PCOD vs PCOS: What are they and how do they differ?

PCOD and PCOS are two common conditions affecting females of reproductive age. There has been a lot of confusion between them because of a generally similar description and some shared symptoms. Still, they are not exactly the same.

The key distinctive features when comparing PCOD vs PCOS include:

• PCOD is a functional disorder, and PCOS is an endocrine-metabolic syndrome.
• PCOD may cause some cycle irregularities, but PCOS often causes tangible irregularities or period absence.
• PCOD has a milder effect on your hormonal balance, whereas PCOS tends to create more significant imbalances.
• Getting pregnant with PCOD is usually easier, while PCOS usually causes persistent infertility.
• PCOS is generally more severe, has more pronounced symptoms, and can lead to a number of long-term health implications.
• Treating PCOS symptoms usually requires long-term medical intervention, while PCOD symptoms can be resolved faster by implementing lifestyle changes.

In contrast, a few symptoms they share include abnormal menstruation, heavy bleeding, acne, hirsutism, hair loss, and weight gain.

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Female reproductive and hormonal health are the two pillars of a healthy and quality life. They impact various aspects of your life, including emotional well-being, physical health, fertility, and even your appearance. Yet, these two parts of your health are also incredibly fragile. Due to the complex interplay of female reproductive organs and hormones throughout a lifespan, maintaining hormonal and reproductive health can be hard, and there are many chronic, not yet fully understood challenges that may come along the way.

The two common related issues include polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this article, we’ll give you a detailed comparison of PCOD vs PCOS to help you understand your health better.

What Is PCOD?

The PCOD full form is polycystic ovarian disease. It’s a disorder that affects women of reproductive age. In most cases, it is caused by a combination of genetic tendencies and hormonal imbalance.

Unlike in a healthy menstrual cycle, when the two ovaries alternately release mature eggs that can be fertilized, in women with PCOD, the ovaries tend to release partially-mature or fully immature eggs. These immature eggs can then develop into fluid-filled sacs (cysts) on your ovaries. If this happens, the affected ovaries tend to swell, enlarge, and become inflamed, which also leads to them releasing excess androgens.

What Is PCOS?

PCOS stands for polycystic ovary syndrome. This disorder also affects women in their reproductive years, but its cause is still unknown.

In women with PCOS, the ovaries develop excessive androgens. These male hormones lead to the development of multiple cysts on the outer edge of the ovary, which disrupts their healthy work and leads to their inability to regularly release eggs.

Difference Between PCOS and PCOD

At first glance, these two conditions look nearly identical. This is the primary cause of the confusion around these terms. Nevertheless, the truth is that they are not the same thing.

As explained by UNICEF, PCOD is a condition in which the ovaries start releasing immature or partially mature eggs, which creates the hormonal imbalance and then leads to other associated symptoms. PCOS, on the other hand, is a chronic, endocrine-metabolic syndrome that causes the ovaries to produce too many androgens, which causes a hormonal imbalance and makes eggs prone to turning into cysts.

If this doesn’t make it easier and you are still wondering if there is a difference between PCOS and PCOD, let’s look at the key distinctive features between these two conditions:

• By essence, PCOD is a functional disorder. PCOS, in turn, is an endocrine-metabolic syndrome.
• PCOD often causes irregular menstrual cycles, whereas PCOS causes highly irregular or fully absent periods.
• Both conditions affect fertility by hindering the work of your ovaries. Nevertheless, the impact on fertility is milder in PCOD–it’s almost always possible to get pregnant with this disorder, though it may require extra precautions and minimal medical intervention. PCOS, on the other hand, has a more complex impact on fertility. Due to significant hormonal irregularities, this syndrome is the most common cause of anovulation and infertility. Hence, conception with PCOS might be harder.
• PCOD usually creates less pronounced hormonal fluctuations than PCOS.
• The overall severity and long-term risks of PCOD are generally lower compared to PCOS, which frequently leads to other health issues, such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperglycaemia, endometrial cancer, and others.

PCOD vs PCOS: Common Symptoms

Although there are clear differences between these two conditions, PCOD and PCOS also share a number of common symptoms, such as:

• Abnormal menstruation. Most commonly, women with PCOD or PCOS suffer from irregular periods (Oligomenorrhea). However, PCOS can also cause the absence of periods (Amenorrhea).
• Heavier period bleeding. Some women may also experience PCOS spotting–light bleeding between periods.
• Acne and oily skin. Excessive androgens can cause skin issues, especially in the face, chest, and upper back area.
• Excessive hair growth (hirsutism). High levels of male hormones can also cause excessive growth of dark, coarse hair on the face and body.
• Hair loss or thinning. Apart from hair growth, androgens can also cause male-pattern hair loss or thinning.
• Weight gain. A hormonal imbalance may lead to uncontrolled weight gain. This symptom might be more prominent in women with PCOS because this syndrome is also commonly associated with metabolic issues, such as insulin resistance.

Apart from the shared systems, there are also some PCOS-specific symptoms. These include skin darkening, persistent fertility issues, more pronounced hirsutism and hair loss, and a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome.

PCOD or PCOS Which Is More Dangerous

Now that you have a full comparison of PCOD vs PCOS, there is only one question left: which one of them is more dangerous?

PCOD is a disorder that can develop due to poor lifestyle habits, genetic predisposition, or hormonal imbalances caused by external factors. This condition is generally milder and often can be self-managed.

PCOS, on the other hand, is a more severe form of PCOD. It involves chronic inflammation, endocrine system dysfunction, insulin resistance, and significant hormonal imbalances. It also comes with systemic effects. Due to these reasons, it’s usually considered more serious.

Comparing PCOD vs PCOS, it’s also worth noting that both of these conditions are chronic and can’t be cured completely. Yet, PCOS typically requires holistic, long-term treatment with medical intervention. PCOD, on the other hand, can generally be resolved and let you live a full and quality life if you address it early and implement the necessary lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet, exercise, and stress management. 

In both cases, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider to diagnose your condition correctly and receive personalized treatment suggestions.

FAQ

What is PCOD, and what is PCOS?

PCOD is polycystic ovarian disease that makes the ovaries release partially-mature or fully immature eggs, which may turn into cysts over time. PCOS is polycystic ovary syndrome–a chronic endocrine-metabolic syndrome that causes the ovaries to produce too many androgens and develop multiple cysts on their outer edge.

What is the difference between PCOS and PCOD?

The two conditions look very similar and share some common symptoms. Nevertheless, there is a difference between PCOS and PCOD. PCOD is a functional disorder that causes the ovaries to release immature eggs. PCOS is a syndrome that causes excessive production of androgens, which makes eggs prone to turning into cysts. Also, PCOD causes irregular menstrual cycles, has a milder impact on fertility and hormones, is less severe, and doesn’t cause as many long-term health risks. PCOS, on the contrary, causes highly irregular or missed periods, is more severe, has a higher impact on hormones and fertility, and may lead to other health issues like diabetes.

PCOD or PCOS which is more dangerous?

PCOS is typically considered a more serious condition, accompanied by endocrine system dysfunction, insulin resistance, and significant hormonal imbalances. It also has more significant long-term health implications and thus usually requires medical intervention to ease symptoms. PCOD, on the other hand, is a milder form that doesn’t necessarily lead to significant imbalances and other implications. Often, proper lifestyle changes can help ease its symptoms.

Conclusion

PCOS and PCOD may look very similar. Both conditions affect women in their reproductive years and interfere with the work of their ovaries. Also, both conditions are associated with the development of cysts on the ovaries and increased androgen levels, which creates the following shared symptoms:

• Abnormal menstruation
• Heavy bleeding
• Acne
• Hirsutism
• Hair loss
• Weight gain

Despite these similarities, when you compare PCOD vs PCOS closely, it’s easy to notice that they are not completely the same. Generally, PCOD is considered a milder disorder that does not have as many prominent and severe symptoms. PCOS, in turn, is a more severe condition that can have long-term effects on your hormones and fertility and cause multiple diseases in the future.

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