Premature Ovarian Failure
May 23, 2008
What is premature ovarian failure?
The term premature ovarian failure describes a stop in the normal functioning of the ovaries in a woman younger than age 40. Some people also use the term primary ovarian insufficiency to describe this condition. It is also known as hypergonadotropic hypogonadism.Health care providers used to call this condition premature menopause, but premature ovarian failure is actually much different than menopause.
- In menopause, a woman will likely never have another menstrual period again; women with premature ovarian failure are much more likely to get periods, even if they come irregularly.
- A woman in menopause has virtually no chance of getting pregnant; a woman with premature ovarian failure has a greatly reduced chance of getting pregnant, but pregnancy is still possible.
What are the symptoms of premature ovarian failure?
The most common first symptom of premature ovarian failure is skipping or having irregular periods.Some women with premature ovarian failure also have other symptoms, similar to those of women going through natural menopause. These may include:
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Irritability, poor concentration
- Decreased interest in sex or pain during sex
- Drying of the vagina
- Infertility
Premature ovarian failure also puts women at risk for some other health conditions, some of them serious, including:
- Osteoporosis – loss of bone strength and bone density. Getting enough calcium, vitamin D, and weight-bearing physical activity can help reduce this risk.
- Low thyroid function – affects metabolism and can cause very low energy. Replacing the thyroid hormone can treat the problem.
- Addison’s disease – an autoimmune disorder in which the body has trouble handling physical stress, such an injury or illness, because of problems with the adrenal glands. About 3.2 percent of women with premature ovarian failure also have Addison’s disease. Addison’s can be dangerous for women who don’t know they have it. This condition can’t be prevented, but can be managed with help from your health care provider.
- Heart disease – estrogen replacement therapy, along with keeping a healthy body weight and getting regular, moderate, physical activity, can help reduce this risk.
Also, it is important to know that people who are carriers for the gene for Fragile X syndrome, or who have the premutation for the condition, are more likely than other people to get premature ovarian failure. If you are a Fragile X carrier or have a premutation, it is important to get tested for premature ovarian failure.
No comments yet.