IVF Spring > Fertility Conditions > Premature Ovarian Failure
Premature Ovarian Failure
Termed as primary ovarian insufficiency, premature ovarian failure results in the loss of normal functioning of a woman’s ovaries before the age of 40. This prevents the ovaries from producing normal amounts of the hormone estrogen and they are not capable of releasing eggs at regular time intervals. Commonly, this results in infertility.
Sometimes called premature menopause, it is important to note that the two conditions are not the same. Whereas women with premature ovarian failure can have irregular menstruation for many years and may also become pregnant, those with premature menopause stop having menstruation altogether and cannot conceive. Treating women with premature ovarian failure with specific drugs can help women to combat low-estrogen problems such as bone loss and osteoporosis.
Premature Ovarian Failure – Symptoms
Many of the symptoms that women having premature ovarian failure experience are like those of women going through menopause. These are mainly caused by low amounts of estrogen that are being produced. Some of the symptoms are as follows:
- Irregular menstruation that has been going on for many years; sometimes this condition develops after the woman stops the use of birth control pills
- Difficulty in becoming pregnant
- Experience of hot flashes
- Sweat rush
- Dryness of the vagina Decrease in libido
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Increased irritability
Premature Ovarian failure – Causes
The medical history of the patient has to be given to the medical specialist as the first step. The physician is likely to recommend other diagnostic tests to be performed such as the following:
- FSH Level (Follicle Stimulating Hormone Level)
A high level of FSH in the blood at a particular point in the cycle is indicative of menopause.
- Immunology Tests
These tests are done on the patient to see if there are autoimmune problems of the thyroid, adrenal glands, parathyroid, etc., that may be at the root cause of developing an early menopause.
- Karyotype
It is a photograph of the patient’s chromosomes that can be used to trace genetic causes if any to trace the onset of early menopause.
When to see a doctor?
It is time for the patient to visit the doctor if it has been more than 3 months since she got her last period. Here, it is important to understand that a woman can miss her period due to many reasons: pregnancy, exercise, change in diet, stress, etc. However, any change in the menstrual cycle should be informed to the doctor at the earliest. This would help the doctor to evaluate the patient’s condition and find out the cause of the problem. Consistently low estrogen levels can lead cause bone loss.
Treatment option for Pre-mature ovarian failure & infertility
Premature ovarian failure is an irreversible medical condition. Nevertheless, conception is possible through certain treatment options. Depending on the size and quality of the egg reserve, the physician can recommend IVF by using the patient’s own eggs or even eggs of a donor. In such cases using donor eggs bring about the best outcomes.
If the condition is detected early, the patient can also choose to freeze her eggs to be used in the future. The frozen eggs can be used at a later date when the patient is ready to grow a family.
IVF Spring Fertility
Though premature ovarian failure is a rare condition that affects only 1 percent women, those who suffer from this disease have to be given special care.