Premature Ovarian
Insufficiency (POI)
Premature Ovarian Insufficiency, or POI (previously Premature
Ovarian Failure, or POF) affects approximately 1 out of every 1000
women between 15-29 years of age. If you have been diagnosed with
POI, you feel alone and different. It might help you to know that
there are thousands of other young women who have POI, too.
It can also help you feel better to know that doctors and
scientists are also doing research to learn more about POI. This
guide was created to answer your questions as well as offer
information about fertility options.
What is premature ovarian
insufficiency (POI)?
Most girls who have POI report that they went to their doctor when
they stopped having periods. Girls with POI may have one or more
of the following symptoms:
lack of breast development during puberty
lack of menstrual periods
decrease in breast size
hot flashes
vaginal dryness
mood swings
insomnia (not being able to sleep)
The two most common symptoms are
lack of breast development and lack of menstrual periods.
How is
POI diagnosed?
Your doctor can find out if your ovaries are working by doing a
simple blood test to check the hormone level, FSH (Follicle
Stimulating Hormone). It's usually necessary to repeat the blood
test to make sure the first test was correct. High levels of FSH
in a blood test usually mean that you have POI.
Your health care provider will also check other hormones and
genetic tests to see if there is a reason for the POI. Make sure
to tell your health care provider about others in your family with
POI or other health conditions (autoimmune conditions, endocrine
problems, retardation, neurological diseases).
How is POI treated?
The treatment for POF is to replace the hormones that your body is
no longer making. The name for this type of treatment is called
hormone replacement therapy, or HRT. The hormones that need to be
replaced are estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are
necessary for breast development, menstrual periods, and healthy
bones.
There are many different types of HRT. HRT is available as skin
patches, pills, vaginal rings, and shots. Skin patches or
“transdermal estrogen” provides estrogen levels most like what
your ovaries would make. The estrogen patches are applied to the
skin once or twice a week. The progesterone is usually a separate
pill. Estrogen also comes in pills just for HRT. In addition,
birth control pills and the birth control patch and ring can be
used for HRT because they contain both estrogen and progesterone
although the dose may be higher than needed just for replacement.
Rarely women have become pregnant on HRT. You should discuss all
the options with your health care provider
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