Premature Ovarian Failure Overview
Learn About Premature Ovarian Failure
Premature ovarian failure is reduced function of the ovaries (including decreased production of hormones). Ovarian failure that occurs before the age of 40 is considered premature ovarian failure.
Ovarian hypofunction; Ovarian insufficiency
Premature ovarian failure may be caused by genetic factors such as chromosome abnormalities. It may also occur with certain autoimmune disorders that disrupt the normal function of the ovaries. Most often there is no obvious cause, although a family history of the condition may play a role.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can also cause premature ovarian failure.
Women with premature ovarian failure may develop symptoms of menopause, which include:
- Hot flashes
- Irregular or absent periods
- Mood swings
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
This condition may also make it hard for a woman to become pregnant.
Estrogen therapy often helps relieve menopausal symptoms and prevents bone loss. However, it will not increase your chances of becoming pregnant. Fewer than 1 in 10 women with this condition will be able to get pregnant. The chance of getting pregnant increases to 50% when you use a fertilized donor egg (an egg from another woman).
Philippe Touraine practices in Paris, France. Mr. Touraine is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Premature Ovarian Failure. His top areas of expertise are Premature Ovarian Failure, Intersex, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), Familial Glucocorticoid Deficiency, and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
Svetlana Vujovic practices in Belgrade, Serbia. Ms. Vujovic is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Premature Ovarian Failure. Her top areas of expertise are Premature Ovarian Failure, Obesity, Cushing's syndrome, Infertility, and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
Anne Bachelot practices in Paris, France. Ms. Bachelot is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Premature Ovarian Failure. Her top areas of expertise are Premature Ovarian Failure, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), Intersex, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), and Endoscopic Transnasal Transsphenoidal Surgery.
Contact your health care provider if:
- You are no longer having monthly periods.
- You have symptoms of early menopause.
- You are having difficulty becoming pregnant.
Summary: This study investigates the differences in gut and vaginal microbiota between women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and healthy volunteers. POI refers to the reduction in ovarian function before the age of 40, leading to irregular or absent menstruation and decreased estrogen levels, which can significantly affect women's reproductive and overall health. Recent research has suggested th...
Summary: Ventricular repolarization, measured by corrected QT interval (QTc), is influenced by sex hormones. A QTc above 460msec predisposes to the risk of torsades-de-pointes(TdP). The investigators have recently shown that estradiol determines an increase in QTc elongation and progesterone shortens it. In addition, high gonadotropin levels (FSH or LH) are associated with QTc prolongation. Hypergonadotrop...
Published Date: April 16, 2024
Published By: John D. Jacobson, MD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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