In less than 5% of cases, the ovaries can start producing eggs again. However, it is difficult to predict in whom it will happen. There is no treatment available to reverse POI.
Currently, there is no proven treatment to restore normal function to a woman's ovaries. But there are treatments for some of the symptoms of POI. There are also ways to lower your health risks and treat the conditions that POI can cause: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Even if you do not want to get pregnant, primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) can affect your overall health. People with POI who do not take hormone replacement (estrogen) are at increased risk for osteoporosis and heart disease, so it's important that the condition be detected early and managed appropriately.
Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a common gynecological disease also called primary ovarian insufficiency or early menopause. It often comes unexpected, and until now it has been considered a non-reversible pathology leading to infertility.
About 25% of women with POI may experience ovulation at least once even after diagnosis. However, there isn't treatment that can make your ovaries start to work again. Treatment for primary ovarian insufficiency helps relieve symptoms of the condition and lowers your risk of health conditions that POI may cause.
POI of autoimmune origin may be associated with adrenal autoimmunity, non-adrenal autoimmunity or isolated. This autoimmune disease is characterized by serum ovarian, adrenocortical or steroidogenic cell autoantibodies. POI of adrenal autoimmune origin is the most frequent type observed in 60-80% of patients.
Irregular periods and infertility are hallmarks of both conditions, which can lead to a misdiagnosis.
These studies have proved that psychological stressors can indeed inhibit and damage female reproductive and endocrine functions, and induce the occurrence and development of POI. However, the mechanism of action of psychological stressors on POI is not fully understood.
Lawrence M. Nelson is the leading authority on primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). For 30 years, Dr. Nelson, a gynecologist who specializes in women's health, conducted POI research at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD.
POI affects approximately 1 to 2% of women under the age of 40 and even fewer women under the age of 30 (approximately 0.1%). [5][6] This contrasts greatly with menopause, where the average age is 50 +/- 4 years. [3] Only 4% of women under the age of 45 years old will undergo menopause early.
Currently there are two types of tests used to help determine the status of your ovarian reserve. The first type is bloodwork. On cycle day 2-3, you can have your Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)/Estradiol level and an Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level drawn. The second type is a transvaginal ultrasound.
Although it's not impossible to become pregnant naturally with POI, it is very unlikely. That being said, there are fertility treatment options available. For women who have frozen their eggs, and POI is as a result of surgery or cancer treatment, IVF treatment using your own eggs is an option.
This time is called perimenopause. At the time of menopause, the ovaries run out of eggs to release each month. Menstrual cycles stop. In contrast, women with POI may have irregular or even normal menstrual cycles.
In another randomized controlled trial study, vitamin E at 400IU was given to POI patients for 3 months and significantly increased antral follicle count and mean ovarian volume, in addition to the improvement in AMH levels (Safiyeh et al., 2021).
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Diet and nutritional therapies reduce inflammation in the system, as well as help to regulate hormonal functioning. Stress management techniques such as yoga, meditation, and qigong are often useful for women with POF. Once lifestyle stressors are lessened, the body is able to heal the ovarian tissue.
Primary ovarian insufficiency and fertility
For women who have been diagnosed with POI, there is still a low chance (1-5% over a lifetime) of becoming pregnant spontaneously; however, egg freezing or IVF treatment may still be an important consideration depending on your individual situation.
POI can occur in isolation, but is often associated with other autoimmune conditions. Concordant thyroid disorders such as hypothyroidism, Hashimoto thyroiditis, and Grave's disease are most commonly seen. Adrenal autoimmune disorders are the second most common disorders associated with POI.
Conclusions. Despite these limitations, our research revealed that cumulative stressful life events might shape the risk of POI and trigger the disease progression.
A transvaginal ultrasound imaging of the ovaries is one of the relevant diagnostic tests in patients with POI. Findings of a normal ovarian size/volume and the presence of a high antral ovarian follicle count (> 6) make the diagnosis of POI less likely [9].