Ovarian Failure
Premature ovarian failure is a condition in which the ovaries, which store and release eggs for reproduction, stop functioning normally in a woman under forty years old. Premature ovarian failure is also referred to as primary ovarian insufficiency or hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. Depending on its cause, premature ovarian failure may develop as early as the teens, or in rare cases the condition may be present at birth.
Health care providers used to call this condition premature menopause, but this is technically inaccurate because women with premature ovarian failure may still be able to get pregnant without treatment.
Premature Ovarian Failure Symptoms:
Often the first and most common symptom of premature ovarian failure is having irregular or absent periods. Other symptoms are similar to those of menopause, and may include:
- Infertility
- Painful intercourse
- Night sweats or hot flashes
- Irritability
- Difficulty with concentration
- Vaginal dryness
- A decreased sex drive
Premature Ovarian Failure Diagnosis:
If your periods stop or become irregular, you should tell your health care provider about these changes so you can be examined for other symptoms of premature ovarian failure. Sometimes women are diagnosed with premature ovarian failure, when they see a doctor for having trouble conceiving. In the case of an absence of a menstrual cycle, you will be given a pregnancy test, and a doctor may also recommend a blood test to determine the level of a hormone called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) that is normally present in the body. This test will help determine whether the ovaries are working properly or not.
A diagnosis of premature ovarian failure can put women at risk for other health conditions including:
-Heart disease which can be managed through diet, exercise and estrogen replacement therapy.
-Osteoporosis which is a loss of bone density and strength. Exercise and calcium and vitamin supplements can help reduce this risk, but usually hormone replacement therapy is also needed.
-Low thyroid function which affects energy levels and can cause a low metabolism. This can be treated with thyroid hormone replacement.
-Addison’s disease, which is an autoimmune disorder in which the body has trouble handling injuries, illnesses, and physical stress.
Because the ovaries are not working correctly, women with premature ovarian failure are less likely to get pregnant, but between five-and-ten percent of these women may become pregnant without fertility treatment. Other options for pregnancy in women with premature ovarian failure include using donor eggs and treatment with in vitro fertilization.
For more information on premature ovarian failure, please call 303-321-7115 or schedule an appointment for an initial consultation with one of our doctors.
(1/30/2012)
