Premature ovarian failure - Revive Hormone Specialists

What is premature ovarian failure?

Premature ovarian failure (POF), also known as primary ovarian insufficiency, is a disorder characterized by loss of normal ovarian function before the age of 40. This results in menopause-like symptoms such as irregular periods or lack of periods (amenorrhea), inability to conceive, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and mood changes.

Some key points about POF:

• It impacts ~1% of women under age 40 and 0.1% under age 30
• The exact causes are often unknown but can include autoimmune disorders, genetics, chemotherapy treatment, radiation therapy, smoking, viruses, and chromosomes defects
• Diagnosis is made based on at least 4 months of amenorrhea and 2 serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) blood tests in the menopausal range
• Main treatment options are hormone replacement therapy to relieve symptoms and assisted reproductive technologies like IVF to achieve pregnancy
• There is a small chance ovaries may spontaneously start functioning later on leading to natural pregnancy

If you've been diagnosed with POF, the knowledgeable physicians at Revive Hormone Specialists can help. We specialize in hormone balancing treatments personalized to your unique needs. Schedule a consultation today to discuss your treatment options, including bioidentical hormone replacement pellets to help regulate estrogen and progesterone levels.

Now to answer some common questions about POF:

What are the symptoms of premature ovarian failure?

As mentioned, POF results in menopause-like symptoms. The main symptoms are:

• Irregular periods or no periods (amenorrhea)
• Reduced ability to have children (infertility)
• Vaginal dryness
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Decreased sex drive (libido)
• Mood changes
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)

What causes premature ovarian failure?

Known causes of premature ovarian failure include:

• Autoimmune disorders
• Genetic conditions like fragile X syndrome
• Chromosome defects including Turner syndrome and deletions/duplications on the X chromosome
• Cancer treatments like radiation, chemotherapy drugs, and stem cell transplants
• Viral infections like mumps or HIV
• Metabolic disorders like galactosemia

However, in about 90% of cases no specific cause is identified. Researchers believe there may be multiple factors involved including genetics, autoimmunity, toxins, smoking, viruses, and ovarian damage from surgeries.

Is there any treatment for premature ovarian failure?

Yes, while there is no way to restore normal ovarian function, treatments aim to relieve symptoms and for some women expand childbearing options. Main treatments include:

• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with estrogen and often progesterone to relieve hot flashes, vaginal dryness, bone loss, and other symptoms
• Assisted reproductive technology procedures like in vitro fertilization (IVF) with an egg donor to achieve pregnancy
• Counseling and emotional support to cope with the psychological effects

Some women may start having occasional ovarian activity resulting in temporary increased fertility. Up to 5-10% of women conceive naturally after a POF diagnosis.

I hope this overview on premature ovarian failure gives you a better understanding of this complex disorder. Let me know if you have any other questions! Or feel free to schedule a hormone consultation with our exceptional team at Revive Hormone Specialists.