By Dr. Bihani Sanjyal, MS (Ayurveda Gynecology & Obstetrics), National Institute of Ayurveda, India
It happens in my OPD all the time. A young woman sits down, opens a plastic folder and pulls out two ultrasound reports. One says PCOD. The other, from a different clinic a few months later, says PCOS.
“Doctor, which one do I actually have? Is it getting worse?”
If you’ve been in the same spot, you’re not alone, and you’re not wrong to be confused. Doctors, websites and relatives all use these two words differently. Some say PCOD is the mild one. Some say they’re completely different diseases. Some use them as if they mean the same thing.
So let me clear it up, the way I would if you were sitting across from me.
PCOS vs PCOD: the short answer
PCOS stands for polycystic ovary syndrome. It’s the proper medical diagnosis, and it’s about much more than the ovaries. It affects your hormones, your metabolism, your skin and hair, your weight and your mood.
PCOD stands for polycystic ovarian disease. You’ll hear it a lot in Nepal and India, but you won’t find it as a separate diagnosis in international medical guidelines. When a doctor here writes PCOD, they usually mean a milder version of the same problem: your mahinawari is irregular and your ovaries show lots of small follicles, but your hormones and blood sugar look more or less okay.
In other words, it’s mostly one condition with two names, and the name tells you less than you’d think. What really matters is what’s going on in your body.
What is PCOS, really?
Around one in eight women have PCOS. That makes it one of the most common hormone problems in women of reproductive age, and plenty of women have it without knowing.
Here’s what happens. The ovaries start making more androgens than they should. (These are often called “male hormones,” but every woman has some.) Ovulation becomes irregular, or stops for a while. And in many women, the body stops responding well to insulin, so it has to pump out more of it to keep blood sugar normal. That extra insulin pushes androgens up even further. It becomes a loop.
To diagnose PCOS, a doctor first rules out things that can look similar, like thyroid problems or high prolactin. Then they look for at least two of these three:
- Irregular or missed periods, because ovulation isn’t happening regularly
- Signs of high androgens, like stubborn acne, hair on the face or body, or thinning hair on the head, or high levels in a blood test
- Ovaries with many small follicles on ultrasound (in adults, a high AMH level can be used instead)
You’ll notice cysts aren’t on that list. That surprises a lot of my patients. Those “cysts” on the report are really small follicles, eggs that started growing and then stopped. Some women with PCOS have perfectly normal-looking ovaries. Some women without PCOS have lots of follicles. The ultrasound is only one piece.
So what is PCOD?
PCOD is an older term, from back when this was thought of as purely an ovary problem. Today, doctors in South Asia mostly use it for women with irregular cycles and many follicles, but normal or nearly normal hormone levels, and no big weight or sugar issues.
There’s nothing wrong with that description. My worry is what happens when someone hears “it’s just PCOD” and stops paying attention. Insulin resistance can be there quietly, even in thin women, and over years it raises the risk of diabetes. So I don’t treat the label. I check the whole picture.
Difference between PCOS and PCOD
If you want it side by side, this is roughly how the two words get used here:
| PCOD (how it’s usually used) | PCOS | |
|---|---|---|
| Is it an official diagnosis? | No, it’s an informal term | Yes, now also called PMOS |
| What’s mainly going on | Irregular cycles, many follicles | Hormone and metabolism imbalance |
| Periods | Often irregular | Irregular, late, or missing for months |
| Acne, facial hair, hair fall | Mild or none | Common |
| Insulin resistance | Less common, but can still be there | Common, even in slim women |
| Long-term risk | Lower, if you look after yourself | Higher risk of diabetes, cholesterol and heart problems |
| Pregnancy | Usually not a big problem | May take longer, but most women do conceive |
Take the table with a pinch of salt, though. Real women don’t fit neatly into two columns.
PCOS has a new name: PMOS
Here’s something many people haven’t heard yet. In May 2026, doctors, researchers and patient groups from around the world agreed on a new name for PCOS: polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS.
Why change it? Because of exactly the confusion we’ve been talking about. “Polycystic” made everyone think about cysts, when the real story is hormones and metabolism. The new name says that more honestly.
Both names will be used for the next three years or so while hospitals and textbooks catch up. So if PMOS shows up on a report or in the news, don’t panic. It’s the same thing.
PCOS and PCOD symptoms
No two women with PCOS look the same. Some only notice that their periods have become unpredictable. Others have regular cycles but can’t get rid of their acne or the hair on their chin. These are the signs I ask about most:
- Periods more than 35 days apart, or fewer than eight in a year
- Going two or three months, sometimes more, without a period
- Acne that keeps coming back, especially around the jaw and chin
- Hair growing on the face, chest, stomach or back
- Hair thinning on the head
- Putting on weight around the waist, or finding it really hard to lose
- Dark, velvety skin on the back of the neck or under the arms
- Trouble getting pregnant
- Feeling low, anxious, or not sleeping well
That last one gets missed a lot. PCOS can take a real toll on mood and confidence, and it’s worth saying out loud if you feel that way.
When should you see a doctor? If your period has stopped for three months or more, if your cycles are regularly longer than 35 days, or if you’ve been trying for a baby for a year without luck. If you’re over 35, don’t wait more than six months.
How PCOS is diagnosed
There’s no single test that says “yes, PCOS.” It’s more like putting a puzzle together. I’ll usually start by listening to your history, then ask for some or all of these:
- An ultrasound of the uterus and ovaries. For teenagers, this isn’t used to diagnose PCOS, because lots of follicles are completely normal in the first few years after periods start.
- Hormone tests, like testosterone, LH, FSH and sometimes AMH.
- Thyroid (TSH) and prolactin, to rule out other problems that cause irregular periods.
- Sugar and cholesterol tests, like fasting sugar or HbA1c and a lipid profile.
Then comes the Ayurvedic side of the assessment. I want to know your Prakriti (your basic body type), how your appetite and digestion are, whether you’re constipated, how you sleep, how stressed you are, and what your periods are like. The lab reports tell me what’s happening. These questions often tell me why.
The Ayurvedic view of PCOS and PCOD
You won’t find the word PCOS in Charaka or Sushruta, of course. But the pattern was well known to our classical teachers. They just described it in pieces.
Artavakshaya talks about scanty or delayed periods. Nashtartava is when periods stop. And Acharya Kashyapa describes a condition called Pushpaghni Jataharini: the woman menstruates, but the cycle doesn’t lead to pregnancy, and she tends to have a heavy body and hair on her cheeks. Read that description today and it sounds very much like PCOS.
What’s going on, in Ayurvedic terms
Most women with PCOS have a Kapha and Vata imbalance, sometimes with Pitta in the mix.
It usually starts with digestion. When your Agni (digestive fire) is weak, food isn’t fully processed, and the body builds up Ama, a heavy, sticky residue. Add excess Kapha and extra Meda Dhatu (fat tissue), and the channels that carry reproductive function, the Artavavaha Srotas, get clogged.
Now Vata can’t do its job. Vata is what moves things down and out, including the egg at ovulation and the blood during your period. When it’s blocked, periods come late or not at all, follicles don’t mature, and weight piles on easily.
I find this explanation useful because it matches what modern medicine sees. Weak Agni and excess Meda describe, in different words, the insulin resistance and metabolic problems at the heart of PCOS.
Ayurvedic treatment for PCOS
I don’t have a standard PCOS package, and honestly, I don’t think anyone should. A slim woman with acne and a heavier woman who hasn’t had a period in four months need very different things. That said, treatment usually works on a few fronts.
Fixing digestion first
Almost always, we start with Agni. That means changing what you eat, when you eat and how you eat, sometimes with herbs to help digestion along. If this part is skipped, nothing else works as well.
Panchakarma
For women with a lot of Kapha built up, cleansing therapies like Virechana (therapeutic purgation) and Basti (medicated enema) can clear the blockage and get Vata moving properly again. These need planning around your strength and the season, and they should only be done under supervision.
Herbal medicines
Formulations with Kanchanara, Shatapushpa, Guduchi and Triphala are among those commonly used in PCOS, chosen to reduce Kapha, support ovulation and help metabolism. But please don’t buy these online and start on your own. The right medicine depends on your body type. Some aren’t safe while trying to conceive or during pregnancy. And quality varies a lot from brand to brand.
Uttar Basti
Uttar Basti is a specialised procedure in which medicated oil or ghee is placed into the uterus. It’s used in selected cases of menstrual and fertility problems, including some women with PCOS who want to conceive. It has to be done by a trained specialist, in a sterile setting, at the right point in your cycle.
Yoga, movement and routine
If I could only give one piece of advice, it would be this: move your body regularly. Exercise improves how your body handles insulin, and that helps almost everything else. A mix of brisk walking, some strength work and yoga is ideal. Asanas like Bhujangasana, Dhanurasana and Baddha Konasana, and pranayama like Anulom Vilom and Bhramari, are good places to start.
And sleep. Going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time every day (Dinacharya) makes a bigger difference than people expect.
PCOS diet: what Ayurveda suggests
You don’t need an expensive diet plan or imported superfoods. Most of what helps is already in a Nepali kitchen. The idea is simple: eat food that’s light, warm and easy to digest, and cut back on what feeds Kapha.
- Eat freshly cooked, warm food. Try to avoid leftovers and things straight out of the fridge.
- Swap some of your white rice for barley, kodo (millet) or phapar (buckwheat). You don’t have to give up dal bhat, just change the balance.
- Make vegetables and saag a big part of the plate, not a side.
- Lean on moong dal and other lentils for protein.
- Cut down on sweets, bakery items, packaged snacks, sugary drinks and fried food. This one is hard, I know.
- Go easy on heavy dairy like cheese and thick curd, especially at night.
- Sip warm water through the day, and cook with ginger, jeera, turmeric and methi.
- Try not to nap during the day. It increases Kapha.
These are general tips, not a prescription. A woman with lean PCOS shouldn’t be eating the same way as someone trying to lose weight, so your actual plan should be made for you.
Can PCOS be cured?
I’ll be straight with you, because I think you deserve that. PCOS is a long-term condition. No treatment, Ayurvedic or modern, makes it disappear forever.
But “no permanent cure” doesn’t mean “nothing can be done.” Far from it. With the right food, regular movement and treatment that fits your body, many women get regular periods again. Their skin clears up, hair growth slows down, and many conceive naturally. The catch is that symptoms can creep back if old habits return. That’s why I care more about changes you can keep up for years than about quick fixes.
Ayurveda also sits comfortably alongside modern medicine. If you’ve been prescribed something like metformin, keep taking it and talk to your doctor before making any changes.
PCOS, PCOD and getting pregnant
PCOS is one of the most common reasons women struggle to conceive, mostly because ovulation doesn’t happen every month. I want to be clear about this, though, because so many women come to me frightened: most women with PCOS do get pregnant, either naturally or with some help.
If you’re overweight, losing even 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can be enough to bring ovulation back. For other women, it’s about improving digestion, managing stress, tracking ovulation and getting the right treatment. And if you’re planning a baby, start working on this three to six months before you begin trying. It gives your body time to respond.
Questions women often ask me
Are PCOD and PCOS the same thing?
Mostly, yes. PCOS is the medical name. PCOD is an everyday term used in Nepal and India, usually for a milder version of the same condition.
Which is worse, PCOS or PCOD?
When people separate them, PCOS means the more serious form, with more hormone and metabolism problems. But it varies so much from woman to woman that I’d look at your symptoms and reports, not the word on the paper.
Can PCOD turn into PCOS?
It can get worse over time, especially with weight gain, stress and very little exercise. The good part is that it works the other way too. Healthy habits can make it much milder.
Can I get pregnant with PCOS or PCOD?
Yes. Most women can. It might take a bit longer, and some women need help with ovulation, but PCOS doesn’t mean you can’t have a baby.
What is PMOS?
PMOS, short for polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, is the new name for PCOS announced in 2026. Same condition, more accurate name.
Can I take Ayurvedic medicine with allopathic medicine?
Often, yes, but plan it properly. Tell both your doctors everything you’re taking so they can check for interactions.
Talk to me about your PCOS
If you’ve been going back and forth between reports and opinions, it might help to sit down and look at the whole picture together. Whether you want regular periods, clearer skin, or you’re planning a pregnancy, we can work out a plan that fits you.
I’m at Safal Hospital, Gwarko, Lalitpur every day. OPD runs from 1:00 to 4:00 PM, and Saturdays from 8:00 to 11:00 AM.
I also see patients in Talchikhel, Pepsicola and Banepa.
Call 01-5203347 or 9717296828 to book, or
just send me a message on WhatsApp.