PCOD - The Unknown Variable in Fertility Equation

Imagine dealing with a disease with no cure! Along with having spent years without being diagnosed of it, and finding out about it when it has only gotten worse. On addition to it, imagine dealing with snide insensitive remarks for enduring symptoms and changes that you just can’t control. PCOD is a culmination of the aforementioned terrible things and more! A nightmare that doesn’t go away when the sun rises.

PCOD (Polycystic Ovarian Disorder) or the more commonly called PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is a very common condition which affects 1 in every 5 women and 1 in every 10 in the child-bearing age in India. It is set of symptoms that women’s bodies go through due to the imbalance of reproductive hormones, which if not monitored in time can lead to serious health issues.

So what is PCOS exactly? 

Normally, the ovaries synthesize female sex hormones namely Progesterone and Estrogen and little amounts of male sex hormone called the Testosterone to facilitate normal ovulation. When the ovaries start producing Testosterone in higher amounts than required by the body, it causes PCOS. The eggs in the follicles do not mature resulting in no release of the eggs from the ovaries. Instead, these eggs form small cysts in the ovary owing to the name polycystic ovary syndrome. This causes irregular menstrual cycles as much as women suffering from the syndrome might get fewer than nine periods a year.

We wish that were it. But unfortunately, this deadly disorder has way more inconveniences to offer!

Due to this, the uterine lining builds up for a longer time causing longer periods accompanied by heavy bleeding and very painful cramps and aches.

Some women also experience symptoms such as ‘hirsutism’ which is the excessive growth of hair on areas like the face, chest and upper back due to higher testosterone levels. Acne outbreak is also a common symptom since male hormones make the skin oilier. Unhealthy weight is gained, and losing it becomes exponentially difficult.

One of the biggest challenges posed by PCOS is that there is no treatment for PCOS in medical science. Thus, making it a lifelong condition which generally deteriorate with time if proper measures are not taken to reduce/cure the symptoms.

There are both mild and severe effects of PCOS ranging from insulin intolerance causing Diabetes, High B.P. and Sleep Apnea (difficulty in breathing while the person is asleep). Depression is also one of the traumatizing effects of the syndrome. It affects mental health, as much as it does to our reproductive health! Women also experience partial infertility, making it very difficult for them to conceive. 

Statistics suggest that a horrifying 70% of women suffering from PCOS are not even diagnosed! They are unaware of this devastating condition that might be ticking in their bodies silently. Since PCOS is not a disease in particular, people just ignore the early symptoms due to lack of awareness. A lot of women think that irregular periods might just be because of more workload or excessive physical workout. More than half of the women get to know that they are suffering from this condition only when they find it immensely difficult to conceive. 

Along with all the physical and mental affects, the disease also subjects us to social humiliation and insensitivity. Examples include people around you passing comments like ‘Woman Beard’ because of the excessive hair growth in the cheek/chin area or being called “fat” and other derogatory terms because losing weight has just become impossible. Our bodies, fat rolls, and lose skin is all that people see, instead of regular workouts and strict diet schedules. People around us do not get tired of giving useless advice which has absolutely nothing to do with PCOS. People suffering from the condition are told to have a no-carbs diet which builds on to their sugar cravings and subsequent mood swings. Depression and anxiety thus takes over and it becomes a more traumatic journey. For women who are particularly trying to conceive, it is emotionally and mentally draining to pop 6 pills in one day which comprises of contraceptives and hormonal supplements to regularize ovulation. Additional visits to the doctor every fortnight becomes a part of our life and yet after all of these attempts, there’s a chance of still not being able to conceive successfully or the pregnancy does not continue for long.

This is a never-ending battle with partial or no cure for the syndrome. Gynecologists recommend that leading a healthy life is the best solution. The foremost thing in curing the effects is to lose extra weight and be fit. Losing just 5 - 10% of your body weight can help a lot in improving your symptoms. A low carbohydrate, high protein enriching diet works wonders in the ailment. Hence, weight loss acts as the cornerstone for the management of the syndrome. Other treatments are mostly symptomatic including laser treatment for hirsutism, hormone supplies and treatment for acne. But all of this comes down to the fact that a timely diagnosis with a good routine involving workout and a balanced, healthy diet will eventually help in suppressing those effects and result in a proper ovulation cycle.