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About PCOD/PCOS
PCOD (Polycystic Ovarian Disease) is a hormonal condition that affects about 5%–10% of women, especially during their reproductive age. In India, approximately 9%–22% of women are affected by PCOD. In a healthy body, various hormones work in harmony to ensure the smooth functioning of all systems.
In PCOD, a woman’s hormones become imbalanced or go out of sync. This can lead to various problems such as irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, weight gain, acne, and more. If left untreated, this disorder may increase the risk of serious health issues in women, such as heart disease and diabetes.
What is PCOD/PCOS?
PCOD stands for Polycystic Ovarian Disease, a condition caused by hormonal imbalance. Ovulation is a phase in the menstrual cycle during which an egg is released from a woman’s ovary.
The ovaries also produce small amounts of androgens, which are male reproductive hormones. In PCOD, this hormonal imbalance leads to an increased production of androgens. This can cause irregular or delayed periods and the formation of cysts in the ovaries.
In some cases, this disorder may also lead to a lack of ovulation, which can result in difficulty in conceiving or infertility in women.
How does it form?
Typically, a woman’s ovaries store female hormones as well as eggs. In a normal menstrual cycle, several small fluid-filled sacs called follicles develop in the ovaries. Each follicle contains an immature egg, but usually only one follicle becomes dominant, matures, and releases an egg during ovulation. The remaining follicles naturally break down over time.
However, problems begin when hormonal balance is disturbed. In such cases, hormones like luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which are released by the pituitary gland, may become imbalanced. This disruption can affect normal ovulation. As a result, the eggs may not mature properly or may not be released, leading to the formation of multiple small fluid-filled cysts in the ovaries. This condition can cause symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycles, weight gain, acne, mood changes, and difficulty in conceiving.
PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is a hormonal and metabolic disorder. It is not simply a more severe form of PCOD, but a broader condition that affects the body’s hormonal balance. In PCOS, there is often an increase in androgen (male hormone) levels, which can interfere with ovulation and reproductive function. It may also lead to symptoms such as irregular periods, excess hair growth, acne, and hair thinning in some cases.
Unlike earlier beliefs, PCOS is not rare or irreversible. It is a manageable condition, and symptoms can often be controlled with proper lifestyle changes, diet, and medical treatment.
Causes
Symptoms
The exact cause of PCOD is still unknown. It is a hormonal disorder and various reasons contribute to it. Some of the factors associated with PCOD are:
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Heredity
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Obesity
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High levels of inflammation
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High production of male hormones
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Unhealthy lifestyle
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Poor diet
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Lack of proper nutrition
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Pollution
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Excess Insulin
Many women do not even realize that they are suffering from PCOD. It is very important to pay attention to these symptoms for an early diagnosis of the problem.
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Irregular Periods
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Excessive Facial and Body Hair
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Mood Swings
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Acne
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Sudden Weight Gain
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Oily Skin
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Heavy Bleeding
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Hair Thinning
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Diabetes
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Skin Darkening
DIAGNOSIS
Some of the tests your doctor may prescribe you are:
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Imaging Tests such as Ultrasound to get a clear visual of the enlarged ovaries and the multiple cysts on its walls
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Blood tests to check hormone levels, fasting cholesterol, glucose tolerance and triglyceride levels.
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Clinical Tests such as olechomo, aneroia
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Chemical Markers such as LH, FSH, Prolactin levels.
Essential Nutrition Required in PCOD
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Nutrition and diet play a major role in curing any disorder. Include the following nutrients in your daily diet to get rid of PCOD naturally.
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Vitamin B6 – It helps to maintain the hormone balance and is the key to control PCOD. Found in almonds, wild rice, milk, yogurt, eggs, Brussels sprouts, spinach, and soybeans.
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Vitamins B2, B3, B5, and B6 – Are particularly useful for controlling weight. Found in yeast, red meat, milk, eggs, beans, and green vegetables.
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Vitamin B5 – It helps to control fat metabolism and is helpful in weight loss. Found in avocados, yogurt, eggs, meat, and legumes.
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Vitamin B6 with B2 and B3 – Are necessary for normal thyroid hormone production. Found in chicken, turkey, tuna, salmon, Lentils, sunflower seeds, cheese, brown rice, and carrots.
PCOD and Pregnancy
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If your PCOD is under control, you can easily get pregnant. Women with PCOS and PCOD conceive naturally until the problem is too severe. However, while planning your pregnancy, do keep in mind that people with PCOD have limited ovarian capacity. The number of healthy eggs is considerably lower than other women who do not have PCOD.
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Therefore, if you have PCOD, it is advisable to plan an early pregnancy. Advancing age affects the quality of the eggs and may lead to more complications in your case. Consult your gynecologist and plan accordingly.
How to prevent it?
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Certain changes in lifestyle and diet can help manage it. Below are some ways to manage the condition of PCOD:
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Eat a healthy diet
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Avoid sugar and carbohydrates
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Eat more high fibre foods
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Eat lean protein-rich food
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Exercise regularly
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Be physically active
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Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables
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Avoid junk food and saturated fats
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Avoid estrogen boosting foods
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Sleep for at least 8 hours
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Practice yoga
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Keep yourself busy
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Manage stress better
PCOD/PCOS SPECIALISTS DOCTORS
Dr. ABCD
MBBS,
10 yrs of experience
Dr. ABCD
MBBS,
10 yrs of experience
Dr. ABCD
MBBS,
10 yrs of experience
Non-Surgergical Interventions
Non-surgical options largely include
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Dietary modifications: The first suggestion in PCOD and PCOS is always dietary modifications. Stop junk food. Stop packaged food items. Stop excessive intake of carbohydrates and white bread. Eat healthily, eat fresh, eat local. Especially, eat a lot of fresh green vegetables and home cooked food.
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Exercises and weight loss: Continuously work towards your health and get your BMI in control. Stay active and lose weight. Keeping your weight in check can drastically normalize your health and mood. Some of the yoga asana you could practice are:
Sitting badrasan, sleeping badrasan, bhujangasana, sarpasana, anulom vilom and kapalbhati. Some asanas that can help you relax during periods are: vishpanda bhav, anitya bhavana and shavasana. -
Medicines: Medicinal treatment differs in different cases. It primarily depends on if/ if not you want kids. Women seeking childbirth may be prescribed: Antiandrogens and fertility drugs.
Whereas, women not desiring childbirth may be prescribed :
Hormone Birth control pills/ SOS medicine (meprate 10 mg) and at times, – antiandrogens.
Surgical Treatment
Surgically, we have the option for ‘laparoscopic ovarian drilling’. Here, your doctor uses a laser to puncture the places where your ovary is producing male hormones. However, because of its probable risk of permanent damage to the ovaries, it is suggested only to women who have tried everything else but none worked.
It is a small operation performed under general anaesthesia. As the body slowly goes numb and you lose consciousness, your surgeon makes a tiny incision (keyhole sized) around your ovaries to insert a laparoscope. A laparoscope is basically a tiny hollow tube with a camera and light on its end. With this lens to understand the exact areas where the ovary is producing androgens, your surgeon uses electrocautery or a laser to puncture and destroy those specific parts and restore ovulation. Once the problem areas are lasered, the site is stitched back with dissolvable sutures and the surgery is completed.