Sasha Pieterse: PCOS & Motherhood

*This episode was recorded prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike and our team was given approval by SAG to release it.
Actress Sasha Pieterse joins the Lautners to discuss her journey with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), the entertainment industry, and motherhood. Her and Taylor reminisce on their time filming Shark Boy and Lava Girl together and the multi-generational fan base that continues to this day. Sasha then explains what exactly PCOS is, her battle to be diagnosed, and the miracle that was getting pregnant-not only because PCOS is a huge component of infertility, but because her son then miraculously regulated her hormones. In addition to that, she has also become the most confident she’s ever been from being a mom, with other people’s opinions being so low on her priority list. She discusses why she and her husband suspect they’re “one and done” when it comes to children, and the importance of making her marriage her first priority. Lastly, she discusses where the idea for Women In The Nude, her new podcast, came from. Check it out below!
00:00 Intro
06:40 Welcome Sasha
10:40 Shark Boy and Lava Girl
18:22 Dealing with rejection in the industry
22:22 Pretty Little Liars and her relationship with the industry
34:00 Her journey with PCOS
45:00 Becoming a mom
54:15 Prioritizing her marriage
59:35 Her podcast, Women In The Nude
01:03:00 Lemon 11
Be sure to follow:
sashapieter...
womeninthen...
And check out:
www.youtube.com/@sashapieters...
womeninthenudepodcast.com/
Thanks to our awesome sponsor for supporting today’s episode, Quince!
Go to Quince.com/thesqueeze to get free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order
Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Plus, follow us on Instagram:
The Squeeze: / thesqueeze
Tay Lautner: / taylautner
Taylor Lautner: / taylorlautner
To learn more from The Lemons Foundation, follow / lemonsbytay and visit lemonsbytay.com
SyncID: MB01RCUU0TLFEWA

[@griffinjames4585]

Sasha is a television LEGEND. Nobody could’ve played Alison the way she did, she made her feel so real. I can’t wait to see where her career takes her next.

[@jasonmoukala8909]

Legend? Idk

[@maddiejung974]

Crazy she was like 13 and outacting people 10 years older than her. I remember Instagram was becoming a thing during PLL and she got so many comments regarding her weight change, people probably thought they could be extra critical because she played Ali who was the perfect/bitchy popular girl.

[@boudraamohamed7065]

I watched her on pll from the first episode she is incredible and her acting skills are crazy love you sasha

[@brandonhill6817]

She’s great! I had no idea she was only like 12, playing Allison! Such a great performance!

[@msmitch]

It never occurred to me that my PCOS could be why I feel so terrible working out. This is why it's so important to talk about it and raise awareness of the many and various ways it affects our lives.

[@jenniferdavis7192]

I have PCOS and it’s nice to hear it talked about more! Kudos to girl Tay for doing her research to be able to bring this up and to Sasha for opening up about it 😁 nice to spread awareness!

[@sheraeguerrero]

Thank you for talking about PCOS and PCOS awareness. I have PCOS and it’s a long journey. I hope to be a mother one day.

[@gemagaribay461]

I have PCOS and this episode truly made me feel so heard and validated for the first time ever. Hearing Sarah’s experiences are so similar to mine with the frustrations of gaining weight and passing out when working out and it’s so nice to hear that other people go through that too. Words cannot express how grateful I am to have heard this episode thank you so much Tay and Sarah for bringing more awareness to this topic💕

[@meggzilla009]

I hope girl tay got to call her girl group and properly fangirl over getting to talk to Sasha ❤🎉 love this!

[@fitcyster5213]

Loved hearing from a fellow PCOS Cyster 🤗🥰

[@Jessalove777]

We need Lemon drops merch 🍋🍋❤❤

[@Jenny-Rubi]

Omg yes!!!! ❤

[@rissaari]

I was JUST thinking this! A tie dye yellow crew neck would be so cute 👀 🍋

[@Popular_Song_lyrics]

Yesss s

[@elephant1871]

YES

[@16nevergrowup]

YES

[@thequirkygirl62442]

Love this episode. Didn't know Sasha was in the Ice Princess. Loved her in Pretty Little Liars. Also loved how you guys talked about PCOS, it's hard to deal with at times and it's nice to hear from others who are in the same boat.

[@jessieb5505]

I was diagnosed with PCOS recently, while my wife and I were moving forward with trying to start our family. I didn’t know this, but my fertility doctor actually educated me and said my PCOS diagnosis can likely be the culprit for the intense gastro and digestive issues I’ve experienced over the last 10+ years. I cannot explain how much less alone I felt because I have the diagnosis- finally. I didn’t experience frequent period issues; my cycle is regular, with the exception of the occasional week or two delay, usually attributed to stress. But I did have the digestive issues, as well as hair growth in areas where women should not have it. Thank you for this!

[@estelalima8438]

Yaaaay! The Ice Princess/Alison DiLaurentis herself

[@melissa9570]

sasha is so mature & intelligent, i love her

[@laurentomasunas]

I have PCOS and was diagnosed in Aug of 2022. It's been a 10 year battle of symptoms with doctors not taking the changes in my body seriously. I got my periods every 3 months and it was always chalked up to my "weight gains" to the reason behind it. Anyways flash forward to 2022 and I finally got the PROPER doctor taking my concerns seriously, she order labs and an ultrasound to see that inside my ovaries they had developed cysts. YEARS of a long battle finally with an answer on how to properly maintain my body to keep off the weight, manage my hair growth, and my hormones. So many things, and I feel so glad to have the right course of action to manage my symptoms now for the rest of my life.

[@amaramirren9330]

do you have anything that specifically helped? i haven’t found anything that has helped my symptoms of pcos

[@laurentomasunas]

Everyone is different, and people will experience the symptoms at different levels of intensity. Mine have become more manageable by changing my diet, lowering the amount of salt and added sugar intakes to help balance some of the issues with weight and blood sugar levels. Drinking mainly water (a gallon a day for now) has shown to clear up some of the cystic acne. I still have to pluck and wax my chin almost daily, but I haven't found a good way to manage that quite yet - still experimenting. My cycles are still irregular, probably always will be. Doctor recommends going on birth control for this, but that messes with my mental health and hormones far more than being off of it - so this is another one I'm still trying to figure out how to help better manage and predict. The biggest pain about this condition is that it is a majority of trial and error until you find the right plan of action for you. @@amaramirren9330

[@elzaaraujo7063]

I'm an only child and I definitely can relate to the need for some "alone time". And I never realized it was because of the fact that I am an only child, and now everything makes sense lol. Thank you so much for the podcast, loving every episode!

[@josepha133]

I'm not an only child and still need frequent alone time. I don't think one thing has anything to do with the other tbh 🙊

[@elzaaraujo7063]

@@josepha133 I don't think it's the only thing, but it definitely has some influence

[@rissaari]

It doesn’t matter if I’m obsessed with a guest you’ve had on or if I’ve never heard of them until the pod, I love EVERY episode so much.

[@akcatalino]

Boy Tay: “how is it going everyone?” Me: just separated from my partner of 3 years and moved back in with my parents at 26…. Boy Tay: “oh that’s amazing” 😅

[@mikalaebaber8139]

Thank you for having this episode. I am in early stages of recognition of PCOS and high blood pressure so this episode helped me learn more information on it.

[@lindseyyyy790]

The part about boy Tay getting upset because of something that girl Tay did in his dream 😂😂😭😭

[@Kittylolll12277]

I feel that! Im 21, and its crazy that we are all 18+ who grew up watching sharkboy and lavagirl

[@erica9912]

I have pcos, I was on the pill since 18 so all the symptoms such as irregular periods were masked and when I got off the pill about two years ago, I started having all the symptoms and was so confused. I'm 25 now so I was on the pill while having this for a good amount of time. I FINALLY got diagnosed with pcos and have been going to doctors and getting blood done for the past year. I'm still navigating through it and I wish more doctors would test for it up front. I had to practically beg different doctors to do blood work because I was researching and found out myself I probably had it I just needed to be diagnosed with it to probably deal with it

[@haydenbrown5207]

I was just diagnosed with PCOS this year and it has been so great to finally figure out what is wrong, but also so hard to figure out what works for me

[@sarahs9802]

Me too!

[@antofashionbeauty]

Same!!!

[@taylorjames8544]

Loved this episode! Sasha seems so nice and I love her sharing her struggles with PCOS… shark boy and lava girl talk too!!

[@sydsydmarie]

Loved hearing Sasha talk in long form she’s very insightful and transparent

[@catagarcia98]

thank you for bringing awareness about PCOS and sharing your experience. I also struggle with it and it is so comforting to see that I am not alone.

[@sunny-tn1ix]

This podcast keeps getting better and better💗 love you, Tays!

[@rachellemaccc]

This was such a good episode! Sasha seems so sweet!

[@Hockeymama39]

I was diagnosed with PCOS after having my first. Got pregnant with her first try. Tried for a year for my second before seeing a specialist when I was then diagnosed. Finally got pregnant with him after 18 months. Asked my dr after having him for some sort of “treatment” as my periods are all over and so incredibly heavy. She’s useless and told me to take some advil and some iron supplements while on my period. Definitely need to find a new doctor but the waitlist where I am is years long. (Although, thankful for free healthcare here in Canada)

[@JackieWyers]

love this episode!!

[@riahbeltz3931]

I sympathize with Sasha on her story with PCOS, I don't have it but I was diagnosed with Endometriosis 3 years ago and I had gone to over 14 different doctors to try to figure it out until I finally landed with someone who knew about Endometriosis and suggested I have a laparoscopic procedure and they found that I had it. Like PCOS it is not curable and the treatment that was recommended is hormone treatment to stop your period in order to stop the endometrium growth. Essentially it was described as weeds growing in your uterus that needs maintenance to limit pain. It can be incredibly frustrating when people don't believe you with these type of stuff and ultimately does make it harder to get diagnosed.

[@sadiestancliffe6439]

thanks for spreading more awareness about pcos!

[@ashleynguyen4669]

She hasn’t aged!

[@kittycouturee]

I’m 21 now and I loved watching Sharkboy & Lavagirl when I was kid

[@Kittylolll12277]

Same here! I feel like it really impacted 18-27ish year olds generation

[@roselanetti2613]

Love you guys! So happy I got to be part of the lemon drops!

[@Stephanie-zr5eb]

iv been so excited for this episode!!

[@chhloess]

can't wait!! excited to see what uncle and aunt taylor have to say!! :)

[@brittanyrae66]

Love you guys!! Another great podcast 😊

[@Jenny-Rubi]

Ugh, I love y’all ❤ the best!

[@veganbeauty1445]

This episode 👏 love it ! The topics and conversations

[@analuciagonzalezserrud1394]

Your voices are so relaxing OMG!!! ❤❤❤😊😊😊Thank you for the content 😊😊🎉🎉

[@user-st9qw5ch7h]

I can’t wait 💜 always wonderful podcasts with Tay and Tay 🎉

[@caseyj2656]

Love you both One of the best podcast, love listening/watching ❤️❤️ Thank you ❤

[@xRachaelzx]

She looks like how she did in the first season of PLL

[@clairdelune2158]

I have PCOS and I can't believe I'd relate to someone like Sasha ❤ Really eye-opening episode ❤

[@gracie2439]

I'm so excited!

[@helendunham4410]

Great episode. I have PCOS, endometriosis, was iron and vitamin D deficient. I love to hear this talked about because I had no idea what it was until I was diagnosed.

[@bethventuresx8283]

Haven't finished the video yet but...I'm also iron and vitamin d deficient. How did this effect you??? Did it cause weight gain?

[@rosathais]

I love Sasha! Excited to watch it all❤

[@findbeautifulwme]

🍋I am a DIE HARD fan of you guys, your podcast and the beautiful things you are doing in this world!!! Your podcast quite literally keeps me going, I am in a very dark season of my life struggling with bipolar, anxiety, depression, suicidality, ptsd, and also just started anorexia recovery. My biggest dream is to meet you guys some day!! 🍋 ❤❤❤

[@GingerHorde]

I came to this video thanks to a short. I've had doctors think I have PCOS which led to ultrasounds getting done to check for cysts (thankfully always negative) but never blood tests done. So I'd get dismissed for PCOS. I have had blood work done for thyroid issues (again thankfully nothing apparently wrong there) but I have had issues with my hormones, vitamin d, (I could've been hospitalized for how low it was), iron. I've had a very similar experience with the symptoms and hormone supplements helping with managing those symptoms (the supplements being something my mom decided because we got no answers). I also struggled with pregnancy and both times I got pregnant I had started taking hormone balancing supplements the month prior to becoming pregnant. Hearing your story helps me have an idea as to which direction to go in when I next talk to my doctor about my health. Thank you.

[@melissamoon859]

I love the one and done mention!! That’s our family too!!!

[@alondrazapata4973]

Love this!! What also sucks about PCOS is (according to my gyno) it can't be diagnosed if you're on hormonal birth control. My doctor said I have some of the symptoms but because I can't get off hormonal birth control I have no way of knowing until I'm ready to start conceiving.

[@ashleydvorak8207]

Just now watching this :) I found out I had PCOS when I was trying to conceive my 2nd child. It explained SO much!! I also ended up with gestational diabetes. Didn't have any of these issues with my 1st pregnancy though.

[@KLEJDUCHA]

Can’t wait!!!

[@giuliapicchiotti]

I know this about Sasha, but can we talk about the fact the dog went back to pick up her piggy toy 😍

[@allyburnett3315]

Shark boy and lava girl was my child hood, I still have it on DVD with the cool 3D glasses lol. And I'm 28 😬😬😂 I still love it too. Girl Tay is right. Still live 😂❤

[@Nathalie922_]

Sasha is so beautiful. Great episode such a great topic to discuss!

[@deynaleal4899]

OMG is Sasha Pieterse, I loved the podcast ♥️✨🤩

[@laurenday8583]

This podcast always makes me so happy

[@mspiepie0214]

I'm 22, and I love sharkboy and Lava Girl so much ❤❤❤ Sending love from 🎉 Malaysia

[@cuca_]

Every single topic Sasha brought up, I agree with her takes 100%! She seems very smart, wise and educated. Enjoyed this interview ❤

[@cuca_]

Though the video should probably have been edited down more to be more concise and less filler

[@Itspavi98]

Love her on pretty little liars ❤

[@taylautnercometobrazil]

LET'S GO GUYS ✊

[@XX-xv6bl]

Love you guys ❤❤❤

[@aali98andall]

Love the fact that more sn more women are speaking out on PCOS because it so common it's sad

[@karenseng9499]

When are you live again? I love you both!!!!!

[@findbeautifulwme]

🍋I would LOVE 😍 to see somebody in eating disorder recovery on the podcast!!!🍋

[@christy1385]

Love you guys

[@DelaneyWalker]

I have terrible cysts on my ovaries and still trying to get diagnosed. It’s so hard. Just had surgery to remove pre cancer on my cervix too. I just want to be taken seriously 😢

[@KLEJDUCHA]

Sasha is sooo beautiful!!!!

[@estherromerocutillas1086]

sasha is so sweet

[@KLEJDUCHA]

Love you all 💓

[@julialavergne4887]

Wow I cannot wait for this one!! I just found out that I have PCOS about two months ago and it has opened my eyes. I don’t look at myself the same way anymore. Growing up I felt like no matter how hard I tried to lose weight I struggled and faced body shaming from myself and others. I can’t wait to learn more about it because knowledge is power! ❤ Add-on ✨ (There’s so many other symptoms too!)

[@summerwallis7176]

I just found out I had PCOS at the beginning of August end of July. And my doctor had no information for me, so this is going to be much needed information. And I just love Sasha

[@jusnatali]

Usando esse pod pra treinar meu inglês. Amoo a sasha

[@antonellaciprietti9993]

Sasha sei una splendida persona.❤

[@thomsonclan5878]

I have pcos I didn’t know as I was on the pill. So masked the irregular periods, as before I was regular. I fell pregnant on the pill, I then miscarried. I then had secondary infertility when I actually trying for baby, and was told I have pcos, I have two clomid children. (First took 3 years and second took 15months) Things I have learnt. -Intermittent fasting, especially if your insulin resistant. -low carb diet like the fast800 or 5:2 food is yummy and I actually loose weight on it! (Micheal Mosley, definitely worth a look, it’s Mediterranean diet and those on it say it’s a way of eating WOE and for life. It’s a blood sugar diet which is hugely beneficial for pcos, puts you into ketosis. -inositol (this works similarly to metformin but without the horrible side effects) -co-q10 -low and slow work outs, weights or walking I hope this helps someone. Pcos is hard but these things have definitely helped me 😁 *I wrote this before watching

[@sandradeebeauty01]

I love being a lemon drop.. and I think you guys should do a cocktail segment making lemon drops shots and martinis lol.. just saying or using other lemon liquors etc.. just saying.. I Love citrus in all my cocktails and as a 12 year bartender I have so many cocktail I love making.. JS ❤❤❤ Can't wait to hear this podcast... I love Sasha❤❤ TFS today ans have an amazing day!!

[@ronelcastelyn2154]

Oh my wow, all the episodes speaks to me but this one touched. I think I need to go to a doctor as I might have PCOS? My period is irregular and I gained weight like nothing one year and can't seem to lose the weight.

[@mlazav]

Yes! Go I noticed weight gain about 5 years ago and I didn’t know why I was gaining so much weight , I always had irregular periods and my doctor finally diagnosed me last year, I am on pills hoping to get pregnant soon

[@sierracrum6040]

I love Sasha me and her have the same birthday

[@mspiepie0214]

We need lava girl on board for the podcast ❤

[@LeahBee15]

My mom is also very passionate about Pass the Pigs! 😂 It was a frequent choice of ours for Friday family game night when I was little. 🐷

[@ralphmontes6423]

its a rare thing that you both have no siblings often times people your age tend to have siblings while those that dont are alot older.

[@deboracarvalho5614]

🍋❤ Eu estou amando esse podcast, está me ajudando muito, estou em umas crises de ansiedades muito fortes, é uma pena eu não conseguir falar em inglês mas estou lutando com as traduções, na maioria das vezes da certo, um abraço, vocês são pessoas incríveis é extraordinário quando 2 pessoas tão sensíveis ficam juntas e se completam, parabéns...I Love you 🍋 🍋 🍋

[@gustavoguimaraes5155]

Muito bom mesmo.

[@lovenakabba9185]

He aged us all 😂 I can’t believe that movie was so long ago

[@findbeautifulwme]

🍋I would LOVE😍 to see Molly Burke on the podcast!!!🍋

[@martinatine4938]

It’s so funny to me that people in other parts of the world (famous ones ) know the pig game when here in Germany most people don’t 😂loved that game

[@damaniqphillip2756]

Wow ❤

[@abbieprice3430]

I think it would be awesome if Taylor Dooley aka Lavagirl goes on this podcast and reunites with Taylor Lautner aka Sharkboy!

[@ronelcastelyn2154]

I'm so confused and scared now. It is my dream to have kids one day and I've just realised that there is a 99% chance that I have PCOS. I'm going to the doctor this weekend.

[@malibuflavorful]

Okay Taylors my sons birthday 13:04 is next week how do you play pass the pigs??? Ive been researching party games non stop the last month. obviously pin the tail…. but ones that will be rememberable. I really enjoyed hearing you guys randomly being that up 😅

[@malibuflavorful]

what kind of toy pigs do i need to purchase 😅

[@raschelRiggs]

I have pcos and I'm trying to figure a way to regulate it and get pregnant

[@amberkins4480]

I love the game Pass the Pigs!!! No one ever knows it 🤣

[@RWorley3sl]

You can adopt and get an instant big family.

[@shannonn9575]

I was diagnosed with PCOS via ultrasound. I don’t think I’ve heard of it being diagnosed vis blood test, but that makes sense since not everyone struggles with the cysts themselves. I thought that all who have PCOS have the small cystic pattern on their ovaries. They’re usually not large enough to require surgery, but they impact hormones and metabolism.

[@ligianesilva7119]

❤

[@lizbethv5978]

I’m very curious about her experience! I have pcos and am currently pregnant

[@cindicleee]

❤❤

[@madz7131]

Y’all should start a booze product for lemon drop mixers

[@brooklynconnell1803]

Petitioning for selena gomez 😅😅 she's into this stuff as well

[@itskaraelizabeth]

“I graduated right before my 14th birthday” WHAT?!