Living with Premature Ovarian Failure

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is similar to premature menopause; however the conditions are not synonymous with each other. Women with premature menopause stop having periods all together, but women with premature ovarian failure have sporadic periods over many years. POF usually presents in women before the age of 40. Women who have POF are at risk for osteoporosis; however, restoring estrogen levels in the body may help prevent calcium loss, which in turn prevents osteoporosis.

Amenorrhea (missed periods) is one of the most common signs of premature ovarian failure. My ovaries failed in my early 30's and for years I would not have a sign of a menstrual cycle. Every now and then I would have spotting, but never a period. I have continued into menopause since then, which caused me to be infertile. Infertility was the hardest fact to deal with, since my husband and I wanted a child so much.
Premature ovarian failure not only causes a cessation of menses, it also causes other symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats, inability to concentrate, irritability, and vaginal dryness, which are related to a deficient estrogen level in the woman's body.

Normally our ovaries contain immature follicles that contain the eggs, and approximately every 28 days the pituitary gland secretes a hormone, FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), which in turn causes a few of the follicles to mature. It is these mature follicles that produce the hormone, estrogen that sends a message to the pituitary gland that there is no longer any need to produce FSH. The pituitary gland sends another hormone, LH (luteinizing hormone) which causes the follicles to burst open like a flower opening its petals. But in premature ovarian failure, the ovarian follicles do not mature, and do not release estrogen to notify the pituitary gland to stop making FSH. A commonality between the women with POF is that they have high levels of follicle stimulating hormone.