So, when I was 17 I was diaganosed as having PCOS. Well, since then I've changed doctors (a few times), but the diagnoses has always been the same, and been treated the same. Now I've started to notice my current doctor refers to it as PCOD (disease rather then syndrom). The treatment has remained the same and he hasn't at all disscussed changing it. Does anyone know if there is a difference between the two or if some people just call it one thing and others call it another?

Just curious, figured someone 'round here might know .

I've heard the terms used interchangeably. A disease is something that impairs the function of an organism, a syndrome is something that causes various symptoms...that's getting down to a very technical definition though. I"m pretty sure there's no difference in this case.

Personally, I think the word "syndrome" sometimes has a bit of a stigma attached to it. Others may think of it as "being all in the hea" -- i.e., "just psychological" and that is, of course, not at all true.

From that point of view, I'd prefer to see it called PCOD. Also true for a lot of other ailments that are currently labelled as 'syndromes'.

PCOS and PCOD are often mixed up, but they’re different. PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, is a condition where hormone imbalances disrupt your menstrual cycle and can cause symptoms like acne and weight gain. On the other hand, PCOD, or Polycystic Ovarian Disease, means you have cysts on your ovaries but doesn’t always come with the hormonal issues found in PCOS. Understanding the difference is important for getting the right treatment and managing symptoms effectively.