PCOD vs PCOS
PCOD (Polycystic Ovary disease)
and PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) are the most common hormonal
disorder affecting women, associated with ovaries.
Ovaries are very important parts of
female reproductive system; every normal female has two ovaries in the
lower half of her abdomen. Both ovaries release ova into uterus, every
month. Ovaries also produce many hormones, for instance, Estrogen,
usually known as female hormone and Androgens or testosterone, known as
male hormones. PCOD (Polycystic Ovary disease) and PCOS (Polycystic
Ovary Syndrome) are the diseases associated with ovaries.
PCOD
PCOD is a situation, when we can see an
enlarged ovary and small follicular cysts, which have 0.5—1.0 cm
diameter. This is the disease developed by the hormonal imbalance, which
lead to collection of mature eggs in the ovary, as they cannot be
discharged. These immature follicles are called as cysts. This is a
vicious cycle, some cysts leads to more cysts and this cycle goes on.
Although reasons were from person to person, but insulin, diet, hormonal
disturbances and stress are some cause, which leads to PCOD. Sing and
symptoms of this disease include, irregular periods, hair pattern which
resembles male patterns, storage of fat at abdominal area, and
infertility. FSH and LH levels are important for the diagnosis of
disease along with pelvic ultrasound. PCOD does not exactly mean
infertility, many women can bear child even with this disease. For the
treatment of PCOD, patients are given progesterone pills, which help in
balancing the hormones.
PCOS
PCOS is another condition of ovaries,
when patient is affected in more than one ways. In this condition, more
than twelve follicles are produced every month, but as they all are,
immature so no ovum is releases and resultantly, ovaries start producing
higher level of testosterones, which leads to hormonal imbalance. One
forth population of women are having multiple follicles in ovaries, but
only 10% women suffer from PCOS. Symptoms for this syndrome are
irregular periods, weight gain, Acne; difficulties in pregnancy and
thinning of hair, but symptom vary from person to person which usually
develop in late twenties. Blood tests and ultrasound scan are the two
methods to diagnose the disease.
Differences and Similarities
PCOD and PCOS are the conditions
associated with malfunctioning of ovaries. Symptoms like irregular
periods are common in both cases, but PCOS leads to thinning of hair
whereas in PCOD a female develop hair pattern like males. Both are
caused by hormonal imbalance but for PCOS there is no exact known reason
for this disease but we can link it with inheritance, like PCOD. PCOD
is not very serious if we compare it with PCOS, which is more severe
form of this syndrome. Both contribute to the infertility, and hormonal
pills and injections are used to treat both.
In Short:
PCOS and PCOD are
one of the known causes of infertility in women. Irregular periods and
weight gain are the major symptoms in women, showing these ovary
disorders. They have nothing to do with cancer, and with regular
treatment, they can be cured. These sings appear in early twenties but
actually considered seriously, when a woman fails to conceive.
