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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.