Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) refers to a loss of normal function of your ovaries before the age of 40. If your ovaries fail, they don't produce normal amounts of the hormone estrogen or release eggs regularly. Infertility is a common result. Premature Ovarian Failure is less commonly, bur more appropriately called Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI).
Premature Ovarian Failure is primarily diagnosed by test results of high FSH levels in the post-menopausal range. It is estimated that Premature Ovarian Failure affects about 1% of women. Premature Ovarian Failure is most common in women in their thirties.
Premature Ovarian Failure is sometimes incorrectly referred to as premature menopause. Women with Premature Ovarian Failure MAY have irregular or occasional periods for years prior to diagnosis, which can go unnoticed if using birth control pills. Women with Premature Ovarian Failure have about a 6% chance of becoming pregnant naturally.
Women with Premature Ovarian Failure experience all the symptoms of menopause, but the symptoms are usually much more worse than a woman going through typical menopause. Premature Ovarian Failure also comes with a host of other complications and medical risks, including osteoporosis, hypothyroidism (primarily Hashimoto's Thyroiditis), heart disease, Addison's disease, and other auto-immune conditions.
Restoring estrogen levels - though hormone replacement therapy - in women with Premature Ovarian Failure helps prevent some complications, such as osteoporosis, but the resulting infertility is harder to treat. Currently there is no "treatment" for infertility cause by Premature Ovarian Failure. Some (very few) women have success with hormone replacement therapy or fertility medications. Other (again - very few) have success with IVF. The greatest success for achieving pregnancy with Premature Ovarian Failure is though use of donor eggs or donor embryos.
Premature Ovarian Failure Fact Sheet
International Premature Ovarian Failure Association, Inc.
New Premature Ovarian Failure Study
Premature Ovarian Failure is primarily diagnosed by test results of high FSH levels in the post-menopausal range. It is estimated that Premature Ovarian Failure affects about 1% of women. Premature Ovarian Failure is most common in women in their thirties.
Premature Ovarian Failure is sometimes incorrectly referred to as premature menopause. Women with Premature Ovarian Failure MAY have irregular or occasional periods for years prior to diagnosis, which can go unnoticed if using birth control pills. Women with Premature Ovarian Failure have about a 6% chance of becoming pregnant naturally.
Women with Premature Ovarian Failure experience all the symptoms of menopause, but the symptoms are usually much more worse than a woman going through typical menopause. Premature Ovarian Failure also comes with a host of other complications and medical risks, including osteoporosis, hypothyroidism (primarily Hashimoto's Thyroiditis), heart disease, Addison's disease, and other auto-immune conditions.
Restoring estrogen levels - though hormone replacement therapy - in women with Premature Ovarian Failure helps prevent some complications, such as osteoporosis, but the resulting infertility is harder to treat. Currently there is no "treatment" for infertility cause by Premature Ovarian Failure. Some (very few) women have success with hormone replacement therapy or fertility medications. Other (again - very few) have success with IVF. The greatest success for achieving pregnancy with Premature Ovarian Failure is though use of donor eggs or donor embryos.
RESOURCES & INFORMATION
Premature Ovarian Failure Fact Sheet
International Premature Ovarian Failure Association, Inc.
New Premature Ovarian Failure Study
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