PCOD or PCOS is a condition that affects women’s ovaries, the reproductive organs that produce progesterone and estrogen hormones that help in regulating the menstrual cycle and also produce small amounts of hormones inhibin, relaxin, and male hormones called androgens.
Almost 10% of women in the world are suffering from PCOD. In comparison to PCOD women with PCOS produce higher-than-normal amounts of male hormones. This hormone imbalance causes them to skip menstrual periods and makes it harder for them to get pregnant.
Besides unpredictable hormonal behavior, this condition can trigger
- Diabetes
- Infertility
- Acne
- Excessive hair growth
It’s a fairly common disorder, but one with no exact cure.
What is PCOS Problem?
A medical condition known as polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) occurs when the ovaries of a woman produce a large number of eggs that are either partially mature or immature and eventually develop into cysts. As a result, the ovaries grow large and secrete a lot of male hormones (androgens), which can lead to infertility, irregular periods, hair loss, and abnormal weight gain. PCOD can be constrained by diet and way of life changes.
Common signs and symptoms of PCOD problems / PCOS?
Some females start seeing symptoms around the time of their first period, some women only discover when they have gained a lot of weight or trouble getting pregnant. The most common signs and symptoms of PCOD Problem or PCOS in females are:
- Irregular menstruation (Oligomenorrhea)
- Skipped or absence of menstruation (Amenorrhea)
- Heavy menstrual bleeding (Menorrhagia)
- Excessive Hair growth (face, body – including on back, belly, and chest)
- Acne (face, chest, and upper back)
- Weight gain
Causes of PCOS
- Excess insulin production: excess insulin levels in the body might increase androgen production (a male hormone which is very less in females) that causes difficulty with ovulation
- Excess androgen production: The ovaries produce abnormally excess androgen hormones that can lead to acne and hirsutism (hair growth on the face and body)
- Low-grade inflammation: As per the recent study, females with PCOS are having low-grade inflammation that causes increased levels of androgen production which can lead to blood vessels or heart problems.
Lifestyle modification and home remedies for PCOD / PCOS
- Maintaining healthy body weight: BMI (body mass index) ranges from 18.5 – 24.9 considered ideal and healthy for females, and above 30 is considered obese and not healthy. Maintaining a healthy body weight or weight loss help in improving overall body cholesterol levels
- Limiting carbohydrate consumption: If you have PCOD or PCOS follow a low-carb diet or complex carbohydrates diet that helps in maintaining insulin levels.
- Do regular exercise and be active: If you have PCOD or PCOS doing regular exercise and becoming active will help in regulating blood sugar levels and keep your weight under control.
Best possible treatment for PCOS?
The management of your individual issues, such as irregular periods, obesity, infertility, acne, or hirsutism, is the primary focus of PCOD/PCOS treatment. Most of the time, treatment starts with making changes to your diet, exercise, and weight loss. Losing only 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can assist with managing your period.
Treatment will depend on the symptoms like hair growth, acne, and metabolic disorders. This includes:
- Regulate the menstrual cycle with medication to treat hormonal imbalance and insulin resistance
- Ovulation induction (the quality and quantity of the ovulation) through oral medicines and injections
- Infertility treatment through fertility drugs
- Lowering excessive hair growth