Having spoken with hundreds of women in the past few years dealing with infertility, we can definitely say that Premature Ovarian Failure or else Primary Ovarian Insufficiency is one of the most frustrating cases. And the obvious reason is that it is affecting relatively younger women who by nature are least likely to have an issue with conceiving. This journey to fertility is challenging and sometimes difficult to handle, but with knowledge, expertise, and support along the way, anything is possible!
Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) or else premature ovarian failure (POF) happens when the ovaries stop working properly before the age of 40. More or less, 1% of the female population is affected by this disorder, where estrogen hormone is not produced in an expected amount, and eggs are not released regularly. This leads to fertility issues at a relatively young age and can cause a lot of frustration in women trying to conceive.
We ourselves prefer to call it POI and not POF since the word “failure” is far from accurate. In some women, POI is temporary. The right treatment, an early diagnosis, and the right psychology while confronting it, may remit the consequences of this condition. There are chances for women with primary ovarian insufficiency to succeed in a natural conception. So, describing it as failure is not suitable at all!
Although fertility treatments and ART have progressed immensely in the last decade, there are some things that are still difficult to diagnose and justify. One of these cases is premature ovarian failure. In about 90% of the cases, the cause is unknown. From the known cases though, 20%-30% is reported to be associated with autoimmune diseases.
Research indicates that follicle problems (e.g. dysfunctional follicles making it impossible for the eggs to grow and mature inside) may cause ovarian insufficiency.
Therefore, the diagnosis might be difficult and stressful for women suffering from infertility due to this condition. Some of the known causes are the following:
A very common mistake that follows POI is the confusion with premature menopause. While in the first one your periods might be irregular for years and even conceive, during the second one, the period stops, and getting pregnant becomes more difficult.
Menopause indicates the end of menstrual life and usually occurs around 50 years of age. POI is a different condition from menopause although the symptoms are similar. Around 50% of women experiencing POI, can still have their ovaries functioning -intermittently maybe- for several years. That means that women can still achieve pregnancy even after the diagnosis.
PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) is the most common cause of female infertility. It is a hormonal imbalance problem , meaning the woman can’t ovulate normally. Interestingly enough, POI occurs more among women with PCOS compared with women without PCOS.
There are women with POI that don’t have any noticeable symptoms, but usually the most common sign is the irregular or missed periods. Other symptoms may include:
There is always a possibility of misdiagnosing and that’s the reason why the fertility specialist needs to exclude causes of menstrual cycle dysfunction such as thyroid disorder -evaluating TSH level – and hyperprolactinemia -evaluating prolactin level-.
Although women might notice signs of POI, the condition may be suspected by the doctor only if the periods stops being regular or if you are having trouble getting pregnant.
Before diagnosing POI, the doctor might recommend a pregnancy test, hormone level tests, or even search for certain genetic/gene defects such as Fragile X Syndrome.
Hot flashes or vaginal dryness might suggest POI if it is combined with lack of period or irregularity of cycles. But the absence of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that there is no POF. In order for the doctor to be 100% sure that it is indeed POF you are dealing with, they will need to make a thorough research of your medical history along with blood tests measuring AMH (anti-müllerian hormone) level, FSH, and Estradiol Level and it might be necessary to assess the AFC (antral follicle count) in the ovaries by a transvaginal sonogram.
All in all, irregular cycle or no cycle at all, an elevated FSH, low Estradiol levels, an insignificant level of AMH, in women younger than 40 years old, can be consistent with primary ovarian insufficiency.
Women who suffer from this condition have a lower chance of conceiving compared to other women however, spontaneous pregnancies can happen. Although the majority of doctors and scientists have not found a way to increase the number of new eggs in the ovaries or improve the quality of the existing ones, there is one innovative treatment performed by several fertility specialists in Greece, Spain and the US, the ovarian rejuvenation therapy.
It is a procedure that can create new eggs in the ovaries of women who are unable to conceive due to early menopause, advanced maternal age, or low ovarian reserve, but who wish to have their own biological child.
There is also no age limit for the candidates, but as common for all fertility treatments, the best chances are if you are under 40 years of age.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a commonly recommended solution as in some cases it alleviates the symptoms of POF. Some women have second thoughts about getting this specific therapy since there are several side effects (e.g. bloating, swelling, feeling sick, leg cramps, etc.) and it is also medication-based.
The only treatment that is generally accepted to increase the likelihood of pregnancy is IVF with Egg Donation.
Why don’t you read here a premature ovarian failure success story to get hope? 🙂
Last but not least, there are a few health tips to improve egg fertility, such as a healthy diet, stress management, and achieving a normal BMI (body mass index).
Since it is an early age disorder -sometimes in women under 30 years of age- it is very important for the healthcare providers to offer support to these women in order for them to process better an infertility issue that was not expected. Once it is diagnosed, it needs to be evaluated at least once a year.
The battle against infertility may seem uneven sometimes, but thanks to the extended research and expertise on the matter, the chances of winning are becoming more each day!
Greece takes pride of being one of the most popular destinations for fertility treatments, and MEDIPASS cooperates with several fertility doctors and fertility clinics that will definitely take good care of you.
Request your quote and start your fertility journey with us!
We're Here To Help You
Fill in the form to receive more information about doctor and treatments
