{"id":1615,"date":"2023-02-10T14:42:45","date_gmt":"2023-02-10T14:42:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/?p=1615"},"modified":"2023-02-10T14:43:10","modified_gmt":"2023-02-10T14:43:10","slug":"primary-ovarian-insufficiency-causes-symptoms-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/primary-ovarian-insufficiency-causes-symptoms-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Primary Ovarian Insufficiency: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

POI, or primary ovarian insufficiency, can be defined as a gynecologic condition that develops when a woman’s ovaries fail earlier than they should. The ovaries are small glands on either side of the uterus, and they are responsible for producing and releasing eggs during ovulation. The ovaries also produce hormones that play crucial roles in several essential bodily functions, including pregnancy and menstruation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Usually, egg production stops in menopause or around the age of 51. Primary ovarian insufficiency happens abruptly for some women, with periods suddenly stopping. For others, the issue is progressive, following years or months of irregular periods.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, our expert team prepared a brief outline of everything you need to know about the condition and how it can contribute to female infertility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About POI<\/b><\/h2>\n

The condition was previously called premature ovarian failure; however, lately, the scientific community has discovered that women with POI are able to experience intermittent ovulation. This means that female infertility isn’t guaranteed, and patients with the condition may still release eggs and get pregnant. As a matter of fact, generally, 5% to 10% with the disease will experience spontaneous pregnancy without infertility treatment. Because of this, some experts call the condition “decreased ovarian reserve.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Common Is Primary Ovarian Insufficency?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

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This rare condition affects only around 1% of women between 15 and 44. It can develop both in women who had children or still haven’t been pregnant, but it’s the most prevalent in women over 30.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The condition causes estrogen deficiency or low estrogen levels, which may produce side effects and symptoms similar to menopuase, like decreased libido, hot flashes, mood changes, and increased risk for other conditions such as heart disease and osteoporosis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many patients with the condition also experience female infertility, but fortunately, with adequate fertility treatment and medications, women can become pregnant even with POI.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Causes and Symptoms<\/b><\/h2>\n

In most cases, healthcare experts don’t exactly know what causes primary ovarian insufficiency, but some research shows that there’s a hereditary component in one-third of POI cases.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other causes may include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n