Primary Ovarian Insufficiency. Your Questions answered by Internal Specialist, Dr Mera.

Primary ovarian insufficiency, also known as premature ovarian failure, occurs when a woman’s ovaries stop working normally before she is 40 years old.

Around age 40, women are less fertile. They may begin to have irregular menstrual periods as they enter menopause. In women with primary ovarian insufficiency, irregular periods and reduced fertility start before the age of 40. Sometimes it can start as early as adolescence.

Primary ovarian insufficiency is different from premature menopause. In premature menopause, your periods stop before the age of 40 and you can no longer get pregnant. The cause may be natural, or it may be disease, surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. In primary ovarian insufficiency, some women still have occasional periods. They can even get pregnant. In most cases of primary ovarian insufficiency, the cause is unknown.