At NCCRM, we help families with fertility treatments, tubal reversals, gynecological services, and support for women facing reproductive challenges. One condition we commonly see is Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI), also known as Premature Ovarian Failure (POF)—a situation where the ovaries stop functioning properly in women under 40. This leads to reduced estrogen production and lack of ovulation, making conception difficult. Because POI can occur well before menopause, many women who visit our North Carolina fertility clinics feel understandably concerned and have many questions. To provide clarity and reassurance, our fertility specialists have compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions about premature ovarian failure.
What is Premature Ovarian Failure?
Premature Ovarian Failure is when your ovaries stop working before menopause. Usually around the age of 40, ovaries naturally stop producing ovum, but it can happen earlier than that in some people. It can start as early as teenage years and causes infertility. Some people still get occasional periods and can get pregnant, but the chances are much lower with POI.
What causes premature ovarian failure?
In some cases, the cause of POF is unknown, in others, it can be due to underlying or co-current medical conditions. Some women are born with genetic factors, like an autoimmune disorder, that can cause POF. These factors may cause the ovaries to stop functioning normally or decrease the number of eggs produced.
With autoimmune disorders, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. In some cases, this healthy tissue is a woman’s ovaries. Women with autoimmune disorders may be more likely to develop POF if they have a family history of the condition. Before your appointment at our North Carolina fertility clinics, be sure to brush up on your family’s medical history.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are also sometimes culprits in premature ovarian failure. While these treatments kill off cancerous cells, they can also damage healthy cells, including the cells in the ovaries. Women who receive these treatments may be at increased risk of developing POF. Surgery to remove the ovaries may even be necessary to treat other medical conditions, such as ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, this surgery can result in POF if both ovaries are removed.
What are the symptoms of premature ovarian failure?
The symptoms of premature ovarian failure can be challenging to manage and may affect a woman’s quality of life. Women with POF may experience irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, decreased sex drive, and difficulty becoming pregnant. When it comes to the latter, many women become concerned quickly, booking visits to North Carolina fertility clinics after just a few months of trying.
While we understand the frustration and worry, women are not actually considered to be experiencing infertility issues unless they’ve been trying to conceive for 12 months without protection. These symptoms can be distressing and may require medical attention from a skilled healthcare team. However, it’s worth noting that some women with POF may not experience any symptoms at all.
Symptoms for Premature Ovarian Failure are similar to those of menopause, and they typically include:
- Irregular or skipped periods, sometimes disappearing altogether
- Infertility
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Dry eyes
- Irritability
- Decreased sex drive
What causes POI?
It could be caused by a few different things, but most people don’t know for sure what causes it. Some genetic disorders can cause POI, such as mosaic Turner Syndrome. Mosaic Turner Syndrome is when a woman only has one normal X chromosome. The second may be fragile or broken.
Some autoimmune diseases can cause POI as well. Your immune system can produce antibodies that work against your ovarian tissues. This harms the follicles and ovaries, causing fewer ovum to be released.
Factors such as cigarette smoke, chemicals, pesticides, and other viruses may cause ovaries to speed up ovarian failure. However, the cause is often unknown. NCCRM is just one place that can help you figure out what is causing Premature Ovarian Failure, or anything else that is causing fertility problems in your life.
How can I prevent it?
Prevention is not likely. Most of the time, it doesn’t arise because someone did or didn’t do something. It is still important to avoid smoking and drinking too much or too often, and taking care of your body. NCCRM can provide you with services and other tips that can help to keep your reproductive system in good health.
How is premature ovarian failure diagnosed?
At our North Carolina fertility clinics, if you suspect that you may have premature ovarian failure, your doctor may order blood tests to measure hormone levels, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estrogen. If your results show elevated levels of FSH and LH and low levels of estrogen, you may be diagnosed with POF.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that hormone levels can fluctuate, so your doctor may recommend multiple tests to confirm a diagnosis. For example, our fertility doctors in North Carolina may want to check your thyroid function or perform a pelvic ultrasound. As always, it’s important to work closely with your doctor to determine the best course of treatment for your specific situation.
If I have it, what can I do?
Treatment for POI itself is almost nonexistent. Most of the treatments used are to help with estrogen deficiency. Estrogen therapy can help relieve hot flashes and other symptoms of POI. Your period might return with the use of hormone therapy, but your ovary function will remain the same.
There is no treatment to restore fertility. Some women and families choose to try places like NCCRM. NCCRM offers in vitro fertilization, using donor eggs, fertility surgeries, and hormone therapy to help offset symptoms and help with pregnancy.
NCCRM | North Carolina Fertility Clinics
At NCCRM, we understand premature ovarian failure can be a challenging condition to understand and manage. While some patients may choose to treat it, we also have other options available, like egg donation North Carolina. However, with the help of a skilled and experienced team of professionals, women with POF may still be able to conceive. If you think you may have premature ovarian failure, you deserve to know. To schedule your appointment or learn more about our North Carolina fertility clinics, visit our website today.
