PCOS OR PCOD?

What is the slight difference between PCOD and PCOS?

All women have two ovaries that release an egg alternately every month. The ovaries produce androgens or male hormones in minute quantities as well.

PCOD:

It is a condition where the ovaries release a lot of immature or partially-mature eggs which eventually turn into cysts. Some of the common symptoms are abdominal weight gain, irregular periods, male pattern hair loss or baldness and infertility. In this condition, the ovaries usually get enlarged and secrete large amounts of androgen that can cause a lot of disturbances with a woman’s fertility and in her body. The best treatment for PCOD often looks at reducing the severity of such symptoms.

PCOS:

In women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), the ovaries produce higher levels of androgen than usual, which interferes with development and release of the eggs. Some of the eggs develop into cysts, which are the little sacs filled with liquid. Instead of being released during ovulation, these cysts build up in the ovaries and at times even get enlarged.

But PCOD is not as serious as PCOS, which is a more severe form of this syndrome.

Symptoms:

PCOS has a number of symptoms which include:

Weight gain, especially around the belly (abdomen)
Missed periods, irregular periods, very light periods or no periods at all
Excess body hair, including the chest, stomach, and back (hirsutism)
Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
Patches on nape or elbows
Axillary Hair
Fatigue
Sleep-related problems.
Depression/anxiety
Mood Swings
Headache
Dark or thick skin patches on the back of the neck, in the armpits, and under the breasts

PCOD has similar as above symptoms with some major differences like:

Periods are irregular rather than none at all.
Heaving bleeding; as periods are irregular so there’s a buildup on the uterine wall.

Diagnosis:

Your health care provider will take note about your medical history and your symptoms. You will also have to take a physical exam which will likely include a pelvic exam. This exam checks the health of your reproductive organs, both inside and outside your body.

Some of the symptoms of PCOS/PCOD are similar to those caused by other health problems. Thus, you may also have to take tests such as:

Ultrasound: This test uses sound waves and a computer to create images of blood vessels, tissues, and organs. This test is used to look at the size of the ovaries and see if they have cysts. The test can also look at the thickness of the lining of the uterus (endometrium). In PCOS, the ovaries maybe 1.5 to 3 times larger than normal and characteristically have 12 or more follicles per ovary measuring 2 to 9 mm in diameter. In PCOD, the ovaries may not appear large but they will have follicles around 5 to 6 per ovary which will be relatively smaller.
Blood tests: These look for high levels of androgens and other hormones. Your health care provider may also check your blood glucose levels. And you may have your cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked.

Causes:

The exact cause of PCOS/PCOD is not clear but some conditions have been observed like:

Many women with PCOS/PCOD have insulin resistance which means that the insulin in the body is not able to pick up the glucose from the blood. Therefore, as a compensation, the body produces even more insulin which leads to the rise in the levels of insulin (Hyperinsulinemia) in the body. This high levels in insulin stimulate the ovary to become bulkier and produce abnormal amounts of hormones which may further cause PCOD/PCOS .

Now there are 3 main reasons why insulin resistance happens:

Excess exposure to processed, refined and packaged food.
Lack of physical activity or sedentary lifestyle which leads to an abnormal fat and muscle ratio this results in abnormalities in insulin metabolism.
High level of stress in the body.

Also, Genetic reasons like women with positive family history of diabetes, high blood pressure or obesity they have the higher possibility of having PCOD/PCOS.

Risk factors of PCOD/PCOS:

Women with PCOS are more likely to develop certain serious health problems. These include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, problems with the heart and blood vessels, and uterine cancer. Women with PCOS often have problems with their ability to get pregnant (fertility).

Treatment:

There is no cure for PCOD or PCOS. However, both diseases can be managed easily. While PCOD is often managed with the help of the right kind of diet and exercise, PCOS involves the treatment of several different factors causing the syndrome rather than just one like specific medications, lifestyle changes, etc. Women are also prescribed birth control (hormonal pills) for treating the irregular periods and bringing back their menstrual cycle to its normal state.

That being said, making lifestyle modification plays a major role in relieving symptoms of both the problems. Adopting a good diet, managing weight, fighting stress and engaging in good exercise on a regular basis can help deal with the symptoms on the long run.

Dietary recommendations:

Your diet must AVOID:

Sugary drinks(ex. carbonated drinks.)
Fried foods
Processed meats (ex. sausages, hamburgers, and hot dogs)
Refined Carbohydrates (ex. white bread, pasta, and pastries)
Processed food (ex. cakes, candy, sweetened yogurt, ice creams with excess sugar)
Dairy products.

Your diet must INCLUDE:

It is recommend to have a diet that has a low GI (glycemic index) and foods that have anti-inflammatory properties such as fatty fish, leafy greens, and berries. Some foods that are part of a healthy PCOS diet are:

Fatty fish (ex. tuna, sardines, mackerel, and salmon)
Broccoli and cauliflower
Legumes and lentils
Leafy greens (ex. spinach, kale, and artichokes)
Nuts& seeds
Dark chocolate in moderate quantities
Berries
Spices (ex. turmeric and cinnamon)

The process of seed cycling has proved in helping managing PCOD/PCOS.

Seed cycling is a remedy that is claimed to balance hormones by regulating the hormone estrogen in the first half of your menstrual cycle and the hormone progesterone in the second half.

The most common method instructs women to eat:

1 tablespoon each of freshly ground flax and pumpkin seeds per day for the first 13–14 days of their menstrual cycle, which is known as the follicular phase.
During the second half of their cycle, which is known as the luteal phase, seed cyclers eat 1 tablespoon each of ground sunflower and sesame seeds per day until the first day of their next period when their cycle starts again.