 |
 |
What can we help you find today? |
| This site has over 200 educational pages on fertility issues and IVF Call our specialists today! (847) 662-1818 |
 |
 |
Premature Ovarian Failure, POF - Causes and Treatments
We specialize in treating POF with egg donation - Come for treatment with eggs from one of our many available donors
Definition of Premature Ovarian Failure
Diagnosis of Premature Ovarian Failure
Causes of Premature Ovarian Failure
There are several known causes for premature ovarian failure.
- 45X (Turner's syndrome), or a variant - often called a "Turner's mosaic"
Premature ovarian failure related to premutations of the FMR1 gene
- Normal (29-31 CGG repeats)
- Premutation (55-200 CGG repeats)
- Full Mutation (more than 200 CGG repeats)
- Intermediate (40 - 60 repeats)
The premutation situation is the one of importance with regard to premature ovarian failure:
Autoimmune causes of premature ovarian failure
Women with POF can have autoimmune dysfunction of other endocrine organs. Therefore, it is prudent to screen for these conditions. The organ associations are:
- Thyroid disease (most common)
- Parathyroids
- Adrenals
Screening of Autoimmune Related Problems of Other Endocrine Organs
- Thyroid disease - Thyroid function tests and thyroid antibody levels can be checked. Serum calcium, phosphate and protein levels can help evaluate hypoparathyroidism.
- Adrenal - A morning cortisol level or a corticotropin (ACTH) stimulation test assesses adrenal reserve.
- Autoimmune Dysfunction - A CBC with differential, sedimentation rate, anti-nuclear antibody and rheumatoid factor can help to assess autoimmune dysfunction.
How Common is Autoimmune Disease in Women with Premature Ovarian Failure?
Laboratory evidence of autoimmune phenomenon is much more prevalent than clinically significant disease.
Studies have shown laboratory evidence of immune problems in about 20% of women with premature ovarian failure.
It is presently unknown as to what the incidence of clinically apparent autoimmune disease will be in these patients over time.
Most commonly found antibodies:
- Thyroid
- Lupus-related
Symptoms of Premature Ovarian Failure
Treatment of Premature Ovarian Failure
Because this condition is primarily related to the loss of primordial follicles and eggs in the ovaries - there is no treatment that can reverse that process. We do not have a way to make more eggs once they are gone.
Women with well documented premature ovarian failure should be considered for starting on estrogen/progestin replacement therapy if there are no contraindications.
This will provide some protection against osteoporosis by eliminating the severely hypoestrogenic state associated with menopause.
Premature Ovarian Failure and Fertility and Pregnancy: Can I get pregnant with POF?
Regardless of the etiology, there currently is no effective treatment that will be likely to result in a pregnancy (with her own eggs) for premature ovarian failure. Egg donation is a highly successful treatment (see below).
However, some women will spontaneously ovulate on occasion and pregnancy can occur - although it is quite unusual. Those pregnancies that do occur are usually in women on estrogen replacement therapy.
Some studies suggest that up to 5-10% of women with POI will eventually get pregnant - on their own, without treatment from a doctor.
Egg Donation with In Vitro Fertilization
Egg donation with in vitro fertilization (IVF) can be a very effective therapy for women with premature ovarian failure that desire pregnancy. In our donor egg program, we have approximately a 70% chance to have a baby with one attempt.
Our egg donation pregnancy success rates
See our list of currently available egg donors
Related Article(s)
