Polycystic ovarian disease, also called PCOD, is a condition that targets the ovaries of women. It is not life threatening, but it can be hard to deal with. The first step in finding out if you have PCOD is by being aware of the symptoms. They can be minor, or they can be debilitating.
Significance
Polycystic ovarian disease is a condition in which tiny fluid filled sacs appear on the ovaries, which are the female reproductive organs. This can compromise the ability for a woman to become pregnant, and it can also cause painful menstrual cycles.
Features
Normal ovaries produce eggs that are contained in sacs called follicles. Sometimes these follicles are not formed properly, which leads to eggs that are not mature. For this reason, they form cysts, and the ovaries cannot release them.
Menstrual Cycles
One of the most common symptoms of PCOD takes place in the menstrual cycle. Periods can be irregular, absent or very light.
Male Characteristics
A woman with PCOD can also develop some male characteristics. Some of these include a deeper voice, male pattern baldness, the development of facial hair and more body hair in general.
Other Symptoms
Another indication of polycystic ovarian disease is the inability to lose weight. Some other symptoms include acne, infertility and insulin resistance, which could possibly lead to diabetes.
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