What is Premature Ovarian Failure?

Premature Ovarian Failure, also known as Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) is a rare condition in which the ovaries of the female stop functioning, i.e. stop producing eggs Pre-Menopause. In this case, the ovaries of the female fail to produce normal amounts of estrogen and release eggs on time.

Premature Ovarian Failure is often confused with Premature Menopause but their conditions are not the same, in this case, it is possible for a female to get pregnant. This disease can exist from the onset of puberty or even from birth in which the girl never starts the menstruation cycle.

Ovarian Failure Causes

  • Immune system responses to ovarian tissue (Autoimmune Disease)In this rare disease in which the immune system in the female’s body produces antibodies against its ovarian tissue harm the follicles which contain the egg and damage it.
  • Effect of Toxins Heavy medications and strong medical treatments like Chemotherapy and radiation therapies have their side effects and they can damage the genetic material in cells and can cause Ovarian Failure. Several other toxins like cigarette smoke, chemicals, pesticides, and viruses contribute to damaging the ovaries.
  • Tuberculosis of the Genital Tract It is one of the primary causes leading to premature ovarian failure.
  • Resistant OvariesIt is a type of Ovarian Failure which is a result of functional disturbances in the ovarian follicles.
  • Chromosomal Defects Genetic disorders are a major cause behind the failure of premature ovarian which can be passed on to generations. This might include mosaic Turner Syndrome in which the X chromosome carried by the woman gets fragile and breaks causing the failure.
  • Unknown Factors There are several unknown factors that cause Premature Ovarian failure. In this case, the doctors recommend getting further testing done to determine the causes.

Diagnosis of Premature Ovarian Failure

The first step in determining Premature Ovarian Failure is the blood test which tells the levels of Estrogen which is produced by the Ovaries. The blood test also determines whether the pituitary gland is functioning properly and producing hormones. If the tests indicate increased Pituitary hormones and if the ovary is not releasing estrogen, it is a clear sign or Premature Ovarian Failure.

Another method of determining whether a female is suffering premature ovarian failure is to conduct transvaginal ultrasound which will determine if the female has follicles on her ovaries. The premature ovarian failure diagnosis is a great source that helps patients get the right treatment on time. It increases the chances of cure.

Treatment of Primary Ovarian Failure 

Premature ovarian failure treatment is possible today. India IVF Clinic has its infertility centers at different locations and offers premature ovarian failure treatment with good success rate. To treat Primary Ovarian Failure doctors tend to cure the levels of estrogen, which further boosts the ovary function.

To do so, doctors might suggest any of the following two treatments:

Estrogen therapy: Estrogen therapy can help in preventing osteoporosis as well as provides relief with hot flashes and other symptoms of estrogen deficiency. Doctors typically prescribe estrogen with the hormone progesterone, especially if you have not got your uterus removed. Adding progesterone protects the lining of your uterus from precancerous changes that may be triggered by taking estrogen alone.

The combination of hormones may make your menstrual cycle normal but it doesn’t restore ovarian function. Depending on your health and preferences, you might take hormone therapy until around the age of 50 which is the average age of having natural menopause. In older women, long-term estrogen plus progestin medication has been observed to increase the risk of heart and blood vessel diseases and even breast cancer. In young women with POF, however, the benefits of hormone therapy outweigh the potential risks.

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