Do I have POI (Premature Ovarian Insufficiency)?

Do you have irregular cycles? Do you have difficulty getting pregnant? Maybe you are experiencing the same symptoms as your mother when she was or still is in menopause, but you think you are too young to experience something like that? Then, perhaps, you are most likely to have a Premature Ovarian Insufficiency.

Premature Ovarian Insufficiency is a possible cause of infertility. Women with POI do not ovulate often and, therefore, it is difficult to conceive using their own genetic material. In this case, the treatment with the highest success rates is the Egg or Embryo Donation. IVF is one of the most common methods of assisted reproduction treatments that we recommend to our couples, and we also collaborate with credible genetic material delivery banks for the possibility of Egg/Embryo Donation.

You may experience the same symptoms as menopausal women. However, it is important to know that you are not in menopause. Menopausal women do not have a period, they do not ovulate and can not conceive with their own eggs. Women, however, who have been diagnosed with POI, occasionally, have periods, ovulate, and therefore no one can rule out the possibility of conceiving with their own genetic material (egg).

POI is a broad spectrum disorder. Some POI cases are more severe than others and their symptoms vary. The most common symptom is irregular cycles and disturbances in the period. Women with poi may present:

• Amenorrhea (no period)
• Unstable cycles (> 35 days)
• Period disorders (in terms of bleeding and the usual distance between your periods)
• Unusual bleeding during the period

In addition, it is likely that women with POI experience the same symptoms as menopause has because of their very low estrogen levels. These symptoms may be continuous or occasional. These are:

• Dyspareunia (intense pain on contact)
• Dry vagina
• Reduced mood for sexual intercourse
• Hot flashes or sweating during the day
• Sleep or difficulty sleeping
• Depression
• Anxiety

The ovaries of a woman contain tens of thousands of follicles from the time of their birth. Each follicle contains a possible egg. It is normal, however, for follicles to decrease over time. It is also natural, from one point on, for the follicles to stop responding to the hormonal stimulation, developing the egg and releasing it (ovulation). This is also the etiological factor of infertility associated with age. In women with Premature Ovarian Deficiency, the ovaries do not work as they should, so they have fewer follicles compared to a woman at the same age.

Medication that is recommended for medically assisted reproduction treatments may not have the same performance in women with POI since their ovaries may not respond to stimulating hormones efficiently.

The way to diagnose / check if a woman has Premature Ovarian Deficiency is the following examinations:

• FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone)
• Control of estradiol (E₂)
• Control of AMH (fertilizing hormone)
• Ultrasound check
• Prolactin Control (PRL)
• Seprafar / Femara test

We are always available to listen to you and do our best, in order to give you the greatest gift of life … your child! For more information and answers to any questions you might have about fertility issues, arrange an appointment with us on +30 2106895001 and we will take you one step closer to your biggest dream!