Dr. Dimple Doshi (MBBS, MD, DGO)
Lady Gynecologist & Laparoscopic Surgeon
27+ years’ experience
20,000+ surgeries completed
PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is a common hormonal condition that can cause irregular periods, excess androgens, and small follicles on the ovaries.
PCOS — polycystic ovary syndrome, often just called PCOS (and sometimes confused with PCOD) — is one of the most common hormonal conditions in women of reproductive age. It affects the way the ovaries work and how the body handles hormones and insulin. It can show up as irregular periods, skin and hair changes, weight gain, or difficulty conceiving — and it looks different from woman to woman.
PCOD is a milder ovarian condition where the ovaries release immature eggs; PCOS is a more significant hormonal and metabolic syndrome.
| Feature | PCOD | PCOS |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Ovarian condition | Hormonal + metabolic syndrome |
| Severity | Usually milder | Often more significant |
| Hormone imbalance | Milder | More pronounced |
| Metabolic effects | Less common | Insulin resistance common |
| Fertility impact | Often limited | Can affect ovulation more |
| Management | Lifestyle often enough | Lifestyle + medical care |
The terms are often used loosely. What matters most is your individual picture — your cycles, symptoms, hormones and goals — not just the label.
PCOS is very common — about 1 in 10 women globally, and by some Indian estimates 20–30% of women, are affected during their reproductive years.
According to FOGSI (Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India), a large share of Indian women of reproductive age are affected by PCOS — estimates cited as 20–30%. Globally, PCOS affects roughly 1 in 10 women. In other words, if you have PCOS, you are far from alone — and it is one of the most treatable hormonal conditions in gynecology.
PCOS symptoms include irregular or missed periods, acne, excess facial or body hair, weight gain, hair thinning, and difficulty conceiving.
Common symptoms:
Symptoms range from mild to significant, and you don’t need every one to have PCOS. If several sound familiar, it’s worth an evaluation.
PCOS has no single cause; it’s linked to insulin resistance, higher androgen levels, and a genetic tendency, often made worse by weight gain.
Contributing factors:
These factors feed into each other, which is why a combined approach — lifestyle plus medical care — usually works best.
PCOS is diagnosed using the Rotterdam criteria — combining irregular cycles, signs of excess androgens, and ovaries seen on ultrasound.
Diagnosis usually involves:
The Rotterdam criteria mean PCOS is diagnosed when at least two of three features are present — irregular ovulation, signs of excess androgens, and typical ovaries on scan — after ruling out other causes.
Over time, unmanaged PCOS can raise the risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol problems and endometrial changes.
Why ongoing care matters (these risks are reducible, not inevitable):
The encouraging part: the same lifestyle and medical steps that ease symptoms also lower these long-term risks — so managing PCOS is an investment in your overall health, not just your cycle.
PCOS treatment starts with lifestyle changes, then medicines like the pill, metformin or ovulation drugs, and rarely laparoscopic ovarian drilling.
Care follows a step-by-step, least-invasive-first approach:
| Step | What it involves | Helps with |
|---|---|---|
| Lifestyle | Diet, exercise, weight and stress management | Cycles, symptoms, long-term risk |
| Hormonal medicines | Combined pill, anti-androgens (e.g. spironolactone) | Irregular periods, acne, excess hair |
| Insulin-sensitisers | Metformin | Insulin resistance, weight, cycles |
| Ovulation-induction | Medicines to help release an egg | Trying to conceive |
| Laparoscopic ovarian drilling | Keyhole procedure in selected resistant cases | Ovulation when medicines don’t work |
Treatment is tailored to your main concern — whether that’s regular cycles, skin and hair, metabolic health, or conceiving. Outcomes vary by individual.
A balanced low-glycaemic diet, regular exercise, weight management and stress control are the foundation of PCOS care and often improve symptoms.
Practical, sustainable steps:
These aren’t quick fixes, but they’re powerful: for many women, lifestyle changes noticeably improve cycles, skin, energy and fertility over time.
PCOS can make conceiving harder by disrupting ovulation, but many women with PCOS get pregnant — naturally or with treatment and cycle support.
PCOS can affect fertility mainly by disrupting ovulation (regular egg release), through:
But here’s the important part: PCOS does not mean you cannot get pregnant. Many women with PCOS conceive naturally, especially with weight and lifestyle support, and many others conceive with straightforward medical help. Some women with PCOS ovulate regularly and have no fertility difficulty at all. Early evaluation and cycle monitoring make a real difference — a fertility assessment helps map the right path for you.
PCOS fertility care includes weight and lifestyle support, ovulation-induction medicines, and — if needed — IUI or IVF, chosen to fit each couple.
A stepwise approach, from simplest first:
Success depends on age, weight, ovulation response and other factors, and is discussed as a realistic range for your situation — not a fixed promise. As Dr. Doshi notes, “even modest weight loss in women with PCOS often leads to improved ovulation and better fertility outcomes.”
Laparoscopic ovarian drilling is a keyhole procedure that makes tiny punctures in the ovaries to restore ovulation when PCOS medicines haven’t worked.
Laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) is a minimally invasive fertility surgery for selected women with PCOS whose ovulation hasn’t responded to medicines like letrozole or clomiphene.
Risks include bleeding or infection, adhesion (scar-tissue) formation, injury to nearby organs (very rare), and — importantly — a small risk of reduced ovarian reserve if overdone, which is why careful, measured technique matters. Many women resume ovulating within about 4–6 weeks, though results vary by individual profile. Ovarian drilling helps ovulation but does not make PCOS go away — lifestyle and hormonal care remain important afterwards.
PCOS is a long-term condition that doesn’t fully go away, but its symptoms can be well managed, and many women feel much better with ongoing care.
There’s no one-time fix for PCOS — it’s a chronic hormonal condition — but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with the symptoms. With the right mix of lifestyle changes and medical care, cycles can become more regular, skin and hair can improve, metabolic risks can fall, and fertility can improve. Think of PCOS as something you manage well over time, much like other long-term conditions — and most women do exactly that.
PCOS treatment cost in Mumbai depends on the tests, medicines and any fertility surgery needed; a clear estimate is given after consultation.
Cost is shaped by consultation and ultrasound, hormone and metabolic blood tests, medicines (hormonal, metformin or ovulation-induction), and any fertility procedure. If laparoscopic ovarian drilling is needed, approximate ranges at Vardaan Hospital are:
| Room category | Approximate cost (₹) |
|---|---|
| Economy | ~50,000 |
| Semi-special | ~68,000 – 75,000 |
| Deluxe | ~1,20,000 |
| Super deluxe | ~1,50,000 |
| Suite | ~2,00,000 |
(A general India range of ~₹35,000–80,000 is also cited for drilling.) Because PCOS care is personalised and often ongoing, you’ll receive a clear estimate after your consultation and initial tests. Cost is a range and is confirmed after review; outcomes vary by individual.
🩺 Dr Dimple Doshi Notes: “Many women believe PCOS means they cannot become pregnant. With proper treatment and cycle monitoring, many patients with PCOS achieve healthy pregnancies. Even modest weight loss often leads to improved ovulation and better fertility outcomes — and surgery like ovarian drilling is reserved for selected cases where medicines haven’t worked. So much of PCOS care is about steady, sustainable steps rather than quick fixes.”
Dr. Dimple Doshi offers ethical, individualised PCOS and fertility care — from diagnosis and lifestyle guidance to medical treatment and, when needed, laparoscopic ovarian drilling — at Vardaan Hospital, Goregaon West, Mumbai.
Full credentials are viewable on the About page.
Ans. Yes. Many women with PCOS conceive — naturally with lifestyle support, or with treatment such as ovulation induction, cycle monitoring, ovarian drilling or IVF. Some women with PCOS ovulate regularly and have no fertility difficulty at all.
Ans. No. Ovarian drilling can restore ovulation and improve cycles, but it doesn’t remove PCOS. Lifestyle and hormonal care remain important afterwards, and symptoms can gradually return over time in some women.
Ans. It’s for selected women with PCOS-related infertility whose ovulation hasn’t responded to medicines like letrozole or clomiphene. Your doctor weighs your BMI, hormone levels and overall picture before advising it.
Ans. It’s a commonly performed keyhole procedure with a good safety record, though every surgery carries some risk — including bleeding, infection, adhesions, and a small risk to ovarian reserve if overdone, which is why careful technique matters.
Ans. Yes — most PCOS is managed with lifestyle changes and medicines. Surgery (ovarian drilling) is reserved for selected fertility cases where medicines haven’t restored ovulation.
Ans. Yes. Even modest weight management can help regulate hormones and improve ovulation, cycles and fertility. It’s one of the most effective steps in PCOS care.
Ans. PCOD is usually a milder ovarian condition, while PCOS is a more significant hormonal and metabolic syndrome. Both are managed with lifestyle and, where needed, medical care — your individual picture matters more than the label.
Ans. PCOS is a chronic hormonal condition, but its symptoms can be effectively managed with ongoing care. Many women keep it well controlled with lifestyle steps and medicines.
