PREMATURE MENOPAUSE
PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY (POI)
Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) – also called Premature Menopause – is a condition in which lower than normal estrogen production can mimic perimenopause. This condition can cause irregular menstrual cycles, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and painful intercourse.
Women who are suffering from this endocrine condition are unlikely to get pregnant naturally. Traditional physicians will often recommend donor eggs for women with this condition when they want to get pregnant. However, with the support of integrative therapies, women are often able regain healthy ovarian function which may allow pregnancy to occur.
POI is a serious disorder which should be addressed with estrogen-progesterone therapy – whether or not you are trying to get pregnant – to avoid further health problems from developing due to the deficiency of hormones with POI, including osteoporosis and heart disease.
Dr. Ruthie Harper in Austin, TX is a skilled, compassionate and experienced endocrine expert, who can offer you natural ways to restore your missing hormones – such as bioidentical hormone therapy – to reverse the effects of POI and dramatically improve your chances of getting pregnant without expensive or artificial intervention treatments.
Premature Menopause Symptoms
- Irregular or missed periods
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Irritability
- Poor concentration
- Decreased sex drive
- Pain during sex
- Vaginal dryness
- Infertility
Causes of POI
- Genetic disorders
- Fragile X syndrome or Turner syndrome
- Low number of follicles
- Autoimmune disease (Addison disease, etc.)
- Thyroiditis
- Certain viral infections
- Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- Metabolic disorders
- Toxins (cigarettes, chemicals, pesticides, etc.)
Treating POI
While it is not always possible to restore normal function to a woman’s ovaries, there ways to alleviate the symptoms of POI as well as lower the health risks that Primary Ovarian Insufficiency can cause.
Primary Ovarian Insufficiency Treatments include:
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can replace the estrogen and other hormones that the ovaries are not making
- Calcium and vitamin D supplements reduce the risk for osteoporosis
- Regular physical activity and a healthy body weight
- In vitro fertilization (IVF) if ovarian function cannot be restored.
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