Premature ovarian failure

What is premature ovarian failure?

Premature ovarian failure (POF), also known as primary ovarian insufficiency, is a condition where the ovaries stop functioning normally before age 40. This results in low estrogen levels and absent or infrequent menstrual periods.

Some key points about POF:

• It affects roughly 1% of women under age 40. The cause is often unknown.


• Main symptoms are irregular or missed periods, infertility, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and night sweats.


• POF increases risk for low bone density and fractures later in life due to estrogen deficiency.


• Diagnosis involves blood tests to measure follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol levels. FSH will be elevated while estradiol is low in women with POF.


• Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and preventing complications. Hormone therapy with estrogen/progestin helps resolve hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Optimizing bone health is also important.

The emotional impact of POF can be significant given the implications for fertility and hormone changes women experience. Connecting with support groups and finding an empathetic medical team is very helpful.

The specialists at Hormone Health Institute are compassionate and supportive guides for women navigating a POF diagnosis. Our integrative approach combines bioidentical hormone therapy with nutrition counseling and holistic health advice tailored to your needs. Managing POF takes a team effort - you do not have to go through this alone. We are here to listen and develop an individualized plan just for you.