Many people get confused between PCOS and PCOD. It is not surprising since they may have heard both terms used interchangeably.

Well, PCOS and PCOD are not the same. PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, while PCOD is Polycystic Ovarian Disease. Both of these are related to ovaries, and symptoms can also be similar, but still, they are not the same.

Let us tell you about the difference between PCOS and PCOD:

In PCOS, the whole endocrine system is affected. PCOD occurs due to hormonal imbalance.

PCOS can cause metabolic syndrome and is a little serious when compared to PCOD. PCOD is a lifestyle condition and can be managed through lifestyle and dietary changes.

Women with PCOS are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, obesity, and even endometrial cancer. There are no such complications associated with PCOD.

PCOD doesn’t cause fertility issues as such. PCOS can cause infertility in women.

Both conditions can be challenging, but lifestyle modifications like dietary changes, balanced exercise, and adequate sleep for around 7-8 hours a day can help manage the hormone levels in the body and thus prevent PCOS and PCOD from happening.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is caused by an imbalance of androgens. Common symptoms include ovarian cysts, irregular menstrual periods, and hair on the face and body.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects a woman’s hormone levels.

PCOS also causes hair growth on the face and body, and baldness. And it can contribute to long-term health problems like diabetes and heart disease.

What is PCOS?

PCOS is a problem with hormones that affects women during their childbearing years (ages 15 to 44). Between 2.2 and 26.7 percent of women in this age group have PCOS.Many women have PCOS but don’t know it. In one study, up to 70 % of women with PCOS hadn’t been diagnosed .

PCOS affects a woman’s ovaries, the reproductive organs that produce estrogen and progesterone — hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. The ovaries also produce a small amount of male hormones called androgens. The ovaries release eggs to be fertilized by a man’s sperm. The release of an egg each month is called ovulation.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), which are produced in the pituitary gland, control ovulation.

FSH stimulates the ovary to produce a follicle — a sac that contains an egg — and then LH triggers the ovary to release a mature egg.

PCOS is a “syndrome,” or group of symptoms that affects the ovaries and ovulation. Its three main features are:

• Cysts in the ovaries
• High levels of male hormones
• Irregular or skipped periods

In PCOS, many small, fluid-filled sacs grow inside the ovaries. The word “polycystic” means “many cysts.”

These sacs are actually follicles, each one containing an immature egg. The eggs never mature enough to trigger ovulation.

The lack of ovulation alters levels of estrogen, progesterone, FSH, and LH. Progesterone levels are lower than usual, while androgen levels are higher than usual.

Extra male hormones disrupt the menstrual cycle, so women with PCOS get fewer periods than usual.

PCOS isn’t a new condition. Italian physician Antonio Vallisneri first described its symptoms in 1721.

What causes it?

Exact cause of PCOS is not known. It is believed that high levels of male hormones prevent the ovaries from producing hormones and making eggs normally.

Genes, insulin resistance, and inflammation have all been linked to excess androgen production.

GENES

Studies show that PCOS runs in families. It’s likely that many genes — not just one — contribute to the condition.

INSULIN RESISTANCE

Up to 70 percent of women with PCOS have insulin resistance, meaning that their cells can’t use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone the pancreas produces to help the body use sugar from foods for energy .When cells can’t use insulin properly, the body’s demand for insulin increases. The pancreas makes more insulin to compensate. Extra insulin triggers the ovaries to produce more male hormones. Obesity is a major cause of insulin resistance. Both obesity and insulin resistance can increase risk for type 2 diabetes.

Inflammation

Women with PCOS often have increased levels of inflammation in their body. Being overweight can also contribute to inflammation. Studies have linked excess inflammation to higher androgen levels.

Common symptoms of PCOS

Some women start seeing symptoms around the time of their first period. Others only

discover they have PCOS after they’ve gained a lot of weight or they’ve had trouble getting pregnant.

The most common PCOS symptoms are:

Irregular periods. A lack of ovulation prevents the uterine lining from shedding every month. Some women with PCOS get fewer than eight periods a year or none at all.

Heavy bleeding. The uterine lining builds up for a longer period of time, so the periods you do get can be heavier than normal.

Hair growth. More than 70 percent of women with this condition grow hair on their face and body — including on their back, belly, and chest . Excess hair growth is called hirsutism.

Acne. Male hormones can make the skin oilier than usual and cause breakouts on areas like the face, chest, and upper back.

Weight gain. Up to 80 percent of women with PCOS are overweight or have obesity .

Male pattern baldness. Hair on the scalp gets thinner and may fall out.

Darkening of the skin. Dark patches of skin can form in body creases like those on the neck, in the groin, and under the breasts.

Headaches. Hormone changes can trigger headaches in some women.

 

How PCOS affects body

Having higher-than-normal androgen levels can affect fertility and other aspects of health.

Infertility – To get pregnant, ovulation is necessary . Women who don’t ovulate regularly don’t release as many eggs to be fertilized. PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility in women.

Metabolic syndrome

Up to 80 percent of women with PCOS are overweight or have obesity . Both obesity and PCOS increase your risk for:

• High blood sugar
• High blood pressure
• Low HDL “good” cholesterol
• High LDL “bad” cholesterol

Together, these factors are called metabolic syndrome, and they increase the risk for:

• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Stroke

Sleep apnea – This condition causes repeated pauses in breathing during the night, which interrupt sleep. Sleep apnea is more common in women who are overweight — especially if they also have PCOS. The risk for sleep apnea is 5 to 10 times higher in women who have both obesity and PCOS than in those without PCOS .

Endometrial cancer. – During ovulation, the uterine lining sheds. If a female doesn’t ovulate every month, the lining can build up.A thickened uterine lining can increase risk for endometrial cancer .

Depression: Both hormonal changes and symptoms like unwanted hair growth can negatively affect emotions. Many with PCOS eventually experience depression and anxiety.

How PCOS Is Diagnosed

PCOS is diagnosed in women who have at least two of these three symptoms :

• High androgen levels
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Cysts in the ovaries

Symptoms like acne, face and body hair growth, and weight gain.

A pelvic exam can look for any problems with ovaries or other parts of reproductive tract.

Blood tests check for higher-than-normal levels of male hormones.

Blood tests to check cholesterol, insulin, and triglyceride levels to evaluate your risk for related conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

An ultrasound uses sound waves to look for abnormal follicles and other problems with your ovaries and uterus.

Pregnancy and PCOS

PCOS interrupts the normal menstrual cycle and makes it harder to get pregnant. Between 70 and 80 percent of women with PCOS have fertility problems.

This condition can also increase the risk for pregnancy complications. Women with PCOS are twice as likely as women without the condition to deliver their baby prematurely.

They’re also at greater risk for miscarriage, high blood pressure, and gestational diabetes .

However, women with PCOS can get pregnant using fertility treatments that improve ovulation. Losing weight and lowering blood sugar levels can improve your chances of having a healthy pregnancy.

Diet and lifestyle tips to treat PCOS

Treatment for PCOS usually starts with lifestyle changes like weight loss, diet, and exercise.

• Losing just 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can help regulate your menstrual cycle and improve PCOS symptoms .

Weight loss also helps to

1. Improve cholesterol levels
2. Lower insulin
3. Reduce heart disease and diabetes risks

• Any diet that helps lose weight can help However, some diets may have advantages over others.
• Studies comparing diets for PCOS have found that low carbohydrate diets are effective for both weight loss and lowering insulin
• A low glycemic index (low GI) diet that gets most carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains helps regulate the menstrual cycle better than a regular weight loss diet (21).

• A few studies have found that 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise at least 3 days a week can help women with PCOS lose weight. Losing weight with exercise also improves ovulation and insulin levels (22).
• Exercise is even more beneficial when combined with a healthy diet. Diet plus exercise helps you lose more weight than either intervention alone, and it lowers risks for diabetes and heart disease .

The bottom line

PCOS can disrupt a woman’s menstrual cycles and make it harder to get pregnant. High levels of male hormones also lead to unwanted symptoms like hair growth on the face and body.

Lifestyle interventions are the first treatments for PCOS, and they often work well.

Weight loss can treat PCOS symptoms and improve the odds of getting pregnant. Diet and aerobic exercise are two effective ways to lose weight.

Homoeopathic medicines

Hardeep Homeopathy Centre is the best place for the treatment of females suffering from PCOD AND PCOS. PCOS and PCOD are not one sided diseases those can be cured with self medications Thorough history is required to treat the patient and prescribing her medicine. Routine follow up is necessary.

Some of medicines are – Calcarea carb
Pulsatilla Sepia Natrum Mur
Sulphur Graphites Thuja
Janosia Ashoka Natrum carb