PCOD : Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
PCOD (Polycystic Ovarian Disease) is a hormonal disease. Approximately 10% women are suffering from PCOD globally. It’s effect the ovary due to that immatureand large numbers egg productionstarts. its also disblance hormons like estrogen and progesterone. Most of the time it’s effect preagnency but it also effect differently from person to person.
PCOD Symptoms
PCOD symptoms always vary from person to person but fe symptoms are common:
- Irregular Periods: Irregular periods due to lack of ovulation is a common symptom of PCOD.
- Excess Hair Growth: On the face, chest, or back (hirsutism).
- Acne: Persistent, severe acne due to high androgen levels.
- Weight Gain: Difficulty losing weight, especially around the abdomen.
- Thinning Hair: Hair loss or male-pattern baldness.
- Infertility: Difficulty conceiving due to irregular ovulation.
- Darkened Skin Patches: Especially around the neck, groin, or under the breasts.
Reason for PCOD
1. Unhealthy Food habits :
In PCOD reasons Unhealthy foods habits comes on top. Food play a important role in our body, as we all need food to survive but at present Unhealthy food habits help to occur many diseases in our body and PCOD is one of them.
2. Hormonal imbalance :
Hormones play a major role in it. estrogen and progesterone this 2 hormones are primarily responsible for it.
3 STRESS :
Stress levels effect badly in our physical and mental health. It’s stimulate different types of hormones in our body , and reduce the productivity of happy hormones.
4. Genetic :
It is more likely to arise in families. In many instances, the patient inherited it from their ancestry.
5. Lifestyle :
we live our life its effect in our mental and physical health. Lifestyle has a major impact on it. It have been seen that lifestyle dis-blance increase the chances of PCOD. lack of sleep and exercise can invite it.
6. Insulin Resistance :
Insulin helps to absorb glucose for energy. In this, cells become resistant to insulin, causing the body to produce more insulin. High insulin levels stimulate the ovaries to produce more androgens, exacerbating its symptoms.
What difficulties does PCOD face?
Polycystic Ovarian Disease patiants faces several physical, emotional challenges. Here are the main ones:
1. Irregular Menstrual Cycles
Delayed, missed, or very frequent periods due to hormonal imbalance is one of the mejor challenges in this. Also difficulty tracking ovulation, especially if trying to conceive.
2. Fertility Issues
No ovulation or irregular ovulation make it difficult to get pregnant with the higher risk of pregnancy complications and miscarriag.
3. Hormonal Imbalance
Elevated male hormones (androgens) can cause acne, pigmentation, nwanted hair growth on face and body, scalp hair loss or hair thinning.
4. Weight Gain
Many women with PCOD have insulin resistance, bad food habits and life style which leading to belly fat, unwanted weight gain.
5. Mental Health Concerns
Mental health concerns is one of the biggest challenges in this. Patiants mostly suffer with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, body image issues etc.
6. Difficulty Losing Weight
Trouble losing weight despite diet and exercise due to insulin resistance, bad food habits and life style etc.
7. Long-Term Health Risks
If its not control then PCOD can increase risk of many health issue like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol problems, endometrial cancer etc.
8. Unhealthy Food Cravings & Fatigue
Mood swings, fatigue, and cravings can result from blood sugar rises and crashes.
Treatment for PCOD
PCOD (Polycystic Ovarian Disease) is treatable. In many cases patients have treated it at home, changing their food habits and lifestyle, but doctor advice is very important here. Here's a breakdown of common treatment options:
Lifestyle Changes (First Line of Treatment)
First Line of Treatment is maintaining a healthy lifestyle. To maintain healthy diet need to avoid sugar, refined carbs, and processed foods. Exercise is very mandatory, at least 30 minutes exercise a day helps to maintain weight, also 5-10% weight loss can restore ovulation and improve symptoms.
Consult a Doctor
If you have irregular periods, difficulty conceiving, or symptoms like excess hair on face or body, or acne then its better to consult a doctor.
Medications
Medications is one of the step to control PCOD, it also regulates periods and reduces symptoms like acne and hair growth, help for weight loss and ovulation. For women who are trying to conceive; these stimulate ovulation and help in conceiveing. Also Reduce male hormone effects like acne and excess hair etc.
Food Habit Changes
Bad food habits invite many health issues, and PCOD is one of them. Homemade healthy food is good for them, and it’s always advisable to avoid fast food.
Natural & Home Remedies
As a natural home remedy, spearmint tea (helps lower testosterone levels), cinnamon (improves insulin sensitivity), inositol (myo & d-chiro), vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids may help.
Ovarian Drilling (in rare cases)
A minor surgical procedure to trigger ovulation if medication fails.