PCOD vs. PCOS: Causes, treatment and finding out if Menstrual cups cause Hormonal Imbalances!

 Has it ever happened that you stepped on the scale and saw that you have gained weight even though you did everything right? 

Most people have this misconception that following a diet plan and exercising is enough to maintain or lose weight. People often neglect other factors like ur sleep, stress, and hormones! Yes, our lifestyle governs how our body responds to food, exercise, and everything else! A poor lifestyle can lead to poor health, and eventually, health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, heart problems, obesity and PCOD/PCOS.

A condition that affects every one in five women, PCOD/PCOS are disorders which disrupt your hormonal balance in the body and cause severe problems like obesity, diabetes, infertility, endometriosis, and cancer. 

There have been a lot of talks about PCOD lately and what I’ve observed is that even though many people are aware of PCOD, very few know that PCOD and PCOS are different conditions and therefore, require different treatment approaches as well. To be honest, for a very long time, even I didn’t. 

PCOD and PCOS are often used interchangeably; however, these two are different conditions of the body. The causative factors, the occurrence and the effects are different for both the conditions. Confused? Don’t be. I have tried to explain the difference between both the conditions, their symptoms, causes, and ways to fix the imbalance in this blog for you. 

PCOD vs. PCOS - UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE

 

 

Polycystic Ovary Disorder or PCOD is a condition where the ovaries release immature eggs which eventually turn into cysts in the body. Common symptoms of PCOD are unexplained and uncontrollable weight gain, irregular menstrual cycle, infertility and male pattern hair loss. The ovaries become enlarged and secrete huge amounts of androgens (male hormones) which are the cause of hirsutism (excessive hair) in many females and other related problems. 

PCOS aka Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a condition where the ovaries produce more than normal levels of androgens which interfere with the development and release of eggs. Some of these eggs then become cysts and build up in the ovaries instead of getting released during ovulation. 

The nature of both these conditions differs. PCOD is a lifestyle disorder which can be managed with the right diet and exercise. In contrast, PCOS is a metabolic disorder and is a severe condition. 

Causative differences

PCOS is a condition related to the endocrine system, while PCOD is due to the imbalance of hormones. 

Occurrence

PCOD, as compared to PCOS, is more common and affects almost one-third of women all over the world. 

Impact of PCOD & PCOS on pregnancy

PCOD usually does not lead to infertility, and in about 80% of the cases, women can conceive with a little help. PCOS can pose serious issues in conception due to irregular hormonal levels in the body. 

Many women start seeing their symptoms early while others discover PCOS only after they have gained weight or have trouble getting pregnant. The most common symptoms are irregular periods, heavy bleeding, excessive hair growth, acne, darkening of the skin (acanthosis nigricans), male-pattern baldness and headaches. 

WHAT CAUSES HORMONAL IMBALANCES IN THE BODY? 

 

#1 - FOOD ALLERGIES

People nowadays have toxic, slow livers because of poor lifestyle, which includes consuming too much sugar, junk, smoking, pollution, and contaminated food. This contributes to problems like fatty liver and other health issues. Most foods that we consume today make our bodies acidic which is the breeding ground for many health conditions. 

Such acidity, allergies and poor organ health leads to hormonal disturbances in the body. 

#2 - POOR GUT HEALTH

Because of constipation, acidity, flatulence, thyroid, autoimmune disorders (like Lupus), skin diseases and many more, people have poor gut health. This means you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which means, wrong molecules are entering your bloodstream, causing your immune system to flare up and in turn, creating a hormonal imbalance. 

#3 - CONSTIPATION

When you are constipated, the oestrogen in your colon is taken back into your system, into your liver and into your cells. This creates a cycle of ‘Oestrogen dominance’. It makes the body sicker and more acidic. 

#4 - INFLAMMATION 

Inflammation is another root cause of such imbalances in the body. Genetics do play a role in such problems, but again, bad genes too need a trigger to express itself. This trigger is inflammation. Inflammation in the body causes many issues, sometimes even cancer. 

#5 – TOXICITY

Toxicity stops communication between cells and therefore, leads to imbalances in the body.  

#6 - STRESS

Stress impacts a hormone called cortisol which in turn affects other hormones in the body. It shows direct links with anxiety and chronic stress. Chronic stress impairs bodily functions and creates imbalances. 

#7 - INADEQUATE SLEEP

Lack of sleep puts our body under a considerable amount of stress. It also leads to digestive issues, flatulence, and increased acidity in the body. Getting the right amount of sleep can truly help balance your hormones and enhance bodily functions. 

SO, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO TO MANAGE YOUR PCOD OR PCOS? 

 

Well, of course, you should adopt a healthy lifestyle by having a balanced, nutrient-rich diet, incorporating regular exercise in your everyday life, reducing your stress levels and getting adequate sleep. Here are a few tips for you to follow and manage your PCOD or PCOS better! 

VITAMIN D3 

Almost one in two people have low Vitamin D3 levels in their body. Vitamin D3 is a precursor to your hormones, you need it to make hormones. Therefore, you must add the right fats in your diet and get enough vitamin D! 

ADAPTOGEN HERBS

Ashwagandha helps balance our hormones automatically. It helps the body heal naturally. More and more people are moving towards natural medicines and remedies and Ashwagandha and similar herbs are an excellent cure for your problems. 

MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS 

Reishi and Chaga mushrooms are known to have medicinal properties. They have been used to treat imbalances for the longest time now. Try to incorporate them in your diet to see results. 

DEEP BREATHING

Deep breathing can immediately reduce the amount of cortisol in your body. Lower amounts of cortisol mean lower stress and therefore, decreasing symptoms. 

PROBIOTICS

Probiotics help fix the flora in your gut which in turn fixes problems like irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, flatulence, acidity, and inflammation which are linked with causing hormonal imbalances.  

SLEEP

Your body balances your hormones when you sleep. If you sleep less, you will have an imbalance in the body. Only will power not help you manage your symptoms, but you need to find the root cause of the problem and fix it. You must sleep for at least six to eight hours every day to lead a healthy life. 

Now, there is nothing to worry about if you have been diagnosed with PCOD or even PCOS. They can easily be managed with the right information, approach and guidance. The only thing you need to remember is that a healthy lifestyle means a healthy life, and therefore, you must change your routine. Make small changes every day and work towards a better body. 

Now, many people have the misconception that PCOD or PCOS are caused by factors other than their lifestyles like using menstrual cups or tampons. Let us find out. 

Will using cups or tampons aggravate the problem? 

Well, as we saw, these imbalances are only caused because of the problematic lifestyle that we millennials have, no product can cause such imbalances. If you are eating right, feeding your body the right kind of nutrition, following a routine, sleeping right and focussing on healing the body instead of just popping pills and suppressing the symptoms, there is no external factor which can disrupt your hormonal balance. 

So, clearly, there is no relation between using menstrual cups/tampons and PCOD. Yes, using these products during your periods may help you have a smoother period, but there is absolutely no need to worry that they will aggravate your problem. There is no evidence that these products cause PCOD or PCOS. 

PCOD is strictly related to your lifestyle, and the only thing which can worsen your condition is you and how you choose to live your life. So, take charge of your life! Choose a healthy lifestyle and fight PCOD. 

Stay calm, stay happy, stay healthy.  

BY HEENA GUPTA