Polycystic ovarian disease PCOD, also referred to as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common complications found among women nowadays, especially under the age bracket of 40 years. It is a very common hormonal imbalance that occurs due to the irregularity of the menstrual cycle or no menstrual cycle at all or due to the presence of excessive male hormones in the body of women. As the name suggests, polycystic ovarian disease refers to a condition where the ovaries are enlarged and have multiple small cysts in it but in some cases, it is possible that a woman does not face the problem of having cysts in the ovary and still has this disease. So, the symptoms of this disease are not the same for all the women going through it.
What are the symptoms?
Some of the most common symptoms which should alert one to make a visit are as follows –
1. Menstrual Imbalance – Prolonged irregularity in the menstrual cycle is a serious complication. Though the irregularity in periods may be normal in the starting, but with time, the delay prolongs, leading to no periods at all.
2. Ovulation issues – Women experiencing difficulties in conceiving may get them screened for this condition as ovulation may be prevented due to development of PCOS causing infertility.
3. Excessive Hair growth – As the condition can increase the levels of testosterone in the women’s body, it can lead excessive hair growth on the upper lip, lower abdomen, and chin and around the nipples. It can also cause excessive acne on face and male pattern baldness in women.
4. Dysfunctional bleeding – PCOD decreases the progesterone levels in the woman’s body, this is due to issues in ovulating properly and this further leads to growth stimulation of the endometrial tissue which helps in lining the uterus resulting in dysfunctional bleeding in women. This issue can lead to more severe problems like uterine cancer as well if not taken care properly.
5. High insulin levels and obesity – It has been observed by the medical researchers and doctors that at least half of the number of women suffering from PCOD are overweight and also, insulin resistance is seen in some who are free from the issue of obesity however some can have both the issues to deal with.
What should you ‘Do’ if having PCOD?
Though advanced treatments are available for PCOD, but adapting to certain changes will increase the efficiency and outcomes of the ongoing treatment procedure.
1. Exercise Regularly – Being under treatment does not make you eligible for bed rest, but instead, a more active lifestyle including 30 minutes walking can make wonders in the treatment outcomes.
2. Have plenty of sleep – Getting a proper amount of sleep can help you feel better and refreshed as well as it can help in reducing weight if you are facing the issue of obesity. Remember that your eight hours sleep is more than important for you as not having a proper amount may result in imbalance in the hormone which deals with the hunger further leading into unwanted consumption of unhealthy food items available in hand.
3. Take Proper medications – Skipping the prescribed medicines can lead to the ineffectiveness of the whole medical treatment based on the pills intake and it can also be dangerous for your health and the disease you are going through.
4. Maintain proper weight – it is better to maintain your proper weight and avoid complications. You can do this by regularly exercising, by eating healthy food and maintain a balanced diet instead of unhealthy food intake as it will just make situations difficult for you.
5. Keep track of periods – Keep a thorough track of your menstrual cycle because irregularity in periods or missing periods can be a matter of concern for the people suffering from PCOD. It can lead to endometrial cancer or other major complication and if you keep track of your periods, it will be easier to report such problems to the doctor and it will help the doctor to deal with it more efficiently.
6. Smoking cessation and drinking – When you are suffering from PCOD, you are prone to develop new and severe disease along with your already damaged health and smoking and drinking habits can increase your levels of getting caught by diseases like diabetes, heart diseases, etc. So, you need to quit these harmful habits for a healthier life ahead and to efficiently treat PCOD.
7. Identify the symptoms of possible depression – women who are suffering from PCOD are more prone to have depression than other people. So, if you notice any kind of symptoms that are indicating towards the issue of “Depression” then don’t take it lightly. These symptoms can be excessing sleeping and eating habits, excessive weight loss or gain, imbalance or difficulty in sleeping and eating habits, frequent sadness for a longer period of time, etc.
PCOD is one of the challenging diseases that can affect you in many ways if not taken care properly but this should not stress you out because if you go through treatment in a disciplined way with adoption of a healthy way of living life then it is far easier to get out of it without increasing complications.