Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) (cont.)
Are there treatments for the symptoms of premature ovarian failure?
Currently, no proven treatment will restore normal function to a woman's
ovaries. But, health care providers can suggest treatments for some of the
symptoms of premature ovarian failure.
One of the most common treatments for women with premature ovarian failure is
hormone replacement therapy (HRT). In women with
premature ovarian failure, HRT gives their bodies the estrogen
and other hormones that their ovaries are not making. Replacing these hormones
causes a woman with premature ovarian failure to start having regular periods again. In addition, HRT
may help women with premature ovarian failure lower their risk for the bone disease
osteoporosis.
HRT is usually a combination of the hormones estrogen and progesterone (or
the man-made form of progesterone, called progestin). Women can take the therapy
as a pill, or they can wear a patch that sticks to their skin to get the
hormones into their bodies. Many health care providers suggest the patch for
women with premature ovarian failure because it offers a continuous flow of hormones into the blood
stream, which mimics the way the body naturally releases estrogen. The
combination and amount of hormones used in HRT may differ for different women.
If you have questions about HRT as a treatment for premature ovarian failure, talk to your health care
provider.
Most health care providers suggest that women with premature ovarian failure
take HRT until they are 50 years old. After that time, women should talk with
their health care provider about stopping HRT because of risks associated with
older women taking the therapy after menopause.
Current research is also looking into the benefits of replacing the hormone
testosterone to prevent bone loss in women with
premature ovarian failure. Most people think of men's
health when they hear the word testosterone, but women's bodies also make
testosterone, at a level about one-seventh that of men. Testosterone helps to
maintain muscle and bone mass, and may be related to a woman's sex drive. The
ovaries make testosterone, and its level is lower in women with premature
ovarian failure. But, unlike
estrogen and progesterone, testosterone is not usually replaced as part of HRT.
Next: Is HRT safe for me to take if I have premature ovarian failure? »
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