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Premature Ovarian
Failure at a Glance
Fertility problems plague millions of women, but if it happens
to you, it is easy to feel like you are the only one. In
fertility happens for all kinds of different reasons. You might
have a health problem like thyroid disease, lupus, diabetes, or
another autoimmune problem that has taken its toll on your
reproductive system. Cancer can be damaging to fertility, as
can some serious viral infections. Some women even have their
fertility compromised through an injury of some sort. One of
the most trying fertility problems a woman can face, however,
is premature ovarian failure.
Premature ovarian failure can be an unsettling diagnosis for
many women because of the symptoms in brings along with it in
addition to the ovarian failure itself. If you or someone you
love is facing this diagnosis, the best ways to stem the
concerns you have about the condition is to education yourself
and arm yourself with as many facts as possible. Here is a
simple rundown of what premature ovarian failure is exactly and
what you can expect if it happens to you or a loved one.
First things first – make sure you understand what premature
ovarian failure is – and what it isn’t. What this condition is
is one in which the supply of eggs in the ovary is somehow
compromised – either because of a medical condition or as a
result of surgery to remove an ovary. What premature ovarian
failure isn’t, is premature menopause. The presentation,
symptoms and results may the same as premature menopause, but
premature ovarian failure occurs in women who are considered to
be too young to experience even premature menopause (the
threshold is around age 40). So, if your ovaries fail, even if
they fail “naturally”, that is, they fail not as a result of
surgery but because of some medical/hormonal condition, and you
are younger than 40, then you have premature ovarian failure
and not premature menopause.
Again, semantics aside, women experiencing premature ovarian
failure generally experience the symptoms of menopause. In the
early stages of premature ovarian failure, your periods may
become irregular or stop completely. Hot flashes, night sweats,
disrupted sleep, irritability, fatigue, vaginal dryness, loss
of interest in sex and/or painful sex and weight changes are
all also symptoms of premature ovarian failure.
Of course, many of these symptoms are non-specific and could
indicate any number of health problems, as well as just plain
old stress. For this reason, many women with premature ovarian
failure have a difficult time getting a diagnosis. If you are
having these symptoms, it is important to keep a record of them
and be vocal when you visit your doctor about ruling out causes
for the symptoms. Don’t allow them to be written off as stress
without some exploration.
There can be many causes for premature ovarian failure, but
there are some things that increase your risk. Autoimmune
disorders are often associated with premature ovarian failure.
If you have diabetes, lupus, thyroid disease, polyglandular
failure, rheumatoid arthritis, or adrenal disorders, your
doctor should pay close attention to changes in your menstrual
cycle and monitor you for premature ovarian failure.
Chromosomal or genetic disorders, like Turner Syndrome, are
also associated with premature ovarian failure.
To diagnose premature ovarian failure, your doctor will conduct
a panel of blood tests to gauge your hormone levels, especially
your FSH level. Normally, your doctor will repeat these tests
two months in a row to compare results. If you are diagnosed,
hormone replacement therapy (similar to menopause related HRT,
but at higher doses) or in some cases, birth control pills,
especially for very young patients. A healthy diet and exercise
is also suggested to keep the symptoms in check and related
problems like heart disease at bay.
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