What is PCOD and How Does It Affect Fertility? A Complete Guide for Women

Introduction

What do you do when your periods are never on time? Or when you suddenly start gaining weight even though your lifestyle hasn't changed? How do you deal with the hair fall, acne, or mood swings that come and go without reason? These signs may not seem important initially, but they can slowly hurt your confidence, health, and desire to have a child.

This is often where Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) quietly enters the picture. You don't always notice it right away. And that's what makes it more difficult—because you may not even realise something is wrong until months pass and you start wondering: Why am I not getting pregnant? What is happening inside my body?

The truth is that PCOD and fertility are deeply connected. It's not about irregular periods; it's also about how hormones work and how ovaries release eggs. If your hormones are out of balance, it can affect everything from your period to your chances of getting pregnant. And if you don't receive an explanation, the lack of understanding can make you feel lost and frustrated.

In this blog, you will learn about polycystic ovarian disorder (PCOD) and how it impacts fertility. You will also learn about the things you can do to improve your health and get closer to becoming a mother, including the natural and medical remedies that are available. This blog aims to give you honesty, clarity, and support, whether you're trying to conceive or just starting with PCOD.

What is PCOD?

Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) is a hormonal condition that affects how a woman’s ovaries work. But instead of showing up with clear, loud symptoms, it often hides behind things we ignore—like late periods, sudden breakouts, or weight gain that won’t go away no matter how hard you try.

PCOD occurs when the ovaries produce more male hormones (androgens) than they should. Because of this imbalance, the ovaries produce a few immature follicles (tiny fluid-filled sacs). These aren't harmful, but they prevent eggs from maturing and being released properly, which your body requires for regular periods and natural pregnancy.

When your body does not produce an egg every month (a process known as ovulation), it becomes even more difficult to conceive. Some women are unaware they have PCOD until they attempt to conceive and experience recurrent failures without knowing the root cause. That’s why PCOD affects fertility.

It’s also important to understand that PCOD is different from PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), even though the names sound similar. PCOD is more common and usually less severe. But both involve hormonal issues and irregular ovulation.

So, if your body feels “off” and you’re wondering what’s happening, you’re not imagining things. PCOD in women is real, and it deserves more attention, care, and clarity.

Common Symptoms of PCOD

Sometimes your body tries to speak to you, but we don’t always know how to listen. That’s what happens with PCOD symptoms. They don’t always show up in a dramatic way. Instead, they slowly build up—until one day, you start wondering, Why is my body changing?

One of the most frequent symptoms is an irregular period. If your periods are delayed by weeks or do not arrive for months, that means your ovaries are not releasing eggs on a regular basis, which is a major cause of PCOD and infertility.

You may also notice sudden weight gain, especially around the belly, and no matter what you do, your weight doesn’t budge. Many women also struggle with acne, oily skin, or even excess facial hair, which can feel confusing and frustrating.

Then there are the things no one sees—like constant tiredness, mood swings, or fear that something’s wrong, but no one is taking it seriously.

Here are some common PCOD symptoms and how to recognise them:

• Irregular or missed periods:  If your periods are irregular or are not on a regular cycle (every 28 to 35 days), or if you miss them for months, this is a definite sign of hormonal imbalance and ovulation problems caused by PCOD.
• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight: Many women with PCOD gain weight easily, especially around the lower abdomen. This weight is often resistant to diet and exercise because of insulin resistance, a common issue in PCOD.
• Hair fall or thinning hair: If you notice more hair on your pillow, comb, or in the shower—and your scalp starts to look patchy—it could be due to increased androgens (male hormones), which disrupt normal hair growth.
• Oily skin and acne: Breakouts that don’t respond to regular skincare or keep appearing around the jawline, chin, or cheeks can signal PCOD-related acne triggered by excess hormones and oil production.
• Facial hair or body hair growth: Noticeable hair on the chin, upper lip, chest, or stomach may appear darker or thicker. This condition, called hirsutism, is due to higher levels of male hormones in women with PCOD.
• Mood changes, anxiety, or low energy: You may feel low, anxious, or easily irritated without knowing why. PCOD affects not just your body, but also your mental health, because hormonal fluctuations influence your emotional state too.

If these signs feel familiar, it’s not “just stress” or “just hormones.” It could be your body asking for help. And the good news is—once you know the symptoms, you can start finding answers.

How PCOD Affects Fertility

For many women, the most painful discovery about PCOD doesn’t happen in the doctor’s clinic—it happens quietly at home, month after month, when that pregnancy test shows a single line again. You start asking yourself, What’s wrong with me? Why is it so hard to conceive? And the answer, for many, lies in how PCOD affects fertility on a deeper level.

The main problem is ovulation, which occurs when your ovary makes an egg every month. Women with PCOD often put off or don't finish this treatment. That's called anovulation, and it's one of the main reasons it's hard to get pregnant. The sperm can't fertilize an egg that hasn't been released.

Another big reason is a lack of hormones. When you have PCOD, your body makes too much of the male hormone androgen, which stops eggs from developing typically. The eggs may stay immature in the ovaries for a long time, making small follicles look like cysts. However, they never fully mature enough to cause ovulation. This is the reason why many women with PCOD have periods that come and go or don't come at all.

Even if ovulation does happen, PCOD can still affect egg quality, the endometrial lining, and hormonal signals needed for implantation. That means even when fertilization occurs, the body might not be fully ready to support a pregnancy.

This is why so many women don’t even realise they have a condition until they try to conceive and nothing works. It’s not your fault, and you’re not alone. PCOD and infertility are deeply connected, but with the right approach, pregnancy is still possible. It just takes more support, understanding, and sometimes medical help.

Diagnosis: How is PCOD Identified?

Can You Get Pregnant with PCOD?

Treatment Options for PCOD

Natural Remedies and Lifestyle Management

PCOD and Long-Term Health Risks

What You Can Do Today

Final Thoughts

Helpful Resources