PCOS vs PCOD: what's the difference?

If your doctor wrote "PCOD" on your prescription and your friend's doctor wrote "PCOS", you are not alone in wondering whether these are two different problems. In India both words are used every day, often for the same thing. Here is what each one means, in plain words.

What PCOS means

PCOS stands for polycystic ovary syndrome. A "syndrome" is a group of signs that tend to appear together. PCOS affects hormones, periods and metabolism, and it is common: estimates suggest it affects roughly 1 in 10 women of reproductive age worldwide, and many are never diagnosed.

Common signs include:

• Periods that are irregular, far apart or missing
• Extra hair on the face, chest or tummy, acne, or hair thinning on the scalp
• Weight that is hard to manage, especially around the waist
• Difficulty getting pregnant
• Many small follicles on the ovaries seen on an ultrasound

Not everyone has all of these. Some women with PCOS are slim. Some have regular-looking periods but other signs.

What PCOD means

PCOD stands for polycystic ovarian disease. It is an older term. You will still hear it in many clinics, in ads and in family conversations in India. Some people describe PCOD as a "milder" version that is mostly about the ovaries, and PCOS as the wider condition that affects the whole body.

The international evidence-based guideline for PCOS (updated in 2023) uses the name PCOS. In practice, when an Indian doctor says PCOD, they are usually describing the same pattern. If you are unsure what your report means, ask your doctor directly: "Is this PCOS? What does it mean for me?"

How doctors usually diagnose it

Most doctors follow the "Rotterdam criteria". In adults, PCOS is usually diagnosed when two of these three are present, after other causes (like thyroid problems or high prolactin) are ruled out:

1. Irregular or missing ovulation, which often shows up as irregular periods
2. Signs of high androgens ("male" hormones): extra hair, acne, or high levels in a blood test
3. Polycystic-looking ovaries on an ultrasound

For teenagers, doctors are more careful. Irregular periods are normal in the first years after periods start, and the guideline does not recommend using ultrasound to diagnose PCOS in girls within eight years of their first period.

So which name should you use?

Use whichever your doctor uses, and do not worry about it. Search engines, apps and blogs use both. What changes your health is not the label, it is the plan:

• the food changes your dietitian suggested
• the movement your doctor or trainer asked for
• the medicines or supplements prescribed for you, taken the way they were prescribed
• the follow-up visits and tests

Can PCOS or PCOD be cured?

There is no one-time cure today. But PCOS can be managed well, and many women see their periods, skin, energy and weight improve when they follow their plan steadily. For women carrying extra weight, guidelines note that losing even 5 to 10 percent of body weight can improve symptoms. Small, steady habits matter more than a perfect week.

Questions to ask at your next visit

• Is my diagnosis PCOS? What signs did you see?
• Do I need any blood tests (thyroid, sugar, cholesterol)?
• What is the one change you want me to focus on first?
• When should I come back, and what should improve by then?

Write the answers down, or take a photo of the plan your doctor gives you. That plan is the most useful thing you will leave the clinic with.

Related reading

• 12 PCOS myths, and what is actually true
• How to follow your PCOS treatment plan every day
• Questions to ask your gynaecologist about PCOS