Premature ovarian failure (POF), also known as ovarian insufficiency, is a condition in which a woman's ovaries stop functioning before the age of 40 years. Women with POF do not ovulate on a regular basis (or at all), leading to infertility. In many cases, treating premature ovarian failure is possible, leading to remission; in some cases, the condition goes into remission spontaneously.‍

Understanding Premature Ovarian Failure

‍Ovarian insufficiency is different than other common causes of infertility, such as ovulation problems. Treating premature ovarian failure requires a different approach than the treatment of either of those conditions. During premature ovarian failure, the ovaries do not respond to hormones sent by the pituitary gland, and ovulation does not occur. The most common type of premature ovarian failure is primary ovarian insufficiency, a condition in which the ovary does not respond to hormones sent by the pituitary gland. Less commonly, the hypothalamus and pituitary glands actually fail to make hormones.Symptoms of premature ovarian failure include:

• Lack of menstruation (amenorrhea)
• Symptoms of low estrogen levels such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness
• Infertility

Ovarian insufficiency can be caused by a number of different problems, including chromosomal abnormality, gene mutation, follicle dysfunction, damage to the egg follicles from chemotherapy and autoimmune diseases.

Treating Premature Ovarian Failure

Treating premature ovarian failure is difficult, because it is not as simple as just providing certain hormones or treating a specific condition. Unfortunately, no treatments for POF are truly proven to be more effective than simply trying to conceive without receiving official treatments. Estrogen replacement is the most common treatment for POF, and may have some efficacy at treating symptoms. The most effective way to get pregnant with POF is through egg donation. The chances of success with egg donation are very high, and the procedure is considered to be the best option for treatment of infertility in women with this condition. Although egg donation can be effective, it is also expensive, and many women would prefer to have a child that is genetically related to them. For that reason, many women choose to go through estrogen therapy or attempt to get pregnant naturally before considering egg donation.

Dr. Randy Morris would be happy to meet with you about treatment for your premature ovarian failure. To schedule a consultation, please click below and enter your information or call IVF1 at (630) 357-6540.