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Premature Ovarian Failure
You are considered to have premature ovarian failure (POF) if you are 40 years old or younger and your ovaries no longer ovulate (release eggs).
What Is Premature Ovarian Failure?
Premature ovarian failure — also known as primary ovarian insufficiency or hypergonadotropic hypogonadismis — is a stop in the normal functioning of the ovaries in a woman younger than age 40.
POF used to be called premature menopause, but it is not the same as menopause. Menopause is a natural occurrence, but POF is not. If you have POF you might continue to get your period, even if it comes irregularly, and a small percentage of women with POF are able to conceive. Menopausal women stop having their periods completely and cannot get pregnant.
About 250,000 to 1 million women in the U.S. have POF. It affects 1 in every 100 women between the ages of 30-39 and approximately 1 in every 1,000 between the ages of 15-29. You can get it at any age or time in your life, whether or not you have had children.
What Causes Premature Ovarian Failure?
Normally, follicles in the ovaries supply women with eggs until age 51, the average age of natural menopause when the supply of eggs is used up. Follicles are also important because they release the hormone estrogen, which is crucial for a woman’s overall health and bone health.
Although researchers know the ovaries stop functioning normally in POF, in most cases they do not know exactly what causes it. It may be the follicles in your ovaries are not working properly. Or it may be that you have run out of follicles, and there is no way to make more. In some cases, POF may be genetic and run in families.
How Does POF Affect Fertility?
Loss of ovarian function affects your fertility because you are not forming or releasing an egg (oocyte). There is no fertility treatment that can restore the normal functioning of your ovaries.
You also should be aware that insufficient estrogen can lead to serious health problems such as osteoporosis (decreased bone density), which can be successfully treated.
Comments
I have been working to
I have been working to fight my POF diagnosis for over a year now with some success. If you would like to see my journey I have kept a journal and have decided to post it on a blog. It is possible to get pregnant and I know I will. Good luck to everyone with a POF diagnosis. Together we can beat the odds
Please tell me where can I
Please tell me where can I see your blog,
thanks
I've been blogging for 3
I've been blogging for 3 months about my journey to 40 and have only JUST started talking about my POF diagnosis (which happened a decade ago).
Today I wrote about my personal account of the 5 stages of grieving, and am asking all women with POF to leave their mark by sharing their thoughts, feelings and experiences.
Big love,
Grace xx
Here's the link:
http://projectgrace2010.blogspot.com/2010/05/5-stages-of-grief.html
Hi Grace, I too was
Hi Grace,
I too was diagnosed some years back with POF, I just turned 41...Thankfully POF struck after the birth of my son.
Something inexplicable has been happenning to me the past couple of weeks. I was going through insane hormonally charged discomforts.
The usual symptoms this time including nausea and breast tenderness compounded with fatigue compelled me to hope for the impossible and get a home pregnancy test. I tested faintly positive, tested myself repeatedly throughout the week, same result.
Sadly today I have started to bleed. I made an appointment for a blood test next week to test my hcg levels. Nurse practitioner says that it is not necessarily a miscarriage, but bleeding is never a happy event during pregnancy.
In my case any spontaneous bleed is amazing, i have a bi-annual cycle :))
All that is to say, there is hope. I did I did have some kind of conception/fertilization/matured egg. I never thought it was possible, my FSH and other stats were terrible last physical, and even the donor egg option seemed daunting.
I am feeling more optimistic about my ability to concieve again, I would love nothing more.
Good luck
this is truly very
this is truly very inspiring post..i must appreciated the effort to post the stuff like this..thanks
I've been dealing with POF
I've been dealing with POF and high FSH for several years now too.
There is still so little known about it, I try to keep up to date with all the research.
I created my own blog about ways other women have overcome their infertility, even if it helps one woman out there.
http://pofhighfshresource.blogspot.com/
Best
Mary
I was diagnosed with POF
I was diagnosed with POF when I was about 22 or 23. I am currently 26 and have been married for 2 1/2 yrs. My husband and I are trying to have kids and it is being a rough road. When I was first diagnosed with POF I was in denail and it felt like I was in a dream and I couldn't wake up. Everyday I struggle with this condition. I fell like I'm letting my awesome husband down cause we are having a very hard time getting pregnant. All I wanted to do was be a wife and a awesome mom like my mother who is my role model. I know if its suppose to happen it will and I know it will happen in its own time if God wishes it. I know we can adopt and that is a definte and honerable possiblity, but I would like to carry on my husband's name to create a new generation of our family. So I pray for all of those brave women.
I was diagnosed with POF
I was diagnosed with POF when I was about 22 or 23. I am currently 26 and have been married for 2 1/2 yrs. My husband and I are trying to have kids and it is being a rough road. When I was first diagnosed with POF I was in denail and it felt like I was in a dream and I couldn't wake up. Everyday I struggle with this condition. I fell like I'm letting my awesome husband down cause we are having a very hard time getting pregnant. All I wanted to do was be a wife and a awesome mom like my mother who is my role model. I know if its suppose to happen it will and I know it will happen in its own time if God wishes it. I know we can adopt and that is a definte and honerable possiblity, but I would like to carry on my husband's name to create a new generation of our family. So I pray for all of those brave women.
Sarah Jean
Sarah Jean, if you want to
Sarah Jean, if you want to carry on your husbands child you can...through egg donation. It is a wonderful option...I have POF and we had our son via egg donation and we are just thrilled. Here is my blog if you are interested in egg donation http://www.fertilityauthority.com/blogger/1014968
I am 23 years old, I have
I am 23 years old, I have not had a period in 5 years. I guess at first, I really didnt care. I liked not having my period, and I thought it was because I was gaining weight, and was completly oblivious that something could seriously be wrong. About 2 years ago, I had my first pap done ever. I immediatly told the obgyn, about my situation, and she refferred me to a specialist. Thats when I found out that I had POF. I felt scared and haven't returned to the doctors since. I know I need to go, but I am scared. I have no idea what the treatments are, and how they'll make me feel, and also cash is tight. How are they helping other women with this disease? I get so depressed when I think about it. The best thing about being a women is being able to have children, and I feel empty, alone and that something special is missing in my life. I know that there is adoption, and I've always wanted to do that, even before I found out I might not be able to have kids. I just wanted to have a part of me continue on earth even after I am gone. Do the treatments work? Is there a chance you could get pregnat without taking the treatments? How do other women cope? I don't know I just feel lost.
There are great POF support
There are great POF support groups. There is actually a great one on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/POI.POF?ap=1 There are ways of conceiving. I have POF and we decided to go the egg donation route. You can follow my blog here http://www.fertilityauthority.com/blogger/1014968
Best of luck!
There are some meds out
There are some meds out there to help you ovulate. Then there are meds and shots you can take once you ovulate to help the chances of conception. It isn't too bad, but it does take its toll after a while and in my case stick with a pretty tight schedule of meds and appointments.
Good luck!
Oh my god! I have to
Oh my god! I have to respond because of the last post. I have never read about someone ad young as me with these problems.
I stopped having a period at age 17 and thought I was pregnant. Turned out i wasn't and was put on Yasmin. I stopped taking it within a year because the symptoms were terrible and again, no period. Went back to the obgyn and turned out my FSH levels were "through the roof" (I don't remember the exact number) and my estrogen levels were extremely low. I was 18 and was told I had POF/perimenopause and that I had no eggs and could never become pregnant. Every specialist after this was flabbergasted and said they had never seen someone so young go through this after developing secondary sex characteristics and actually having regular periods prior.
After a few years of trying birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy I gave up. Stopped going to doctors and stopped all medication, and accepted my new fate. I thought I was going through menopause. I felt like I was grieving a loss of a child. I could have an eight year old daughter right now if I had really been pregnant. It took a while but eventually I became okay with it and found peace of mind with being the way I am. And hey, at least I don't have to buy tampons.
EIGHT YEARS later, I am now 25. I started having some disturbing heart palpitations and other problems and ended up being referred to a place in Atlanta - Progressive Medical Center. For the first time ever this doctor was actually interested in helping me with everything including POF, rather than shrugging me off as a medical mystery. He believes it's all related and that my adrenal glands are overactive and could be causing the insomnia, palpitations, asthma, even the lack of periods.
I have been on a detox diet that each new patient follows prior to specific treatment. No dairy from cows, no gluten, no caffeine, no alcohol, and no soy. And 12 glasses of water a day.
Well, it has been three weeks since I started detoxing and I can't believe it. Not only have I lost 10 pounds- I just got my period. I am absolutely shocked. This isn't something they said would happen- at least not just simply by detoxing.
There could be hope! I am nervous and excited. Not sure what will happen next or if i could potentially conceive. Im amazed to hear about someone my age going through the same thing.
So to you, don't feel lost. I know how you feel. And it will be okay.
Wow! That is just an
Wow! That is just an amazing story. Yours is the second story I have heard like this. I am in the process of changing my diet again. My husband and I have a son via egg donation but I figure now that I have a little more patience we might give TTC on our own another shot.
Can you please post the diet!
Can you please post the diet!!!
Please Please tell me the
Please Please tell me the name of the doctor and the hospital phone number ect. Really need a miracle My period stop 2 years ago Thanks sooo much
Me too i want the adreeand
Me too i want the adreeand the doctor name
Can you please post the diet!
Can you please post the diet!!!!
I really loved reading your
I really loved reading your blog. It was very well authored and easy to understand. Unlike additional blogs I have read which are really not tht good. I also found your posts very interesting. In fact after reading, I had to go show it to my friend and he enjoyed it as well!
Thank you!!!
Thank you!!!
I have to just comment and
I have to just comment and say that I too was about 17 when I was diagnosed with POF. I actually had one real period...then it never came back again. I wasnt to worried b/c what girl at 17 wants a period? I am struggling now that i am 30 and want children. It's honestly the hardest thing i've ever had to deal with and i feel like no one understands what i am going through. I am going to read your blog and hope that it makes me feel better. I have had 3 unsuccessful ivf attemps...one with donor eggs (found out my donor was infertile too) and two donor embryos. I just feel lost and confused.
Great wordpress blog here..
Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care
Premature Ovarian Failure since age 13
Hi,
My name is Tayyeba, i am 38 years old and married currently to my second husband. Never had a period in my life. Docs did all tests over and over again from age of 17 and found no reason for that except that maybe due to extremely low estradiol levels and psychological trauma as a kid. Needed an emergency abdominal hysterectomy recently (only uterus removed). It was hell, but discontinued a much worse situation and my husband was and has been very supportive.
I would appreciate any replies or questions. I am no doctor but i am a Survivor of POF and can maybe put a smile on your face.
Premature Ovarian Failure @ age of 31
I've been married 6 yrs and we are now ready to have kids but its too sad to find out that i'm suffering POF. My doctor told me that the only remedy to get pregnant is to do donor egg. I'm just wondering if there's any other option I can do before I will do donor egg? Pls help!
Premature Ovarian Failure @ age of 31
Believe me, i can relate to you better than anyone else out there.
I wish you my dear all the best in whatever you decide to do.
Good luck and don't forget you are a Survivor not a Victim.
Trust yourself
I just wanted to post my experience here. A year ago I was diagnosed with pof and was shattered. I just didn't believe it. I fought to find out why and wanted to know why the symptoms I had weren't consistent with pof - my fsh was over 100! But I had migranes and abdominal pain in one ovary as well as noise in my ears. Turned out I had a pituitary tumour. But still they said I have premature ovarian failure. My endocrinologist said my best option was egg donation and gave me nothing to treat my tumour. A bad reaction to the pill meant I couldn't control my symptoms. But I was on the pill long enough to generate cycles. I had two natural periods then bam! Pregnant. My pregnancy lasted 8 short weeks but I was happy to know my body was trying to work. Then two weeks later my symptoms started again. It might be the tumour or it might be something else but I will continue to fight the diagnosis, fight the symptoms and fight the tumour to get my fertility back. Drs said I can't but I've already proved them wrong and I'll do it again. Had I not screamed for that MRI I might have lived with premature ovarian failure my whole life but I won't accept it because it's my body and I know I can beat this.
Born with P.O.F
also
do any of you find that you have a lot of troubles sleeping. you are tired but when you actually lay down and try and sleep you just cant? and do any of you also find it hard to have an orgasm as well because i have never had one and i believe it is because of my P.O.F