PCOS and PCOD: Are They Different?
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOD) are hormonal issues affecting your ovaries and exhibiting similar symptoms. Due to this, there is much confusion regarding these medical conditions.
While the average person might not be aware of the difference between PCOS and PCOD, the fact remains that these two conditions are different.
What is PCOS?
PCOS is a hormonal disorder that many women experience during their reproductive years. If you have PCOS, you may experience irregular or prolonged menstrual periods and/or excess androgen (male hormone) levels.
The ovaries may also develop cysts and fail to release eggs regularly.
What is PCOD?
Like PCOS, PCOD is also a hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age. PCOD is generally considered less severe than PCOS.
In women with PCOD, the ovaries generate immature or partially mature eggs. Over time, these eggs develop into ovarian cysts.
A woman is more likely to suffer from PCOD or PCOS if an immediate female family member, such as her mother or sister, also has the condition.
PCOS and PCOD: Common symptoms
The symptoms of PCOS and PCOD may differ from woman to woman, but here are some common symptoms:
- Irregular menstruation – Some of the most common symptoms of PCOD and PCOS are infrequent, irregular or long menstrual cycles. Women with PCOS or PCOD typically have less than 9 periods in a year, and their menstrual cycle is often more than 35 days.
Heavy bleeding is another common symptom. - Excess androgens – Androgens are male hormones, and women with PCOS and PCOD are likely to have higher levels of androgens. This may lead to excess hair in the body and face and male-pattern baldness. You may also experience severe acne if you have PCOD or PCOS.
- Polycystic ovaries – Women with PCOS and PCOD may have enlarged ovaries and cysts, leading to ovarian failure or dysfunction.
Differences between PCOS and PCOD
PCOS and PCOD are frequently confused as being the same or comparable conditions. Evidently, there are significant differences between the two conditions.
However, both polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are conditions involving ovaries and hormones. It is challenging to distinguish between the two because their symptoms are often similar. Females with the former condition have irregular or extended periods during the reproductive years. In this disease, ovulation is challenging, and cysts typically form in the ovaries, which prevent eggs from forming normally.
Both have a significant negative effect on fertility, making it more difficult to conceive a child. PCOD can be treated with prescribed medication and adopting a healthy lifestyle because its symptoms are controllable. Contrarily, PCOS has serious side effects that can result in diseases like endometrial cancer, breast cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
PCOS and PCOD Despite their differences, both infertility illnesses require early medical attention if you are planning a pregnancy. Contact a fertility specialist for a complete diagnosis and the most effective course of action.
There are a few differences between PCOD and PCOS, as given below.
- Frequency – More women suffer from PCOD than from PCOS. PCOS is not rare, but it is not as common as PCOD.
- Fertility – Most women with PCOD still have a high chance of conceiving naturally, as PCOD doesn’t have a major impact on fertility. However, in women with PCOS, infertility is a major concern. Even if you conceive naturally with PCOS, there is a high risk of miscarriage, complications, and premature birth.
- Health complications – Women with PCOD often don’t experience any major health complications due to the condition. However, if a woman has PCOS, there is a higher chance of her experiencing high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, heart disease, and endometrial cancer.
- Management – In many cases, the symptoms of PCOD can be managed by eating a healthy diet, exercising, and making some lifestyle changes. PCOS is a more serious condition and needs medical intervention for successful management and healthy lifestyle changes.
- Severity of symptoms – While both PCOS and PCOD have a few similar symptoms, the symptoms are more severe and pronounced in the cases of PCOS. Also, the symptoms of PCOS are more likely to manifest at a younger age than PCOD.
Wrapping up
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of PCOD or PCOS, get in touch with an experienced doctor at a state-of-the-art medical care facility. With proper medical treatment and lifestyle changes, women with PCOD or PCOS can lead normal lives and have biological children if they wish to.
To get the best diagnosis and treatment for PCOS and PCOD, visit Birla Fertility & IVF or book an appointment with Dr. Vinita Das.
FAQs
- Is PCOS or PCOD curable?
Even though they are not curable, PCOS and PCOD can be effectively managed with proper treatment.
- Which is more complicated, PCOD or PCOS?
PCOS is more complicated than PCOD and can drastically affect a woman’s quality of life if not managed properly.
- What causes PCOD or PCOS?
Hormonal imbalances and insulin resistance may cause PCOS or PCOD.
- Can females have PCOD problems after marriage?
Yes. There are PCOD problems that can arise after marriage. The significant impact is infertility, in a few cases, some women may face issues in getting pregnant.
