PCOD Problem Solution and Treatment

PCOD (polycystic ovarian disease) is the most common reproductive endocrine disorder which can lead to infertility in women. The principle cause of PCOD problem is imbalance in women sex hormones which in turn disrupts ovulation and hence results in subfertility.

PCOS affects between 8% and 20% of reproductive-age women worldwide.(1)

Most women are diagnosed during their twenties or thirties, but PCOS may affect girls as young as 11 who haven’t even had their first period.(2)

An Indian study conducted by the department of endocrinology and metabolism, AIIMS, shows that about 20-25 per cent of Indian women of childbearing age are suffering from PCOS.

While 60 per cent of women with PCOS are obese, 35-50 per cent have a fatty liver. About 70 per cent have insulin resistance, 60-70 per cent have high level of androgen and 40-60 per cent have glucose intolerance. (3)

We asked Daniel Boyer, MD at Farr Institute, to explain the difference between PCOS and PCOD. He said, “PCOS is an endocrine disorder in women that occurs when ovaries release a high male hormone that makes them larger. PCOD: A condition in the ovaries caused by hormonal imbalances that make ovaries release eggs prematurely that turn into cysts later.”

What is PCOD problem in females

Ovaries are responsible for producing the women’s sex hormones – oestrogen and progesterone. They also produce some amount of male sex hormones i.e. testosterone (androgens).

Polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) is a result of an imbalance in these sex hormones.

In PCOD, ovaries make slightly more androgens which in turn inhibits ovulation and increases the risk of subfertility in such women.

In healthy women, one egg grows and become dominant each month which ovulate and when fertilized with the sperm, results in pregnancy. However, in PCOD women, there are multiple follicles in the ovary but none of them mature to become dominant follicle.

Hence, regular ovulation that occurs every month in normal healthy women, does not occur in women with PCOD problem. This anovulation results in subfertility.

Multiple follicles of 2-8mm in size (>12 follicles in each ovary) give rise to string of pearl appearance on ultrasound.

Not only this, women with PCOD have a higher risk of developing other chronic health conditions like hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, anxiety, depression, sleep apnea, heart attack, endometrial, ovarian and breast cancer.

Women who have PCOD have a higher rate of miscarriage, gestational diabetes, and premature delivery.

What is PCOD?

Poly-cystic ovarian disease (PCOD) as the name suggests- there are many (Poly) follicles (fluid filled sac) formed in the ovaries. This usually happens due to hormonal imbalance.

A healthy ovary produces women sex hormones and a small amount of male hormones (androgen).

The other name for PCOD or PCOS (Poly cystic ovarian syndrome) is Stein-Leventhal syndrome.

Kire Stojkovski, a practicing medical doctor at Farr Institute, explained to us what is PCOD, “Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOD) is a hormonal disorder that causes the ovaries in a woman to enlarge and also forms a cyst in the outer parts of the ovaries.”

PCOD Problem

It is a disorder which causes subfertility among women. PCOD usually occurs when normal menstrual cycles are disrupted. As regular ovulation occurring every month does not occur in PCOD women, theses women face difficulty in conceiving spontaneously.

In India alone more than 18% women are affected by polycystic ovarian disease.

PCOD is a set of symptoms that result from a hormonal imbalance affecting women and girls of childbearing age.

Women with PCOD usually have at least two of the following three conditions:

1. Absence of ovulation, leading to irregular menstrual periods or no periods at all
2. High levels of androgens (a type of hormone) or signs of high androgens, such as having excess body or facial hair
3. Multiple small follicles ranging from 2-9 mm( > 12follicles in each ovary) in one or both ovaries

Some women diagnosed with PCOD have the first two conditions listed above as well as other symptoms of PCOD but do not have cysts on their ovaries.

Who is at risk for PCOD?

Women are at higher risk for PCOD if they:

1. Have a mother or sister with PCOD
2. Are obese

PCOD symptoms

Here are the common symptoms that may be a soft signal for women with PCOS. Most symptoms begin shortly after puberty but they can also develop during the late teens and into early adulthood.:

1. Acne and excess hair growth (due high level of androgens, the male hormone). Often women get thick hair on face. This is quite visible hair on chest, belly, and back too.
2. Consistent weight gain and trouble losing it. A study conducted by the department of endocrinology and metabolism, AIIMS, has shown that about 60 per cent of women with PCOD are obese. (4, 5, 6)
3. Thinning of the hair on the scalp
4. Women with PCOD typically have irregular menstrual cycles or amenorrhea. They often have fewer than nine periods per year. Some women may have no periods at all. While others may have very heavy bleeding.
5. Fertility problems. Many women with PCOD have trouble getting pregnant.
6. Polycystic ovaries
7. History of ovarian cysts. Women are likely to develop PCOD if their mother or sister also has the condition.
8. Elevated blood pressure level
9. Mood disorders
10. Recurrent Miscarriage

It is not necessary that woman suffering from PCOD will exhibit all or any of these symptoms. But, these are the most common and classic symptoms that hints something wrong with the ovaries.

Strangely, polycystic ovaries are also seen in 20% (approximately) of women with normal menstrual cycles.

We wanted to know what an expert says on the symptoms of PCOD. Kire Stojkovski, a practicing medical doctor at Farr Institute, explained, “Symptoms of PCOD include monthly periods that last longer than normal. Also, a female looking more masculine than feminine can be a sign of PCOD. This is due to excess male hormones in a woman.”

PCOD problem and pregnancy

As we know eggs mature in the sacs (also called follicles) within ovaries and are released during the menstrual cycle.

If a woman has PCOD, the eggs do not mature and are not released from ovaries. Instead, they may turn into small cysts causing enlarged ovaries.

Due to the lack of mature eggs women suffer anovulation (absence of ovulation) making them prone to infertility.

While some women with PCOD will have all the classic symptoms and signs, many have what we call “occult PCOD”. This is a strange scenario where some patients with PCOS do not show any of the classic symptoms.

They appear slim, have regular menstrual cycle, visually normal ovaries (on ultrasound), and no hirsutism but still have PCOD.

Such patients may face super-ovulation where they produce large number of follicles. Many of them suffer from recurrent pregnancy loss (recurrent miscarriages).

PCOD Test

Initially a blood test is performed to check the level of female (LH/FSH) and male hormones (testosterone). Ultra sound is also carried out to check the appearance of the ovaries, number of follicles in the ovaries and thickness of the lining of the uterus.

To rule out the other conditions that generate PCOS like symptoms below tests may also be recommended by the doctors: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Prolactin, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (hormones related to adrenal function)

Pcod Problem Solution: How to Cure PCOD

We asked Daniel Boyer, the MD at Farr Institute, to give us his insights into controlling PCOD. He said, “A healthy lifestyle may help control this condition. These changes may include regular exercise lowers blood which ensures that the body makes enough insulin hormone, reduces weight as it improves your condition and also makes your medications more effective, and a diet low in carbohydrates that ensure low blood sugar levels.”

Barring few exceptional cases, the treatment of PCOD is not as difficult as it may seem. One can opt for any of the below mentioned PCOD solutions:

Natural PCOD Problem Treatment

Wonder how to cure PCOD problem naturally? Well, there is no such thing as a cure, but the condition can be corrected or reversed to quite an extent with diet and lifestyle changes.

It usually takes 6 months of persistent life style & diet changes to see the benefits. The result varies from person to person.

Life style modification

Up to 5-10 per cent of weight loss (~ 4 to 7 Kgs) will help improve the hormonal balance and regularization of the menstrual cycle. Regular exercise with healthy diet helps in weight reduction.

PCOD among women, especially adolescents, is becoming an urgent public health problem that needs timely intervention and appropriate treatment.

Pcod Diet

Women with Pcos often have high level of insulin which in turn causes the ovaries to produce more androgens. Hence, a diet high in refined carbohydrates (sugary and starchy food) should be avoided.

Avoid junk and processed food and add whole foods in your diet.

Stick to a diet that contains 95 percent whole foods including vegetables, nuts, lentils and leafy greens.
Consume fibre and iron rich foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, spinach, etc.

Many people who overcame PCOS also claim to have benefitted from Apple Cider Vinegar as part of their routine diet.

Medicines

Ovulation inducing drugs are available which should be taken under the supervision of infertility experts, these drugs help in achieving ovulation and also helps in regularizing their menstrual cycle.

Insulin sensitizing drugs are also available which increase the sensitivity of peripheral tissue to insulin and thus decreasing insulin level in body which further results in lowering down the testesterone (male hormone) level in body.

These drugs either alone or in combination with ovulation inducing drugs help in achieving ovulation.

FAQs