There are various causes of infertility which may affect both the male and the female partner. The premature ovarian failure (POF), or early menopause, is among the causes of infertility in women. Even if POF is a rare condition, it is a serious condition that cannot be treated and may cause further complications such as low bone density, due to low amounts of female hormones.
Causes of Early Menopause
The loss of ovarian function is also known as menopause and typically occurs in women over the age of 50. The average year of menopause is 51. When menopause happens before the age of 40, this is a case of premature ovarian failure. POF is not menopause per se, as it has different causes and may have more severe complications. POF may be caused by a number of factors:
- Hormonal imbalance (i.e. low estrogen levels and high levels of follicle stimulating hormone FSH), which may be caused by thyroid problems or tumors on thyroid glands
- Removal of ovaries
- Autoimmune disorders
- Chemotherapy, radiation treatment and cancer
However, most of the times, the causes of premature ovarian failure are not known, so POF is an idiopathic disease.
Symptoms of Early Menopause
Early menopause is a rare condition that may affect approximately 1% of women. The symptoms of early menopause may include:
- Lack of menstruation for at least 4 months in a row
- Lethargy
- Excessive sweating
A woman affected by early menopause will also display typical menopause symptoms such as:
- Skin dryness
- Excessive sweating, night sweating
- Hot flushes
- Increased heartbeat or irregular heartbeats
- Frequent migraines
- Vaginal dryness
- Depression
- Tingling skin sensation or formication
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Lack of concentration
- Memory loss
- More frequent urination
However, these symptoms will be more severe than in older women that experience normal menopause.
Detection of POF
Further tests to detect premature ovarian failure are performed if the patient has missed at least 4 periods. 2 FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) tests are performed scheduled 2 months apart. If the results of the tests are equal or higher than 40 mIU/ml, the diagnosis of POF is given.
Treatment Options
Women diagnosed with POF may still conceive, but this may be more problematic than in healthy women. However, there are no known treatment options to increase fertility. In vitro fertilization and adoption are viable options for women with POF that wish to have children.
Additional Risks
Due to the fact that the estrogen levels are low in women with POF, they are also more exposed to osteoporosis or decreased bone density, vaginal dryness ad vasomotor flushes. For this reason, a hormonal replacement therapy is recommended. Heart disease, thyroid problems or Addison’s disease are more likely to occur in women with POF.
