"Are These Premature Ovarian Failure Signs Being Ignored? Your Body Never Lies!"
"Premature ovarian failure" (POF) is a term that may not sound too reassuring. It not only affects a woman's fertility but also leaves visible signs on her face due to ovarian decline: wrinkles and skin aging, which are considered women's archenemies. Nowadays, with an increasing number of individuals experiencing POF, what exactly is it, and what are its symptoms?
What is Premature Ovarian Failure (POF)?
Premature ovarian failure, also known as primary ovarian insufficiency, refers to a condition where women under the age of 40 experience menstrual disorders (such as menopause or oligomenorrhea) due to declining ovarian function, accompanied by high gonadotropin levels and low estrogen levels. Menopause or oligomenorrhea lasting for more than 4 months, with an interval of over 4 weeks, and two consecutive FSH levels above 25U/L, indicate POF.
Typical Symptoms of Premature Ovarian Failure:
- Menstrual disorders or menopause lasting for more than 4 months before the age of 40, including oligomenorrhea, shortened menstrual cycles, decreased menstrual flow, gradual cessation of menstruation, or sudden absence of menstruation in those with regular cycles.
- Primary or secondary infertility, with secondary infertility being more common.
- Menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, sweating, mood swings, sensory abnormalities, insomnia, memory loss, vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, recurrent vaginitis, urinary tract infections, genital organ atrophy, decreased libido, long-term osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological degeneration.
- Some patients may exhibit autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, myasthenia gravis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
- B-mode ultrasound reveals a small uterus and ovaries with diameters smaller than those of women of reproductive age. No follicles or few follicles with diameters less than 10mm are present, and continuous monitoring shows no follicle development.
- Basal body temperature remains monophasic, cervical mucus scores are low, and vaginal cytology examination indicates low estrogen levels.
