Polycystic Ovary Disease “PCOD”
"Sometimes it's hard to see the rainbow when there have been endless days of rain."― Christina Greer
Periods are for the most part an uncomfortable experience for most of the women that have natural complications. You know there is something worse than that? Without any doubt it is PCOD. Polycystic ovary disease is a hormonal disorder in women. In this disease, women have small cysts in their ovaries. It is very prevalent as this disease is present in one in ten women. This disease causes infertility in women and you may become obese and have excessive hair growth on your body especially on your face if you have got PCOD. It affects women’s hormone levels to a significant extent. It also affects women’s bodies a lot.
Symptoms of PCOD
PCOD has many easily observable symptoms and because of them, it is easy to have an idea that you might have PCOD if you know about those appearing signs and symptoms. Surprisingly even with such apparent symptoms most of the women spend at least 3 to 5 years with PCOD with getting it properly diagnosed or seeking proper medical help for it. Some of the most common symptoms of polycystic ovary disease which are discussed below here:
- Irregular periods or no periods at all
- Difficulty to get pregnant
- Weight gain
- Obesity
- Thinning hair and hair loss from the head
- Oily skin and acne
- Excessive hair growth on face, chest, back, and buttocks
- Headaches
- Darkening of skin
Causes of PCOD
Doctors don’t know that what are the exact causes of PCOD and they have a largely accepted view that a high level of male hormone production in women is the major contributor to PCOD because it prevents the ovaries to produce normal egg and female hormone. Genes, insulin resistance, and inflammation may be a cause of excessive androgen levels.
Long-Term Complications
PCOD when it remains undiagnosed or treated for a longer period, it can damage your body a lot. PCOD makes your body more prone to below-mentioned diseases:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
Treatment of PCOD
Treatment of PCOD is largely based on changing your lifestyles. You need to do exercises to lessen the severity of symptoms. Make sure that you choose any treatment after proper consultation with your doctor. Some treatment options are given below here:
- Use medications (Clomiphene, letrozole, metformin, gonadotropins)
- Do proper exercise
- Reduce fast food
- Birth control
- Hair removal medicines
- Surgery
The best way to manage major symptoms of PCOD is to reduce weight. It has been observed that losing only 5% of your excessive weight can help restore normal period cycles and body functioning.
Effects of PCOD
PCOD can affect your life in many ways. The main effects of PCOD are discussed below:
- Infertility
- Metabolic syndrome
- Sleep apnea
- Endometrial cancer
- Depression
The best diet for PCOD
Having a well-planned is the best diet that can help you cope and manage the symptoms of any disorder. It is most important for any disorders to avoid the dietary ingredients that trigger the disorder and add more of the healthy ingredients to your diet. You should take a proper and healthy diet that includes the following:
- Rich in fish
- Poultry
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Low-fat dairy products
Exercises for PCOD
Exercise helps balance weight and if you have PCOD you should do moderate exercises like jogging, swimming, brisk walking, cycling, and swimming, etc. These exercises help you to maintain the required insulin level and reduce the risk of developing any heart diseases and diabetes type 2.
Comorbidity
You may get infected with the following diseases due to polycystic ovary syndrome:
- Heart diseases
- Diabetes type 2
- Inflammation
- Obesity
- Mood disorder
- Metabolic syndrome
- Insulin resistance
- Sleep Apnea
- High blood pressure
The reason for high comorbidity and complications is that hormones are disturbed which are a very important communication channel of the body. If you want your body to keep on functioning properly even if you have PCOD make sure you focus on your diet, lifestyle, and weight.