by Brittle Pen

Created on: November 16, 2006   Last Updated: April 18, 2007

What do you do if you are under the age of 40 and are having erratic periods or are missing periods altogether? The first thing I did was take pregnancy test after pregnancy test and got only negative results. After having sporadic periods for a year and then going without a period for five (5) months, I decided to consult my OB/GYN.

My OB/GYN was genuinely concerned about my condition and lack of menstruation. (I got somewhat of a scolding for allowing this to go on unchecked, so in retrospect, I should have taken this concern to my doctor much sooner.) I was only 33 years old at the time that this occurred and normal menopause should have been years away. She immediately suspected that the fact that my body is overweight could be the reason my periods had ceased. But this suspicion proved to be wrong.

My doctor order a round of blood tests and in less than two days, I learned about three (3) words that changed my life forever PREMATURE OVARIAN FAILURE.

What is PREMATURE OVARIAN FAILURE (POF)?

Premature Ovarian Failure is basically a disruption of the supply of eggs in a young woman (below age 40). Most women are born with enough eggs for ovulation to occur from about age 10 or 12 to age 50. When that entire supply of eggs is used up through monthly ovulation, menopause then occurs. If something occurs to the eggs or ovaries which suspends ovulation, periods cease and the diagnosis is often "Premature Ovarian Failure". It is believed that POF occurs in 1-4% of young women.

How is a diagnosis made for Premature Ovarian Failure?

As mentioned above, my OB/GYN ordered a round of blood tests to determine the diagnosis. The tests included estrogen level, progesterone level, and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level. These initial tests came back showing that I had a high FSH level and a low estrogen level which signified that my body was producing FSH and signaling my ovaries to release an egg. Because no eggs were being released, my body continued to produce FSH and my FSH levels got higher and higher.

My OB/GYN then sent me to an endocrinologist (essentially a doctor specializing in hormones). My endocrinologist then ordered more blood tests and researched my history to determine if there may be other reasons why my periods had ceased. I was tested for diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, kidney dysfunction as well as some other ailments. I was, again, tested for estrogen, progesterone, and FSH levels. All test results pointed to Premature Ovarian Failure.

What are the

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