Premature Ovarian Failure Also called: Ovarian insufficiency, POF, Primary ovarian insufficiency Summary Premature ovarian failure (POF) is when a woman’s ovaries stop working before she is 40. POF is different from premature menopause. With premature menopause, your periods stop before age 40. You can no longer get pregnant. The cause can be natural or it can be a disease, surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. With POF, some women still have occasional periods. They may even get pregnant. In most cases of POF, the cause is unknown. Missed periods are usually the first sign of POF. Later symptoms may be similar to those of natural menopause: Hot flashes Night sweats Irritability Poor concentration Decreased sex drive Pain during sex Vaginal dryness Doctors diagnose POF by doing a physical exam and lab and imaging tests. Most women with POF cannot get pregnant naturally. Fertility treatments help a few women; others use donor eggs to have children. There is no treatment that will restore normal ovarian function. However, many health care providers suggest taking hormones until age 50. NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Related Issues Are There Disorders or Conditions Associated with Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Fragile X-Associated Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (FXPOI) National Fragile X Foundation Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Ovarian Failure, Premature National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Primary Ovarian Insufficiency National Institutes of Health Diagnosis and Tests Estrogen Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development LH (Luteinizing Hormone) Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Find an Expert Find an Endocrinologist Hormone Health Network National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Array Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) blood test Luteinizing hormone (LH) blood test Ovarian hypofunction Specifics Fragile X-Associated Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (FXPOI): Condition Information National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Genetics Genetics Home Reference: blepharophimosis, ptosis, and epicanthus inversus syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency National Library of Medicine Statistics and Research Hormone Treatment Restores Bone Density for Young Women with Menopause-Like Condition (Primary Ovarian Insufficiency) National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Start Here Premature Ovarian Failure Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Primary Ovarian Insufficiency Hormone Health Network Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Teenagers Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) Children’s Hospital Boston Journal Articles Premature Ovarian Failure Symptoms What Are the Symptoms of Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Treatments and Therapies What Are the Treatments for Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
