pcod-vs-pcos

PCOD VS PCOS

PCOD VS PCOS

Is PCOS and PCOD the same?
PCOD is a disease and PCOS is a syndrome. Most of the people assume that PCOD and PCOS are the same disorder, but they are not. It's important to properly understand the cause, symptoms and risk factors associated with a medical condition before getting treated. Most people do not know the difference between PCOD and PCOS.
What is PCOD?
• PCOD (Polycystic ovarian disorder) is a medical condition caused due to hormonal imbalance in women. Women with PCOD problems have ovaries that produce immature or partially matured eggs during ovulation. These immature eggs will eventually increase in number and form cysts in the ovaries.
• The ovaries increase in size and start releasing large amounts of male hormones leading to irregular periods, hair loss, weight gain, excessive hair growth like moustache.
• The main causative factors of the PCOD problem will include unhealthy diet and lifestyle, hormonal imbalance, lack of physical activity, and due to stress.
What is PCOS?
PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) is an endocrine disorder where the ovaries produce higher levels of testosterone. These male hormones prevent the release of an egg and they form cysts in the ovaries and get accumulated inside the ovary. This is the reason for irregular periods in women with PCOS conditions that eventually causes fertility problems in childbearing women.
Prevalence of PCOS in India
On average the prevalence of PCOS in India is around 22.5%. PCOS is becoming a common medical condition in India due to many factors. Even though exact cause is not determined, it is believed that following have been implicated for the prevalence of PCOS in India-
• Genetics
• Insulin resistance or glycogen intolerance
• Inflammation
These factors cause an increase in the male hormone levels that cause irregular periods or the menstrual cycles in women with PCOS.
The major differences between PCOS and PCOD
Incidence
• PCOD is the most common disorder and occurs in over 10% of the world’s women population. PCOS on the other hand is less frequent and occurs in 5% of women.
• Many people do not consider PCOD as a disease as it can be cured with proper diet and lifestyle changes. But PCOS is a serious illness that cannot be cured, so has to be prevented at the early stages of occurrence.
• Both PCOS and PCOD can cause fertility problems in childbearing women.
Cause
PCOS is an endocrine disorder, whereas PCOD is a metabolic disorder. Experts believe that the key cause for both disorders is the hormonal imbalance of the female reproductive organs. Genetic factor plays a major role in hormone fluctuation.
Symptoms
Symptoms of PCOD problems mainly include Hirsutism (hair growth on the face or body), hair loss, darker skin near creases, irregular periods, increased bleeding, abnormal weight gain, acne on the face or body.
PCOS symptoms include irregular periods, male pattern baldness, darkness near creases, headaches, unwanted hair growth like moustache, acne, skin tags, pelvic pain, obesity, infertility.
Complications
• Insulin resistance can lead to overweight, cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes in women with PCOS and PCOD problems.
• Endometrial hyperplasia will be caused due to irregular and lack of periods that lead to an increased risk of endometrial cancer or endometriosis.
• Infertility problems will cause risk factors like depression, stress, and anxiety in women who are trying hard to get pregnant. Infertility and miscarriages due to hormonal imbalances are some common PCOD problems after marriage.
• The risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer is high in women diagnosed with PCOS or PCOD.
Effect on body
- Fertility in women
PCOS and PCOD problems can affect the menstrual cycle and cause irregular periods. Also, fertility in women is one of the major PCOD problems after marriage.
- Metabolism
As PCOD is a metabolic disorder it causes overweight in women, also women with PCOS are increased in weight due to insulin resistance which together increases the risk of high blood pressure, cholesterol, heart diseases, and diabetes.
- Sleep apnoea
The sleep cycle is disturbed due to frequent breath difficulty during the night in women who are overweight.
- Endometrial cancer
The risk of endometrial cancer is more in patients with PCOS and PCOD problems as the lack of ovulation leads to uterine wall building (endometrial hyperplasia).
- Depression
The hormonal changes caused during PCOD and PCOS lead to symptoms like excessive hair growth that can affect social relations leading to stress, anxiety, and depression.
Symptoms of PCOD
The symptoms of the PCOD problems are less complicated and can be treated with medication, diet, and lifestyle changes.
• Obesity and abnormal weight gain
• Irregular periods
• Heavy bleeding
• Male pattern baldness
• Infertility in women
Symptoms of PCOS
The common signs and symptoms of PCOS can be prevented from progression but cannot be cured completely. These are-
• Irregular periods (Oligomenorrhea)
• Missed periods (Amenorrhea)
• Heavy menstruation (Menorrhagia)
• Acne on face or body
• Pelvic pain
• Hirsutism
• Weight gain
• Darker skin
• Cysts in ovaries
• Mood changes
• Skin tags
• Hairloss
• Infertility
Causative factors of PCOD
The causative factors of PCOD are still not clear. Researchers claim that genetics and lifestyle can have a vast impact. Researchers have found that PCOD is associated with excess insulin, production of male hormones, low-grade inflammation (the level of C-reactive protein and white blood cells), and genetics. Obesity, unhealthy lifestyle habits, and pollution are considered to be other factors for PCOD cause.
Causative factors of PCOS
The PCOS is caused by higher levels of androgens (male hormones) that prevent the release of ovaries and cause irregular periods.
Other causes are-
• Increased testosterone - The increased levels of insulin, luteinizing hormone causes excess release of male hormones. This affects ovulation leading to PCOS condition.
• Increased luteinizing hormone - Luteinizing hormone is secreted by the pituitary gland, helps in the ovulation, development of corpus luteum, and secretion of testosterone in males. An increase in luteinizing hormone increases the male hormones and causes imbalance.
• Increased prolactin level - Prolactin is the hormone that supports the production of milk after giving birth. The increased levels of this hormone cause a decrease in estrogen and cause hormonal imbalance.
• Hyperinsulinemia - Insulin is responsible for the maintenance of body glucose levels. Glucose is the main source of energy and becoming insulin resistant will cause hyperinsulinemia (increased blood sugar levels) that affects ovaries and stimulates male hormones secretion.
Diagnosis for PCOD
Your doctor will diagnose PCOD by physical examination or ultrasound.
• Pelvic examination: Your gynaecologist will physically check your reproductive organs for the presence of lumps, abnormalities, or growth.
• Ultrasound: An ultrasound scanning is conducted on each of the ovaries to detect the presence of cysts.
• Blood test: The blood tests will help your doctor to know the male hormone (testosterone) levels in your blood.
• Glucose tolerance test: An oral glucose solution is given to understand the ability of your body to handle that glucose load.
Your doctor may conduct the following tests during PCOD diagnosis-
• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol
• Anxiety and depression
• Obstructive sleep apnoea
Diagnosis for PCOS
Your doctor will diagnose bilateral polycystic ovary syndrome by medical examination. Your gynaecologist will review your medical history and assess your body weight and BMI (body mass index).
Additional blood tests and ultrasound tests are conducted for detailed analysis.
Blood tests
Blood tests will help to provide the best treatment for PCOD to women diagnosed with PCOS
Hormonal blood tests
Blood tests are conducted to assess the male hormone levels in your body. Blood tests of testosterone and free androgen index (FAI) will help to understand the complications of PCOS.
Other blood tests to diagnose PCOS problems are
• sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)
• dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS)
• androstenedione
Ultrasound
An ultrasound is done to get the image of the uterus, pelvis, and ovaries. The image shows cysts in the ovaries if present. It also detects endometrial thickness, which in irregular periods leads to womb cancer.
Transvaginal ultrasound
Transvaginal ultrasound is done only for women who are sexually active.
Abdominal ultrasound
This test will help to analyse the ovaries from outside through the stomach wall.
Management of lifestyle for PCOS and PCOD
Lifestyle changes will bring a great difference in women with PCOD and PCOS. These changes will be related to diet, physical activity, sleeping habits, alcohol, and cigarettes.
Diet for PCOS and PCOD
Diet you take is directly involved in the maintenance of body weight. The BMR for healthy females ranges from 18.5 to 24.9. If BMR exceeds more than 30, it is considered obese.
Over body weight is associated with PCOD and PCOS and can even lead to complications like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and increased blood pressure. Controlling the diet will help you improve insulin resistance, decrease weight, and improve the regularity of periods.
Take more protein like lean proteins, whole grain flours, and fibre foods like sweet potato, pumpkin, nuts, beans. Increase intake of leafy vegetables such as broccoli, spinach. Also avoid consumption of carbohydrates like rice, sugars. Replace white rice with brown rice. Consumption of fats like oil, dairy, and trans-fat can add to body weight.
Try using oils like avocados, nuts, and olive oil. Along with this observe the pattern of eating. It is better to eat multiple small meals than three large meals in a day. Drink plenty of water approximately 3 to 5 liters as water helps you feel full and reduce weight.
Physical activity for PCOS and PCOD
Physical activity reduces body fat and keeps you active throughout the day. Energy consumption helps to improve immunity and boost the pancreas to release insulin. Doing regular exercise for 30 minutes helps in maintaining ideal body weight.
Other physical activities like yoga, dance, workout, cardio, running, or swimming can also be preferred based on your choice and time. This will help to improve regular periods and solve fertility issues to some extent.
Diet with exercise is one of the best therapies to keep you active both physically and mentally during a disease condition. So, never neglect what you feed and what you do with your body.
Sleeping habits for PCOS and PCOD
Besides eating habits, sleeping habits need to be observed to maintain a healthy weight. Sleep apnoea and sleepiness during daytime are common disorders seen in women suffering from PCOS or PCOD. It is recommended to sleep at least 9 hours per day.
To fix these sleep issues you need to avoid caffeine after 2:00 PM, avoid alcohol in the evenings, avoid heavy meals or snacks for dinner. Try a warm bubble bath to maintain a relaxing bedtime routine. Never use electronic devices in the bed.
Alcohol and cigarettes for PCOS and PCOD
Alcohol and cigarette consumption will increase the production of androgens. Tobacco consumption is unhealthy and is prohibited in women with PCOS or PCOD. This metabolic syndrome will be exacerbated by smoking as nicotine worsens the androgen levels in women with PCOS and PCOD.
Cholesterol levels and hyperandrogenism will increase in smoking women more than in non-smokers.
Alcohol consumption is restricted in PCOS or PCOD women as it interferes with the medication. Alcohol is also believed to cause a temporary increase in oestrogen and progesterone levels and also disturb hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle.
Cutting alcohol will also assist to have a positive impact on lifestyle changes in PCOS and PCOD women.
Complications of PCOS
Complications of PCOS include-
• Excessive hair growth on face or body
• Acne
• Infertility in women or hard to get pregnant
• Numerous cysts in ovaries
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease and diabetes (increased blood sugar levels)
• Skin tags growth on face or body
• Hair loss due to stress
• Infertile eggs that do not ovulate
• Miscarriage or premature birth
• Endometriosis or uterine cancer
Treatment for PCOD and PCOS
Treatment for PCOD problems and for complications of PCOS include treatment for various symptoms of PCOS vs PCOD that help in hormonal balance or irregular periods.
Hair treatment
The hormonal imbalance of PCOS and PCOD can cause an increase in androgens or male hormones. This will lead to excess hair growth on the face in women. To treat hair growth and hair loss oral contraceptives like Yasmin, Co-cyprindiol, Dianette, Marvelon are used. Spironolactone is used for reducing hirsutism in PCOS or PCOD patients.
These medicines will suppress male hormone production in women with bilateral polycystic ovary syndrome and PCOD. Special creams are available to remove unwanted facial hair such as eflornithine cream. Or you can prefer waxing, plucking, shaving, threading, or laser hair removal treatments for pain-free and permanent solutions.
Surgery
Ovarian drilling is laparoscopic surgery for the removal of cysts in the ovaries that produce male hormones in women. Laparoscopy is advised to treat problems associated with fertility in women that do not respond to medicine. Hysterectomy is preferred in the case of cancerous cysts or endometrial cancer.
Medications
Numerous medicines are available to treat the common signs and symptoms of PCOS or prevent PCOD problems in future but there is no complete cure for the disease itself.
- Birth control pills
Using oral contraceptives or birth control pills help in preventing irregular periods and improving fertility chances in women. The risk factors of cancer are reduced with the use of contraceptive pills.
- Clomiphene or clomid
This medication will help in the regular and monthly release of eggs from the ovaries during ovulation. Letrozole can also be used for ovulation but is not licensed to treat PCOS. Metformin is used if clomiphene/clomid is not effective.
- Metformin
The use of metformin regulates glycogen intolerance in women suffering from type II diabetes along with PCOD or PCOS.
Metformin also encourages ovulation, reduces miscarriage, cholesterol, and the risk of heart diseases.
- Fertility treatment
Fertility treatments for females with PCOS or PCOD include IVF (In vitro fertilization), Artificial insemination. The egg is fertilized with the sperm in the lab and is transferred into the mother’s womb for implantation. This is the final and one of the best treatment options for PCOD problems or polycystic ovary syndrome if medications and surgery do not work.
Myths and facts
1. PCOS or PCOD cannot be treated
Depending upon the symptoms and early diagnosis, women with PCOS or PCOD can be treated. But it is not necessary for every woman to get treatment, as diet and lifestyle change can control hormonal changes in most cases.
2. Women with PCOS or PCOD cannot conceive
It is not true. Women with PCOS and PCOD problems can get pregnant with help of medication, diet, and lifestyle changes.
3. Losing overweight cures PCOD or PCOS
Weight loss diets like keto diet may help to reduce the severity of symptoms but it does not help to treat the disease. The reduced weight prevents you from further complications of PCOS like endometriosis.
4. PCOS is a rare disease
PCOS occurs in almost 20% of the world’s women population of childbearing age. And it is undiagnosed in half of the women due to lack of awareness. In many countries like India, women feel discomfort in talking about periods, female hygiene; it is considered shameless and taboo.
5. Irregular periods are PCOD or PCOS
There are many reasons for irregular, heavy, or missed periods like breastfeeding, thyroid disease such as hypothyroidism, uterine fibroids, excess physical activity, stress, pelvic inflammation, extreme dieting.
6. PCOD or PCOS means Polycystic ovaries
No, many women with PCOS or PCOD are not diagnosed with cysts. To have these disorders women need to fulfill three criteria- Androgen release, Irregular periods, Multiple follicles, or cysts in ovaries.
Natural Ways to Help Treat Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOD and PCOS)
1.Diet changes
Eating the right foods and avoiding certain ingredients may help you manage your symptoms. A nourishing diet can help regulate your hormones and your menstrual cycle. Eating processed, heavily preserved foods can contribute to inflammation and insulin resistance.
a) Balance carb and protein intake
b) Up your iron intake
c) Up your magnesium intake
d) Add in some fiber to help with digestion
e) Cut out coffee

2.Supplements
a) Vitamins
b) Cinnamon
c) Turmeric
d) Zinc
e) Evening primrose oil
f) Combined vitamin D and calcium

3.Adaptogen herbs
a) Maca root: The root of the maca plant is a traditional herb used to boost fertility and libido. Maca root may help balance hormones and lower cortisol levels. It may also help treat depression, which can be a symptom of PCOS.
b) Ashwagandha: It is also called “Indian ginseng.” It can help balance cortisol levels, which could improve stress and symptoms of PCOS.
c) Holy basil: It is also called Tulsi, addresses chemical and metabolic stress. It’s referred to as “queen of herbs.” Holy basil can help reduce your blood sugar, prevent weight gain, and lower your cortisol levels.
d) Licorice root: The root of the licorice plant contains a compound called glycyrrhizin, which has several unique properties. Licorice root has been suggested as an anti-inflammatory agent. It works to help metabolize sugar and balance hormones.
e) Tribulus terrestris: It has been shown to help stimulate ovulation and support healthy menstruation. It may also decrease the number of ovarian cysts.

4. Probiotics:
Probiotics don’t just help with your digestion and gut health. They can play an important role in treating PCOS. They can also reduce inflammation and regulate sex hormones like androgen and oestrogen.

5. Maintain a healthy weight

6. Balance your exercise

7. Practice good sleep hygiene

8. Reduce stress

9. Consider acupuncture:
Acupuncture may help PCOS by:
- increasing blood flow to your ovaries
- reducing cortisol levels
- helping with weight loss
- improving your sensitivity to insulin.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q. If a woman is overweight, will losing that excess weight help her to become pregnant?
A. It may, but there is no guarantee that it will. It is possible that weight loss could help in reducing insulin resistance, which could result in ovulation or improved ovulation. This would help in conception. Losing 10% of your body weight could be enough to improve symptoms.
Q. Can IVF help a woman with PCOS get pregnant?
A. Yes. These fertility treatments have helped many women with PCOS get pregnant and have babies. But not all women with PCOS will need IVF. Most women with PCOS will conceive with fertility pills without the need of expensive IVF treatments.
Q. Is it true that pregnancy cures PCOS?
A. Unfortunately, no. However, it is quite common for a woman with PCOS to have a cessation of symptoms while she is pregnant, and many women have improvement and more normal menstrual cycles after having been pregnant.
Q. Can one have PCOD and PCOS even if one is thin and lean?
A. Yes, she can. 5 percent of all lean women can have PCOS. 20 to 30 percent of PCOS are in women with average weight or lean.
Q. Is it a must to go to Gym for PCOD and PCOS?
A. Again not at all. Any form of physical exercise is good enough. One that you would like and hence would keep on doing as a regular lifestyle. Examples dancing/ cycling/ walking/ running/ sports- any form will do. Also does not need to be one form.