Polycystic ovary disorder (PCOD) affects your periods. If you have spotting, irregular periods or hormonal imbalance, you may have PCOD. However, it is a common condition in women, with one in 10 affected by it. Continue reading to learn what PCOD is, its causes, diagnosis and treatment to manage it.
PCOD is a common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age (12 to 45 years). In this condition, small cysts form on the ovaries, leading to irregular ovulation. It affects the reproductive system and disrupts your periods because of hormone imbalance and the metabolism.
PCOD typically starts during puberty, around the time of menarche. For some women, this condition may occur later.
PCOD leads to hormonal imbalance and affects ovulation. When ovulation is disrupted, your menstrual cycles become irregular. The imbalance of progesterone and estrogen does not allow the uterine lining to shed regularly, which leads to no or irregular periods, and is a common PCOD symptom. Women may not menstruate for months or have heavy bleeding (menorrhagia) when they do. This creates both psychological and physical stress for women. If irregular periods persist, it can cause uterine lining thickening and may result in one of three types of menstrual disorders:
● Amenorrhea: Complete stoppage of menstruation, which leads to serious fertility issues.
● Heavy and irregular bleeding: Periods that are long and lead to heavy blood loss.
● Oligomenorrhea: Periods lasting more than 35 days. Some women may have only a few menstrual cycles a year.
PCOD affects ovulation by preventing the ovaries from releasing a mature egg. This is called anovulation, which is a serious complication as it decreases pregnancy chances and causes fertility issues. Due to a lack of ovulation, progesterone is not secreted in the right amount, and this causes irregular periods. Also, there is irregular uterine lining thickening, which leads to irregular bleeding, due to which there can be health issues over time. Such women may need ovulation induction treatments to regulate hormones and promote ovulation.
Though PCOD can start around the time of menarche, it can also happen later when you gain weight as you age.
● Irregular periods: You may have delayed or irregular periods because of egg maturation problems.
● High androgen levels: Male hormones are at high levels that cause excess body and facial hair, and male pattern baldness.
● Hair thinning or hair loss: High levels of male hormones cause hair to fall out or thin.
● Fertility issues: Hormonal imbalance may prevent eggs from maturing and getting released, which affects ovulation. This makes conception harder. Many women find out they have PCOD when they are unable to conceive.
● Weight gain: Women with PCOD have weight gain or difficulty with weight loss.
● Acne: Hormonal imbalance leads to skin acne.
Women with PCOD may experience absent periods due to hormonal imbalances. This irregular cycle affects not just the reproductive health but also impacts other aspects of health. Knowing its effects on your periods is important, as it helps with early detection. Understanding the connection is the foremost step so that you can treat it and prevent long-term health issues.
Many women who have PCOD have insulin resistance, where the body cannot utilise insulin properly. This causes the pancreas to produce more insulin. Leading an inactive lifestyle or being overweight may worsen PCOD. Factors that may cause insulin resistance include:
● Lack of exercise
● Genetic factors
● Poor diet
● A combination of all
Women with this condition have increased inflammation, which may worsen due to weight issues. Research shows that higher inflammation is associated with higher androgen levels in PCOD women.
PCOD runs in families, with 1 in 2 women having this condition if any of the immediate female members of the family have it. If you have PCOD, it may further increase your chances of Type 2 diabetes. While no single gene has been identified as the cause of PCOD, it is found that multiple genetic factors combine to contribute to its development.
Obesity or being overweight may increase insulin resistance and is a common PCOD spotting causes. Women may not experience symptoms of irregular periods or excessive facial or body hair until they gain weight.
Hormonal imbalance causes irregular ovulation and spotting, which is concerning, especially for those wanting to conceive. Despite PCOD being a common problem, the effects of PCOD on spotting and pregnancy are not clearly understood. The hormonal imbalance triggers a series of reactions which disrupt the menstrual cycle. Heavy periods with PCOD or spotting between cycles are common. Pregnancy adds another complexity as fluctuating hormone levels may lead to abnormal bleeding, which is misidentified as PCOD spotting. However, it is essential to know that not all spotting or bleeding is a PCOD symptom, especially during pregnancy. Understanding the cause needs diagnosis and regular evaluation from doctors.
There is no definitive test to diagnose this condition. However, your healthcare provider will review your medical and family history and conduct a physical examination. Based on that, they may ask you to do:
● Blood tests to measure hormones which may be out of balance in PCOD.
● Pelvic exam to check for physical signs
● Ultrasound to check the uterus and ovaries for PCOD signs like thickening of ovarian walls or cysts.
If PCOD is diagnosed, follow-up visits may be required to monitor the condition.
It is challenging to deal with PCOD. There are many treatment options to manage symptoms. A combination of medications and lifestyle changes is the best treatment for irregular periods in PCOD. Some options are:.
● Lifestyle modifications: Regular physical activity and healthy eating help maintain optimal weight. Decreasing body weight can reduce insulin resistance and improve symptoms of PCOD.
● Medications: Birth control pills, IUDs or patches are prescribed for irregular periods PCOD treatment to control bleeding in menstrual cycles and manage symptoms of irregular periods. Anti-androgen medicines are used to control symptoms like acne, excessive hair growth, etc.
● Follicle treatment: In a few cases, the doctor may recommend aspiration of immature follicles to regulate hormones and reduce ovarian cysts, helping fertility.
Menstrual health and PCOD are complex and not clearly understood. With the right tools and information, you can overcome the challenges associated with it. Regular exercise, healthy eating, menorrhagia PCOD management with pain medications, and proper management help regulate irregular menstrual cycles and PCOD.
