Health Blog Details

Do you think you suffer from PCOD? Nearly 4-10%  worldwide are affected by it, and as a result, PCOD has become a quickly emerging and major public health concern with adverse effects on the reproductive, metabolic, and psychological health of women worldwide.

What is PCOD (Polycystic Ovary Disorder)?

So, what is PCOD problem in females? It is a medical condition seen in women where the ovaries produce immature eggs and over time become cysts. It is a hormonal condition that affects around 5-10% of women in their fertile ages. Symptoms of this condition differ in each woman, but if left untreated, they can lead to adverse health complications like difficulty getting pregnant, diabetes, obesity, etc.

As of now, there is no particular test that can be done to confirm PCOD. Doctors usually recommend pelvic exams and check hormone levels through blood tests. They also check the appearance of ovaries and the uterus through an ultrasound to confirm suspicions.

What are the Common PCOD Symptoms?

If you have PCOD at a young age itself, its symptoms start developing in the first cycle of menstruation at puberty. PCOD can also develop later due to lifestyle changes. There are many symptoms of PCOD. Here are some of the common ones

1. Increased androgen levels

2. Irregular periods

3. Delayed or failed ovulation, resulting in difficulty to get pregnant

4. Excessive hair loss or thinning of hair

5. Weight gain

6. Acne

What is the Reason for PCOD Problem? 

So far, science has not been able to pinpoint a particular reason as the cause of PCOD. However, there are some contributing factors, and most of them are co-related.

Family History: Research has not yet discovered a single genetic cause for PCOD, which has led to the medical opinion that it is far more complex than that and likely to involve multiple genes. However, there is a 50% possibility that a woman whose immediate female relatives suffer from PCOD may be affected by it.

Insulin Resistance: About 85% of women with PCOD are resistant to insulin on some level. The problem with being insulin resistant is that your body does not use the available insulin in your body to keep your glucose levels stable. But it keeps producing more because the body requires it. This excessive insulin in the body leads to the production of androgen in the body. Excessive androgen leads to irregular ovulation and irregular periods. Insulin resistance is also caused due to unhealthy lifestyles and weight gain issues causing PCOD. 

It is clear that leading a healthy lifestyle, maintaining regular physical activity, and having nutritious food can help improve the symptoms of PCOD

Health Conditions Related to PCOD

If left untreated, PCOD can be the cause of some severe complications like: 

1. Metabolic diseases like high BP, various forms of diabetes, cholesterol, etc

2. Infertility and miscarriages

3. Sleep apnea

4. Uterine bleeding

5. Liver inflammation

6. Endometrial cancer

Can PCOD be cured permanently? What is the most effective PCOD treatment available to us?

The most concerning question for people who have been affected by it is, “is PCOD problem curable?” Unfortunately, there is no set cure for PCOD. But you can take medication and make lifestyle changes to manage the symptoms, and if you do it well, you can ensure that the condition does not affect your quality of life. 

1. Managing your diet can go a long way in relieving you of the symptoms of PCOD, losing even as little as 5% of your body weight can help reduce symptoms significantly.

2. Quitting the sedentary lifestyle and choosing to stay active can help you stay healthy and eventually reduce the PCOD symptoms.

3. Regular monitoring of health and hormone levels to prevent PCOD symptoms from coming back.

There are also many medications and surgical options that help in managing the symptoms of PCOD. 

Medicines

1. Progestin - a synthetic progestogen to correct amenorrhea or the absence of periods. 

2. Birth control pills to reduce Androgen levels in the body.

3. Letrozole and clomiphene to induce ovulation.

4. Metformin to reduce insulin resistance.

Surgeries

1. Immature follicle aspiration to reduce the number of immature follicles and improve ovulation.

Laparoscopic ovarian drilling to help lower testosterone levels produced by the ovaries.

Conclusion

PCOD is a condition that we are still learning about. Even though there are no particular reasons that we can point out as the cause of this condition, we can see that it is a combination of genes and lifestyle diseases that results in PCOD. And since there is no particular cause, we have yet to find an all-in-one solution to this problem. 

However, symptoms of PCOD can be managed through lifestyle changes and medications, and surgeries if necessary. We have the best gynecology hospital in the country that has been helping women navigate through the condition over the years. If you are showing symptoms of PCOD, never hesitate to consult a specialist and get a proper diagnosis.