Premature ovarian failure — also known as primary ovarian insufficiency — is a loss of normal function of your ovaries before age 40. If your ovaries fail, they don't produce normal amounts of the hormone estrogen or release eggs regularly. Infertility is a common result.

Premature ovarian failure is sometimes referred to as premature menopause, but the two conditions aren't the same. Women with premature ovarian failure can have irregular or occasional periods for years and might even become pregnant. Women with premature menopause stop having periods and can't become pregnant.

Restoring estrogen levels in women with premature ovarian failure helps prevent some complications, such as osteoporosis, that occur as a result of low estrogen.

Signs and symptoms of premature Ovarian failure are similar to those of going through menopause and are typical of estrogen deficiency. They include:

• Irregular or Skipped periods (amenorrhea), which might be present for years or develop after a pregnancy or after stopping birth control pills
• Difficulty conceiving
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Irritability or difficulty concentrating
• Decreased sexual desire

When to see a doctor

If you've missed your period for three months or more, see your doctor to help determine the cause. You can miss your period for a number of reasons — including pregnancy, stress, or a change in diet or exercise habits — but it's best to get evaluated whenever your menstrual cycle changes.

Even if you don't mind not having periods, it's advisable to see your doctor to find out what's causing the change. Low estrogen levels can lead to bone loss.

In women with normal ovarian function, the pituitary gland releases certain hormones during the menstrual cycle, which causes a small number of egg-containing follicles in the ovaries to begin maturing. Usually one or two follicles — tiny sacs filled with fluid — reach maturity each month.

When the follicle matures, it opens, releasing an egg. The egg enters the fallopian tube where a sperm cell might fertilize it, resulting in pregnancy.

Premature ovarian failure results from the loss of eggs (oocytes). This might happen because of:

• Chromosomal defects. Certain genetic disorders are associated with premature ovarian failure. These include mosaic Turner's syndrome — in which a woman has only one normal X chromosome and an altered second X chromosome — and fragile X syndrome — in which the X chromosomes are fragile and break.
• Toxins. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the most common causes of toxin-induced ovarian failure. These therapies can damage the genetic material in cells. Other toxins such as cigarette smoke, chemicals, pesticides and viruses might hasten ovarian failure.
• An immune system response to ovarian tissue (autoimmune disease). In this rare form, your immune system produces antibodies against your ovarian tissue, harming the egg-containing follicles and damaging the egg. What triggers the immune response is unclear, but exposure to a virus is one possibility.
• Unknown factors. It's possible to develop premature ovarian failure, but have no known chromosomal defects, toxin exposure or autoimmune disease. Your doctor might recommend further testing to find the cause, but in most cases, the cause remains unknown (idiopathic).

Treatment for premature ovarian failure usually focuses on the problems that arise from estrogen deficiency. Your doctor might recommend:

• Estrogen therapy. Estrogen therapy can help prevent osteoporosis and relieve hot flashes and other symptoms of estrogen deficiency. Your doctor typically prescribes estrogen with the hormone progesterone, especially if you still have your uterus. Adding progesterone protects the lining of your uterus (endometrium) from precancerous changes caused by taking estrogen alone.

  The combination of hormones can cause vaginal bleeding again, but it won't restore ovarian function. Depending on your health and preference, you might take hormone therapy until around age 50 or 51 — the average age of natural menopause.

  In older women, long-term estrogen plus progestin therapy has been linked to an increased risk of heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease and breast cancer. In young women with premature ovarian failure, however, the benefits of hormone therapy outweigh the potential risks.

• Calcium and vitamin D supplements. Both are important for preventing osteoporosis, and you might not get enough in your diet or from exposure to sunlight. Your doctor might suggest bone density testing before starting supplements to get a baseline bone density measurement.

  For women ages 19 through 50, the Institute of Medicine recommends 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium a day through food or supplements, increasing to 1,200 mg a day for women age 51 and older.

  Scientists don't yet know the optimal daily dose of vitamin D. A good starting point for adults is 600 to 800 international units (IU) a day, through food or supplements. If your blood levels of vitamin D are low, your doctor might suggest higher doses.

Addressing infertility

There's no treatment proved to restore this common complication of premature ovarian failure. It's important to understand and grieve for this loss of ovarian function and to seek counseling if you need it

Some women and their partners pursue a pregnancy through in vitro fertilization using donor eggs. The procedure involves removing eggs from a donor and fertilizing them with your partner's sperm in a lab. The fertilized egg (embryo) is then placed in your uterus.

Factors that increase your risk of developing premature ovarian failure include:

• Age. Risk rises between the ages of 35 and 40, although younger women and adolescents can develop the condition.
• Family history. Having a family history of premature ovarian failure increases your risk of developing this disorder.
• Multiple ovarian surgeries. Ovarian endometriosis or other conditions requiring repeated surgeries on the ovaries increases the risk of premature ovarian failure.

Primary ovarian failure/insufficiency occurs when the ovaries stop functioning as they should before age 40. When this happens, your ovaries don't produce typical amounts of the hormone estrogen or release eggs regularly. This condition is also called premature ovarian failure and often leads to infertility

1. Restoring estrogen levels in women with primary ovarian insufficiency helps prevent some complications that occur as a result of low estrogens, such as osteoporosis.
2. Estrogen therapy can help prevent osteoporosis as well as relieve hot flashes and other symptoms of estrogen deficiency. Your provider may prescribe estrogen with the hormone progesterone, especially if you still have your uterus. Adding progesterone protects the lining of your uterus (endometrium) from precancerous changes that may be caused by taking estrogen alone.
3. Calcium and vitamin D supplements. For women ages 19 through 50, experts generally recommend 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium a day through food or supplements, increasing to 1,200 mg a day for women aged 51 and older.
4. The optimal daily dose of vitamin D isn't yet clear. A good starting point for adults is 600 to 800 international units (IU) a day, through food or supplements. If your blood levels of vitamin D are low, your provider might suggest higher doses.
5. Addressing infertility- There's no treatment proved to restore fertility. Some women and their partners pursue pregnancy through in vitro fertilization using donor eggs. The procedure involves removing eggs from a donor and fertilizing them with sperm. A fertilized egg (embryo) is then placed in your uterus.

Symptoms
Irregular or skipped periods,Difficulty getting pregnant,Hot flashes,Night sweats,Vaginal dryness,Dry eyes,Irritability or difficulty concentrating,Anxiety,Mod swings,Depression,Decreased sexual desire
Conditions
Ovaries stop working earlier than normal,Amenorrhea,Hot flushes,Sweating
Drugs
Hormone therapy