many women.”
Finding a Root-Cause Path
A lack of comprehensive support led Noce to explore functional medicine and nutrition on her own. Through advanced training and personal experimentation, she began to uncover the deeper drivers behind her hormone imbalance.
“I realized my PCOS was deeply connected to my digestion,” she explained. “I had been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome and suffered for years with constipation and bloating, along with systemic inflammation and years of restrictive dieting and over-exercising.”
Functional testing revealed a candida overgrowth in her gut, poor digestive secretions, and multiple nutrient deficiencies.
“All of these were contributing to inflammation in my body and acne, and they are common among those with lean PCOS,” Noce said.
By focusing on strategic nutrient repletion, gut support, and restoring balance to her nervous system, Noce was able to regulate her cycles and she started ovulating regularly.
“I scaled back on intense workouts, focused on more restorative movement, and worked on eating enough and deeply nourishing myself,” she said. “Through charting, I was able to confirm ovulation again.”
Her progress was life-changing — not just for her health, but for her growing family.
“I was able to conceive naturally both my two girls, and now I’m pregnant with my third,” Noce said.
From Lived Experience to Clinical Practice
Noce’s personal health journey was the catalyst for her professional transformation.
“Going through this firsthand is what led me to specialize in women’s health with a focus on functional medicine and nutrition,” she said.
While studying in her master’s program, Noce came across study after study linking nutrient status, inflammation, and gut health to hormonal imbalances — especially PCOS.
“I was shocked by how often my chronic gut symptoms and hormone imbalances were treated as separate issues, and how little diet or lifestyle was ever mentioned in my doctor’s appointments,” she said. “The only solutions I was offered were birth control or an overly restrictive diet. It was incredibly frustrating.”
This experience solidified her vision: to build a practice that helps women get to the root of their hormone issues and receive individualized care — not one-size-fits-all solutions.
Launching The Women’s Health RN
When she could not find a model of care that reflected her approach, Noce created one herself.
“No one was integrating cycle charting and also very specific knowledge in women’s health,” she said.
Her private practice, The Women’s Health RN, was born out of that need. Through her practice and her Instagram platform @thewomenshealthrn, Noce shares education and supports women with hormone-related symptoms looking for root-cause answers. Today, her team includes two nurse practitioners and a dietitian, offering a four-month hormone coaching program that combines personalized nutrition, lifestyle coaching, functional testing, and cycle awareness.
“We just really work to optimize their diet and lifestyle based on their root causes,” Noce explained. “More importantly, I’m really working to coach these women on how to make these changes realistic in their life… The goal at the end of the four months is that I don’t want you to need me anymore because you feel better and you feel confident moving forward.”
A Powerful Collaboration with FACTS
Early in her nursing career, Noce was introduced to Dr. Marguerite Duane, co-founder and executive director of FACTS About Fertility. Recognizing Noce’s passion for cycle awareness and functional medicine, Dr. Duane invited her to join FACTS as a speaker.
This October 10 and 11, Noce will be a featured speaker at the FACTS Virtual Conference. She will share insights on using nutrition and functional medicine to restore hormone health.
Her connection with FACTS has provided a platform to educate clinicians and the public on holistic, evidence-based approaches to women’s health. Looking ahead, Noce hopes to expand her educational outreach, particularly on college campuses.
“I would love, love, love to give talks to young women on college campuses,” she said. “Not just about cycle charting, but where to start with nutrition because so many young women are still struggling.”
Noce will be a featured speaker at the FACTS Virtual Conference, where she will share insights on using nutrition and functional medicine to restore hormone health.
Through her personal journey, clinical practice, and educational outreach, Noce is restoring the heart of women’s health by linking nutrition and fertility care. Her work empowers women to ask better questions, advocate for themselves, and receive the root-cause support they deserve.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Molly Franzonello
Molly Franzonello is the FACTS Communications & Social Media Coordinator. Molly brings extensive experience in health care management, program design, and health policy, holding a MS in Nursing and a Master of Health Administration. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Midwifery at Columbia University’s School of Nursing. She previously served as a Health Equity Specialist at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, working on ways to reduce maternal mortality through a special project. Molly contributed to the Defense Health Agency in several roles, improving access to primary care clinics. She will create engaging content and co-manage our online presence to promote fertility awareness and looks forward to continuing to advance healthcare through education!
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