What is the Difference Between PCOS and PCOD?

In my capacity as a healthcare worker, I commonly come across patients who are confounded by what PCOS and PCOD actually mean. Today, I would like to talk about these two health problems that are prevailing across the globe and greatly affect women. In this, We will be taking the not-so-popular medical terms "Polycystic Ovary Syndrome" and "Polycystic Ovarian Disease" and then defining, signifying the symptoms, the genesis of and the ways to cure them.

Understanding PCOS and PCOD

But first, I would like to note that even though PCOS and PCOD are frequently called together, they do not mean the same thing exactly. PCOS is the term that is more common in the medical world, as well as the term that one can hear more often in some specific locales. I think we can make it easier to understand when I talk about both matters.

Both appear when the ovaries release many eggs at the same time and the eggs remain unripe, leading to them being formed into cysts, hence the name the word Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Yet, this can also lead to follicular cysts developing in the ovaries that, in turn, are functional and the eggs are expelled through them in Polycystic Ovarian Disease.

What is PCOS?

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a multifactorial abnormal hormonal syndrome that appears very frequently in women in their fertile years. The medical picture includes the lack of regular menses, an excess of androgen production, and small cystic motifs on the ovaries.

What is PCOD?

Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) is a spline that is used to designate the condition in which a woman's ovaries make many immature or partially mature eggs that with time turn into cysts. This situation can lead to the enlargement of ovaries and hormonal imbalances.

Key Differences Between PCOS and PCOD

Although these terms are sometimes misused in some cases, there is a difference among them that I want to point out. Please refer to the exact definitions as provided below:

1. Intensity of the Symptoms: There are many such cases in which people use these words Esp PCOS with PCOD or PCOS instead of PCOD. PCOS, being the full-blown disorder of reproduction, endocrine, and metabolic systems is the one that pervades a person through the hole and creats a dangerous life situation for her. Though, PCOD occurs only in the ovaries and affects only the reproductive system.
2. Ovulation: It can even lead to something like the complete absence of it or rare ovulation. Despite the fact that PCOS causes irregular ovulation or even anovulation, the menstrual cycle is usually on track in PCOD but it may be irregular and may be late.
3. Cyst Formation: PCOS is the result of polycystic ovaries caused by immature follicles that cannot release eggs. PCOD is a condition where ovaries may grow in size and get multiple cysts which are however functional and can release eggs.
4. Imbalance of Hormones: PCOS is represented by more severe and dramatic hormonal disturbances mostly in the form of high androgen (male hormone) levels. Although there may appear changes in the hormonal balance in PCOD the effect of the treatment is weaker and the changes are fewer in such cases.
5. Long-term Health Risks: It is a medically demonstrated fact that PCOS can shorten a woman's lifespan through causing such chronic diseases as diabetes type 2, heart disease, and endometrial cancer. While PCOD might be associated with fewer health risks in a situation where the patient is appropriately managed.

Common Symptoms of PCOS and PCOD

Despite the differences between PCOS and PCOD, they share the majority of the symptoms that diagnose a particular case. As someone who studied medicine and works as a health professional, I am always on the lookout for the following signs when diagnosing these conditions:

• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Chronic, prolonged, or heavy periods
• Unwanted hair growth on the face, chest, or back (hirsutism)
• Pimples or shiny skin
• An unnecessary weight gain or/and problems with getting rid of the
• Excess body weight gain or/and problems with eliminating the excessive weight
• Thinning of hair or hair loss on the scalp
• Inability to conceive
• Emotional ups and downs
• Lethargy

Causes of PCOS and PCOD

Every time I meet with my patients, I explain to them that the exact causes of PCOS and PCOD are not fully known. However, a few factors that may lead to their development are as follows:

 

Genetic Factors

I've learned that it is a common thing that the patients' family members also suffered from these diseases. Hence, the woman whose mother or sister has PCOS or PCOD is at a higher risk of either disease herself. So the easiest diagnosis is to look for a family history of this.

Hormonal Imbalance

In both PCOS and PCOD, hormonal imbalances are present and overproduction of androgens (male hormones) is the most common one. In addition, this imbalance leads to the disturbance in the process of ovulation among women.

Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance, a condition typical of many PCOS sufferers, also affects some women with PCOD. This condition is indicative of insufficient insulin activity, which leads to excessive androgen production and additional troubles.

Lifestyle Factors

In my practice, I have seen that such things as obesity, inactivity, and poor eating habits can make matters worse in both conditions.

Diagnosis of PCOS and PCOD

The detection and diagnosis of PCOS and PCOD are very difficult due to the similarity of symptoms. To the best of my knowledge, I generally choose the following techniques:

Medical History and Physical Examination

The practice I undertake involves first gathering a detailed medical history and then the patient's examination. In this way, I can obtain a better understanding of the patient's symptoms and I can also look for signs that are revealed during the physical examination like, for example, excess hair growth or acne.

Blood Tests

Ways of obtaining information about hormone levels, such as androgens, estrogen, and progesterone, would be carried out using blood tests. Apart from that, we will also run several other tests as for example the test for insulin resistance and cholesterol levels.

Ultrasound

An ovarian ultrasound can be obtained that shows several cysts, a condition being typical for both disorders. However, it is the cysts' distribution and quantity that can bring the distinction between PCOS and PCOD.

Treatment Options

First of all, the treatments for both PCOS and PCOD are similar and focus mainly on alleviating the symptoms and correcting underlying hormonal imbalances. Standard procedures are as follows:

Lifestyle Changes

I always stress the point of maintaining a healthy body weight through diet and physical activities. Consistently, even the minute decrease in the body weight can make the symptoms and hormone levels better.

Medications

Depending on the case, I may use the following:

• Birth control pill for the desired adjustment of the menstrual cycle and diminution of androgen levels
• Metformin to enhance insulin sensitivity
• Anti-androgen medications to deal with inappropriate hair growth and acne
• Fertility medications for those women who want to have a baby
  
  

Supplements

Certain patients benefit from the use of the supplement inositol due to its positive effects on insulin sensitivity and ovulation.

Hair Removal Treatments

Likewise, for those who have too much hair growth, I usually suggest laser hair removal or electrolysis.

Psychological Support

As a healthcare professional, stress the significance of getting mental health support. It is an experience of all the leased or leased individuals with the condition of PCOS and PCOD. Consequently, I usually propose grief counseling or empowerment groups in order to let women learn coping skills related to the emotional side of this issue.

Long-term Management and Prognosis

Treating the problem of long-term management, I counsel my patients just by saying that the PCOS, as well as PCOD, are chronic medical conditions whose treatment involves continuous care. Nonetheless, along the way, proper healthcare coupled with the right mood constitute the bulk of the prescribed treatment. The prognosis for PCOD is commonly better than it is for PCOS due to the greater risk of PCOD complications to long-term health.

For PCOS:

The affirmation that the condition of PCOS can bring about is an increase in the rate of:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Endometrial cancer
• Obesity

Doing regular check-ups and going through the needed screenings early are of vital importance for the purpose of detecting necessary changes and operating accordingly.

For PCOD:

The most probable ways are that PCOD can be the % of fertility and cause irregular menstrual cycles, but, in general, it does not mean that it has the level of long-term health risks as PCOS. Conversion of the menstrual cycle to a healthy monthly flow is attainable with the right treatment regimen and proper lifestyle habits.

Conclusion

In the time of my professional practice, I came to the understanding that although PCOS and PCOD have similarities, they are two different conditions with a different level of severity and future impacts. PCOS is a more complicated syndrome due to multiple body systems, while PCOD is mainly about the ovaries and the reproductive system.

It is of the highest importance for women to make an inquiry and seek proper diagnosis and treatment in case they suspect that they might have either condition. Treatment at the initial stage can highly improve symptoms and reduce long-term health risks, especially in the case of a PCOS attack.

Each woman's case of PCOS or PCOD is distinct with everything. What succeeds in one case will not do horribly in another. For this reason, I always place in focus the necessity of a trustful partnership with healthcare providers intending to develop a customized treatment plan.

In case you are experiencing symptoms that may be related to PCOS or PCOD, it is a good idea to get a consultation with a healthcare professional. With proper care and management, you will take control of your health and live a long good life.