Recently many women stated to talk about these two terms, “PCOD” and “PCOS“, are often used in women’s talks, which results in an assumption that these are just different names for the same condition. In reality, they are different things, which both affect the ovaries and hormones but in different ways. Separating the differences of these from each other makes the treatment, recognition of symptoms, and overall health easier.
What Is PCOD?
PCOD refers to Polycystic Ovarian Disease. In this case, the ovaries produce numerous immature eggs that later on develop into small lumps. Ovaries become swollen eventually. Most of the time, stress, food, lifestyle, and a slight hormonal imbalance can be the reasons for PCOD.
The common symptoms are:
- Irregular or heavily delayed menstruation.
- Light weight gain.
- Oily skin with occasional acne.
- Hair thinning.
Besides that, PCOD is seldom the reason for infertility. Most women can get pregnant naturally if they just change their lifestyles.
What Is PCOS?
PCOS: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a very serious state in women. Besides an ovary-related problem, it is actually a hormonal and also metabolic disorder. The key characteristic of the women with PCOS is the presence of excessive levels of androgens (this stands for “male” hormone) which cause lack of ovulation and the involvement of different body systems.
The main symptoms:
- Instable menstrual cycle or absence of menses.
- Hirsutism (extreme hair growth on face and body) Severe hair loss from the scalp.
- Obesity which is extremely difficult to lose.
- Blackening of the skin (acanthosis nigricans)
- Difficulty in conceiving
Moreover, PCOS is most probably going to be accompanied by insulin resistance which, in turn, is a major cause of Type 2 diabetes, high blood cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome.
PCOD vs PCOS:
Here is a quick evaluation:
| Feature | PCOD | PCOS |
| Type of condition | Ovarian disorder | Hormonal & metabolic syndrome |
| Hormonal imbalance | Mild | Significant (high androgens) |
| Ovulation | Occurs regularly for most | Often irregular or absent |
| Fertility impact | Minimal | Can hinder fertility |
| Metabolic issues | Rare | Common (insulin resistance) |
| Severity | Generally mild | More serious, long-term condition |
How Hormones Play a Role
PCOD is a disorder where hormones are slightly out of the normal range – just enough to disrupt egg maturity and cause cysts. While PCOS disrupts the entire hormonal system and particularly when insulin and androgen are taken into account. This is why PCOS symptoms are often more severe, e.g., stubborn acne or serious health risks.
How Are They Related to Fertility?
PCOD: Most women can still ovulate; though, it might not be regular as always. Mostly pregnancy is possible with some diet and lifestyle changes.
PCOS: The period cycle can be tremendously unbalanced or, in some cases, completely absent, therefore, conceiving also becomes difficult. Sometimes, hormone therapy or fertility treatment might be required.
Ways to balance Them
PCOD case:
Follow a diet plan. Be substantially active through regular exercise. Try to control your stress levels and start to do meditation, yoga, or whatever you like. Sustain your body weight at a healthy level. If your doctor recommends, take a mild hormone medicine.
Almost all women with PCOD bring about a notable change in their condition solely through lifestyle changes.
Strict diet and exercise to lose weight or to keep it off should be followed. If periods are irregular medication should be taken in order to regulate them. Treat insulin resistance properly if you are suffering from it. Take hormone therapy only when it is regulated by your doctor. If you want to get pregnant use fertility treatments. PCOS is more complicated and requires more long-term care, mostly to reduce the risk of serious health problems.
When do You Need to See a doctor?
If you feeling any of the symptoms mentioned below, it would be better to good to get a medical advice asap:
- Extremely irregular menstrual cycles.
- Unexplainable rapid changes in weight.
- Hirsutism (excessive hair growth) on the body and face and severe hair loss.
- Difficulty in conceiving.
- Persistent acne or painful periods.
It is always better and gives you more opportunities to avoid health complications if you get checked early.
Summary
While PCOD and PCOS sound quite similar, they are very different in fact. PCOD is mostly a mild condition which responds well to lifestyle changes i.e. healthy eating and exercise. PCOS is a complex condition which requires medical intervention and can gradually affect the whole body. Knowing the difference between these two will make you a better protector of your health and thus, be able to get the right help when you need it.