Understanding PCOD and PCOS: A Comparative Review of Causes, Differences, and Treatment Modalities
Keywords:
Polycystic Ovary Disease, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, hormonal imbalance, insulin resistance, lifestyle modifications, herbal treatment, allopathy, infertilityAbstract
Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) are two commonly prevalent endocrine problems in women of reproductive age. Although these are implicated interchangeably, the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment approaches are very different between PCOD and PCOS. This review is primarily aimed at finding out the differences between these two clinical entities in terms of their causes of manifestation and treatment strategies. PCOD is characterized, in general, by the presence of multiple immature ovarian follicles, and often associated with lifestyle factors such as diet or physical activity; whereas, PCOS is a more complex syndrome comprised in it by various abnormalities such as hormonal imbalance, insulin resistance, chronic anovulation, etc. PCOS is frequently associated with metabolic consequences such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and risks for cardiovascular disease, while those of PCOD are generally not so serious as regards systemic implications.Such conditions require a lifestyle intervention for treatment; however, in PCOS, pharmacological therapy is generally needed besides lifestyle changes, like insulin sensitizers and hormonal therapy, for such treatment. Complementary approaches such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, and mind-body therapies are also considered to show promise in symptom control. This review also comprises portions with the comparative efficacy of herbal and allopathic medicines in the restoration of hormonal imbalance and improvement in fertility. In doing this, this review aims to provide a thorough comparison of PCOD and PCOS to facilitate understanding among medical personnel and researchers in order to obtain improved individualized treatment for women suffering from these conditions
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