Unravelling the Mystery behind Premature Ovarian Failure

16:50 27th September 2020 | Ovulatory Disorders

premature ovarian failure Primary ovarian insufficiency premature menopause Period

Primary ovarian insufficiency — also called premature ovarian failure — occurs when the ovaries stop functioning normally before age 40. When this happens, your ovaries don't produce normal amounts of the hormone estrogen or release eggs regularly. This condition often leads to infertility.

Primary ovarian insufficiency is sometimes confused with premature menopause, but these conditions aren't the same. Women with primary ovarian insufficiency can have irregular or occasional periods for years and might even get pregnant. But women with premature menopause stop having periods and can't become pregnant.

Restoring estrogen levels in women with primary ovarian insufficiency helps prevent some complications that occur as a result of low estrogen, such as osteoporosis.

What causes premature ovarian failure?

Sometimes it is not possible to identify a reason why this condition has occurred. However, some identified causes may include:

genetic problems, such as Turner syndrome
autoimmune diseases where the body does not recognise certain tissues and attacks itself; for example, lupus
the side-effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other cancer treatments
a number of general conditions, such as enzyme deficiencies or infections like mumps.

What symptoms manifest in relation to this disorder?

Signs and symptoms of primary ovarian insufficiency are similar to those of menopause or estrogen deficiency. They include:

Irregular or skipped periods, which might be present for years or develop after a pregnancy or after stopping birth control pills
Difficulty getting pregnant
Hot flashes
Night sweats
Vaginal dryness
Dry eyes
Irritability or difficulty concentrating
Decreased sexual desire

How common is premature ovarian failure?

It is relatively rare, occurring in one in 1,000 women under the age of 30 and one in 100 women under the age of 40.

Is premature ovarian failure inherited?

Most cases of premature ovarian failure are not inherited. Approximately 10% of patients have a family history of the condition.

When to see a doctor

If you've missed your period for three months or more, see your doctor to determine the cause. You can miss your period for a number of reasons — including pregnancy, stress, or a change in diet or exercise habits — but it's best to get evaluated whenever your menstrual cycle changes.

Even if you don't mind not having periods, it's advisable to see your doctor to find out what's causing the change. Low estrogen levels can lead to bone loss and an increased risk of heart disease.

Complications

Complications of primary ovarian insufficiency include:

Infertility. Inability to get pregnant can be a complication of primary ovarian insufficiency. In rare cases, pregnancy is possible until the eggs are depleted.
Osteoporosis. The hormone estrogen helps maintain strong bones. Women with low levels of estrogen have an increased risk of developing weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis), which are more likely to break than healthy bones.
Depression or anxiety. The risk of infertility and other complications arising from low estrogen levels causes some women to become depressed or anxious.
Heart Disease. Early loss of estrogen might increase your risk.

Source: Mayo Clinic and You and Your Hormones

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