Symptoms of PCOD and PCOS & Causes, Treatment & Difference between PCOD and PCOS

PCOD, and PCOS, are disorders that affect women’s ovaries, which generate progesterone and estrogen hormones that help regulate the menstrual cycle, as well as minor amounts of inhibin, relaxin, and male hormones known as androgens.

Almost 10% of all women worldwide suffer from PCOD. In comparison to PCOD, women with PCOS generate more male hormones than normal. This hormonal imbalance causes women to skip their periods, making it difficult for them to get pregnant. Let’s find out the difference between PCOD and PCOS.

What is PCOD?

PCOD (Polycystic Ovarian Disease) is a medical disorder in which a woman’s ovaries generate a significant number of immature or partially mature eggs, which eventually develop into ovarian cysts. As a result, the ovaries grow in size and generate an enormous quantity of male hormones (androgens), which causes infertility, irregular periods, hair loss, and abnormal weight gain. PCOD can be managed with diet and lifestyle changes.

What is PCOS?

PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is a metabolic condition in which women experience hormonal imbalances during their reproductive years. Females may skip their periods and experience irregular ovulation, making it difficult to conceive. Women also develop excessive hair growth on the body and face, all of which can contribute to diabetes and heart disease in the long run. PCOS is a significant medical disorder that requires medical attention or surgical intervention.

Causes of PCOS

PCOS is a hormonal disorder, the actual cause of which is unknown. It may be linked to family history, genetics, lifestyle, and environment. The term ‘Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome‘ implies that the disease is primarily with the ovaries and that you may have several cysts on them. However, they are not cysts, but rather improperly formed eggs.

Here are several major factors that can cause PCOS:

Excess Insulin Synthesis: Excessive insulin levels in the body may boost androgen production, a male hormone, causing trouble with ovulation. It is assumed that higher insulin levels cause the ovaries to function differently, resulting in excessive quantities of androgens. These hormones produce various PCOS symptoms. Women with PCOS have insulin resistance, which implies that the body prevents glucose from entering cells. This stimulates the body to produce more insulin. Insulin resistance can be induced by both hereditary and lifestyle factors, such as being overweight.

Excess Androgen Production: High testosterone levels hinder the ovaries from releasing eggs, resulting in irregular menstruation cycles. Irregular ovulation can also cause tiny, fluid-filled sacs to form on the ovaries. High androgen levels also induce acne and excessive hair growth in women and people on their faces and bodies.

Low-grade inflammation: Females with PCOS have low-grade inflammation, which causes increased androgen production and can lead to blood vessel or heart issues.

Genetics: Women with PCOS exhibit some genetic link. According to estimates, up to one-third of women with PCOS have a relative who has the condition.

Symptoms of PCOD and PCOS

The most prevalent symptoms and warning signs of PCOD or PCOS in women are:

• Oligomenorrhea: Oligomenorrhea is characterised by irregular or infrequent menstrual cycles. Periods that continue for several days or longer than usual are also considered abnormal. You can have problems getting pregnant due to irregular periods.
• Amenorrhea: The lack of menstruation. You cannot conceive if you do not ovulate or have periods each month. When amenorrhea is caused by a hormonal imbalance, it can lead to infertility, miscarriage, and other pregnancy complications.
• Menorrhagia: Menorrhagia refers to severe or lengthy menstrual bleeding. This is a prevalent problem among women. It is caused by hormonal imbalances, uterine issues, or other medical concerns. Menorrhagia is identified via a pelvic exam, ultrasound, pap test, and, in some cases, biopsy.
• Excessive Hair Growth: PCOD/PCOS can lead to excessive face and body hair growth, including hair growth in the back, stomach, and chest area in women. This happens due to the excessive release of a male hormone called androgen.
• Acne: PCOS can cause acne since the disorder stimulates the ovaries to create more androgens, which increase oil production in the skin. Acne can appear on the face, upper back, neck, and chest of people with PCOS.
• Weight Gain: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an obesity-related disease. As such, weight increase and obesity lead to the development of PCOS. However, there are processes by which the development of PCOS can lead to additional weight gain and hinder attempts towards effective weight management.
• Androgenic alopecia: Androgenic alopecia is a patterned hair loss seen in females with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The hair on the scalp becomes thinner and falls off in certain patches. It is caused by excessive testosterone production.
• Skin Darkening: Polycystic ovarian syndrome can cause dark and thick skin around the armpits, nape of the neck, skinfolds, groin, and beneath the breast areas (a condition known as acanthosis nigricans). Dark-skinned people’s skin may appear leathery.

When to visit a doctor?

Consult your doctor if you’re having difficulties getting pregnant, have irregular periods, or show signs of excess androgen, which may include growth of excessive hair on your face and body, acne, and male-pattern baldness.

There is also the possibility of developing issues like diabetes, or cholesterol from PCOS, which is why you should see your PCP for a physical examination once a year. Your annual appointment should include blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar checks and if any of these findings are abnormal, more testing or more regular visits may be required.

Diagnosis of PCOS/PCOD

For the diagnosis of PCOD or PCOS, a gynecologist may recommend:

Pelvic examination: Physically inspecting the reproductive organs for lumps, abnormalities, or growth.

Blood tests: Blood tests will help you understand your hormone levels, including a fasting lipid profile, to assess the amount of cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride levels, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)) and glucose tolerance tests.

Imaging Test: Ultrasound imaging is used to examine the size of the ovaries, the uterine lining, and cysts in the ovaries.

Best possible treatment for pregnancy with PCOS/PCOD

Treatments to help you conceive successfully will include the following:

Regulating the menstrual cycle:  With the help of medication, the menstrual cycle can be regulated to manage hormonal imbalance and insulin resistance.

Ovulation induction: The quality and amount of eggs produced can be improved with oral medications and injections.

Infertility treatments: Fertility treatments that include fertility-inducing medications and ART treatments such as IUI and IVF, can help with achieving successful pregnancy.

Laparoscopic procedure: In PCOS patients who have not responded to hormonal treatment, a laparoscopic technique called ovarian drilling is used to eliminate androgen-producing tissue in the ovaries.

Lifestyle tips to manage PCOD and PCOS

PCOD / PCOS primarily impacts the hormone balance in females. The following initiatives will assist females minimize their androgen levels in the body:

Maintaining a healthy body weight: Maintaining a healthy body weight or losing weight can assist improve overall cholesterol levels, lowering the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes, maintaining optimal insulin and androgen levels, and restoring the ovulation phase in the menstrual cycle. Consult a dietician for a PCOD diet chart for weight loss, to achieve an appropriate body mass index (BMI).

Limiting carbohydrate consumption: If you have PCOD or PCOS, you should follow a low-carb or complex carbohydrate diet to assist in maintaining insulin levels. Eat fish, meat, eggs, and veggies that grow above ground. Also, consume natural fats while avoiding sugar and starchy foods.

Regular exercise: If you have PCOD or PCOS, regular exercise and becoming more active will help you regulate your blood sugar levels and keep your body mass index under control.

Diet to keep PCOS/PCOD under control

This diet can help you achieve a healthy weight and control PCOS symptoms while providing enough nourishment and taste:

• Baked or broiled salmon, an omega-3-rich fish.
• Use olive oil as an alternative to butter or margarine.
• Instead of meat, eat protein-rich legumes like beans.
• Non-starchy veggies include leafy greens, tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, broccoli, and cauliflower.
• Whole grains, including brown rice, barley, and others.
• Breads and pasta produced from whole grains to help patients with PCOS, avoid a blood sugar rise.
• For dessert, use whole fruits as it contains fiber, which aids digestion and slows the absorption of carbohydrates into the bloodstream.

Foods to avoid if you have PCOS/PCOD

People with PCOS should avoid the following foods that can increase inflammation:

• Fried foods that include french fries, potato chips, corn chips, and fried chicken or fish.
• Saturated fats like butter and margarine
• Red meat, such as hamburgers and steaks, as well as processed meat and hot dogs.
• Processed snacks including cakes, cookies, sweets, and pies.
• Prepared cereal in heavy sugar.
• Sugary beverages including sodas and sports drinks.
• Alcoholic beverages.
• Refined flour, white bread, pizza crust, and pasta.
• White rice

Future problems that can occur due to PCOS/PCOD

Females who have been diagnosed with PCOD or PCOS should regularly examine their health to avoid future issues. If left untreated, PCOD can lead to type 2 diabetes, obesity, and other mental issues as a result of hormonal imbalance, whereas PCOS can have serious complications such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, endometrial cancer, and complications during pregnancy, including, premature birth, preeclampsia, and miscarriage.

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