What is PCOS or PCOD? – Dr. Bandita Sinha

What is PCOS or PCOD? – Dr. Bandita Sinha

PCOS is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or Polycystic Ovarian Disease. This is the common endocrinal problem seen in reproductive age group. This has become an epidemic nowadays. This has become an epidemic nowadays. It is a spectrum of symptoms that include absence of periods or amenorrhea, weight gain or obesity and there is large number of pimples or acne, facial hair growth and on sonography we can see multiple small cysts in the ovary. That is why the term PCOD or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Syndrome or Disease has been given, this is a condition that happens because of lifestyle factors this is caused because of lifestyle factors. This is basically a lifestyle disease that is caused by lot of stress, absence of physical activity and indulging in too much of processed food or junk food. As of now we see more number of young girls, especially the teenage and the young adults are suffering from this disease. So it is very important to understand why this has become epidemic in a country suddenly. As we all know India is the diabetic capital of the world and PCOD is a prediabetic condition, which gradually goes towards diabetes. We need to understand why this happens and why this happens and why it is increasing now. The most important thing is stress which gives rise to many disturbance in our pituitary and ovarian cycle and to add on to it, the processed food, the lack of physical activity, this creates some hormonal imbalance, which leads to hyperandrogenic condition, that is there is excess amount to male hormones in the female body and there is decline in the female hormones. As a result what happens is there is a miscommunication between the master gland pituitary, and the ovaries so what happens is the ovaries do not produce an equal amount of eggs. Instead of eggs, they produce small cysts in the ovaries. That is why this condition is called as polycystic ovaries. As a result of anovulation or if there is no production of eggs. There is imbalance in the menstrual cycle, leading to stay periods ad gradually there is no periods at all. This condition is also dependent on insulin, these patients have a high insulin in the body, which is called as hyperinsulinemic state which can lead to diabetes later on. As a result of this there is a lot of weight gain lot of androgens give rise to facial hair, acne and weight gain. Apart from this, this can also cause lot of mood changes, irritability, mood swings. So together there is a whole spectrum of symptoms that we can see in these patients.