What is premature ovarian insufficiency?
Primary ovarian insufficiency — also called premature ovarian failure — occurs when the ovaries stop functioning normally before age 40. When this happens, your ovaries don't produce normal amounts of the hormone estrogen or release eggs regularly. This condition often leads to infertility. Primary ovarian insufficiency is sometimes confused with premature menopause, but these conditions aren't the same.
What is the difference between premature ovarian failure and early menopause?
Women with primary ovarian insufficiency can have irregular or occasional periods for years and might even get pregnant. But women with premature menopause stop having periods and can't become pregnant.
Restoring estrogen levels in women with primary ovarian insufficiency helps prevent some complications that occur as a result of low estrogen, such as osteoporosis.
Symptoms include:
- Irregular or skipped periods
- Difficulty getting pregnant
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Dry eyes
- Irritability or difficulty concentrating
- Decreased sexual desire
If you've missed your period for three months or more, see your doctor to determine the cause.
Primary ovarian insufficiency may be caused by:
- Chromosomal defects.
- Toxins. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are common causes of toxin- induced ovarian failure. Other toxins such as cigarette smoke, chemicals, pesticides and viruses might hasten ovarian failure.
- An immune system response to ovarian tissue (autoimmune disease).
- Unknown factors.
Risk factors
- Age. The risk goes up between ages 35 and 40. Although rare before age 30, primary ovarian insufficiency is possible in younger women and even in teens.
- Family history.
- Ovarian surgery.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/premature-ovarian-failure/symptoms-
causes/syc-20354683
