What is PCOD Problem in Females?

Ok so PCOD is becoming a big thing now a days among girls and women. It stands for Polycystic Ovarian Disease, and honestly, a lot of us don’t even realise we have it until something weird happens with our body. Like missing periods or sudden weight gain. Some girls even find out about it when they’re trying to get pregnant and nothing works.

So what is it actually? Basically, in PCOD, a woman’s ovaries start producing a lot of immature eggs. These eggs don’t fully grow and they end up becoming small cysts inside the ovaries. Because of this, ovaries get swollen and also start producing more of male hormones (called androgens). Which is not normal for a female body.

This hormone mess-up causes a lot of problems like acne, hair fall, irregular periods, mood swings and even unwanted hair growth on chin or chest. It really sucks, to be honest.

PCOD and PCOS – same or not?

This is actually confusing for lot of people (even I used to think it’s same). PCOD and PCOS are similar but not exactly same.

PCOD is more common and not as serious. In PCOD, your ovaries are a bit lazy, but you still ovulate sometimes, and many women with PCOD get pregnant naturally too.

PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is more serious. It’s not just about ovaries, it messes with your whole metabolism. Women with PCOS usually have higher chances of diabetes, heart problems and more difficulties in getting pregnant. So like PCOD is kind of like a warning signal, and PCOS is next level.

Why PCOD happens?

Honestly, doctors still don’t know the exact reason why some women get PCOD and others don’t. But there are few things that are connected to it:

• Genetics – if your mom or aunt has it, chances are you might get it too.

• Bad eating habits – too much junk food, sugar, cold drinks etc mess up hormones

• Stress – not sleeping well, overthinking, anxiety… all that plays a part

• Lack of exercise – Sitting all day, no physical activity adds to it.

• Hormonal imbalance – That’s basically the main thing.

Also, many women with PCOD have something called insulin resistance. That means your body doesn’t use insulin properly and that causes weight gain and more hormonal chaos.

How do you know you have PCOD?

So PCOD shows up in different ways for different girls. Some girls have super irregular periods, like once in 2 or 3 months. Others have periods that don’t stop properly. Some have major acne even in their late 20s or 30s. Here’s some common symptoms:

• Periods coming late or not at all

• Weight gain, specially around tummy

• Acne that won’t go away

• Hair growing on face or chest (which can be very upsetting tbh)

• Hair thinning from scalp

• Mood swings, anxiety or feeling low

• Trouble getting pregnant

If you have like 2-3 of these, it’s a good idea to get checked by a gyno.

Getting diagnosed

To find out if you have PCOD, doctor will probably ask you about your periods and check if you have symptoms. Then they might do:

• Ultrasound to see if your ovaries have cysts

• Blood test to check hormone levels

• Maybe even insulin and thyroid check just to be sure

It’s not very painful or anything, but yeah kinda scary when you hear the word “cyst” for the first time.

Can it be cured?

Ok here’s the thing – PCOD doesn’t really have a cure. Like you can’t take a tablet for 10 days and it’s gone. But it can be managed. A LOT of girls live normal healthy lives with PCOD if they take care of food, weight, stress and all that.

So don’t panic if you’re diagnosed with PCOD. It’s not like life is over or anything.

How to manage it?

Doctors usually say to fix your lifestyle first. Medicine comes later. Here’s what helps:

1. Eat clean – more veggies, fruits, protein, less sugar, less oily stuff

2. Exercise daily – even walking 30 mins can help. Yoga is great too.

3. Lose weight – Even losing 4-5kgs can help balance hormones.

4. Sleep on time – body heals when you sleep well

5. Reduce stress – easier said than done, I know, but try meditation or journaling

They might also give you birth control pills to regulate your period. Or Metformin to control insulin. If you want to get pregnant, they may give ovulation medicines. But again, this is based on person to person.

Any home remedies?

Yeah some people swear by natural stuff. It doesn’t work for everyone, but might help along with other things:

• Methi water (fenugreek) in morning

• Cinnamon powder – good for blood sugar

• Spearmint tea – may reduce facial hair

• Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) – mix with water, empty stomach

Also Ayurvedic things like Ashwagandha, Shatavari etc – but pls talk to a proper doctor or expert before trying these.

PCOD and mental health

One thing that’s not talked about enough is how PCOD affects your mind. When you have acne all the time, or gain weight no matter what, or your periods are messed up – it really affects your confidence. Some girls feel very low, anxious, even depressed. And that makes the problem worse because stress causes more hormone issues.

So it’s important to take care of mental health also. Talk to someone, join a support group, or even see a therapist if needed. You’re not alone.

Final words

PCOD is super common today. Literally 1 in 5 girls have it, and many don’t even know. It’s not something to be ashamed of. It’s just your body’s way of telling you to slow down and fix things.

Don’t ignore symptoms like irregular periods or sudden weight gain. Small changes like walking, eating better and managing stress can really help. And even if you’re trying to get pregnant – don’t lose hope. Many women with PCOD have healthy babies too.

Be kind to yourself. PCOD is not your fault. Just take one step at a time