How will having premature ovarian failure affect my overall health?
Because of lower hormone levels that result from premature ovarian failure, you are at greater
risk for a number of health conditions. These conditions, and what you can do to
stay healthy, are described below.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis (pronounced OWS-tee-oh-pour-oh-siss) is
a bone disorder that decreases bone strength and increases the risk for breaks
and fractures.
Estrogen helps to conserve calcium and other minerals in bones and protects
against bone loss. In premature ovarian failure, the ovaries stop making estrogen, which can cause
women to lose bone density, or bone
strength, one of the major factors leading to osteoporosis.
Even though osteoporosis is more common in people ages 50 and above, women
with premature ovarian failure may experience the condition at a much younger age.
Are there ways to prevent or treat bone conditions in women with premature
ovarian failure?
To protect against bone loss, the National Osteoporosis Foundation
recommends that women who are at risk for osteoporosis:
Get at least 1200 mg of calcium in their diets every
day. If it is not possible to get this amount through diet, take a calcium
supplement.
Get between 400 IU and 800 IU of vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium,
every day.
Get regular, weight-bearing and muscle-building physical activity.
Weight-bearing physical activity, such as walking, will help build bone
strength. Activities like yoga or tai chi help build muscle strength and improve
flexibility.
An adequate level of estrogen in the body is an important factor in
preventing bone loss that may lead to osteoporosis. The strategies listed here
may slow bone loss, but none of them will prevent bone loss entirely.
Low thyroid function
This problem is also called hypothyroidism
(pronounced high-poe-THIGH-royd-iz-em).
The thyroid is a gland, like the ovary, adrenal, and
pituitary glands. It
makes and releases hormones. Specifically, the thyroid makes hormones that
control the body's metabolism and energy
level. Low levels of the hormones made by the thyroid can affect metabolism,
and can cause a woman to have very low energy.
Symptoms include a slow down in the body's normal
rate of functioning, which can lead to mental and physical sluggishness. Cold
feet are also a feature of low thyroid function.
A study found that 27.0 percent of women with premature ovarian failure also had low
thyroid function. In the general population, only two percent of all people
(both men and women) have low thyroid function.
Are there ways to prevent or treat low thyroid function in women with
premature ovarian failure?
Replacing the hormone that the thyroid is not making enough of treats this
problem. Usually, you can take a pill to replace the hormone.
Addison's disease
Addison's disease is an autoimmune disorder, meaning
the body's immune cells, which normally protect the body from invading cells
and microbes, attack the adrenal glands, part of the endocrine system located
above the kidneys. The adrenal glands produce hormones that regulate the
body's response to stress and its handling of salt.
Addison's disease is also called primary autoimmune
adrenal insufficiency.
Studies suggest that 3.2 percent of women with premature ovarian failure
also have Addison's disease, making them much more likely than members of the
general population to develop the disease.
Symptoms of Addison's disease include loss of
appetite, weight loss, dizziness when standing, and fatigue. In later stages
of Addison's disease, salt craving, low blood pressure, and darkening of the
skin may occur.
Research indicates that an adrenal antibody
test is the most effective way to detect Addison's disease in women with
premature ovarian failure.
If the results of this test are positive, a health care provider may order a
second test, called an ACTH stimulation test, to confirm the diagnosis. Both tests involve
collecting blood samples.
Are there ways to prevent or treat Addison's disease in women with
premature ovarian failure?
While there is currently no way to prevent Addison's
disease, the best way to treat it is to find out whether you have it. You can
easily manage the condition with the help of your health care provider, by
taking medication that replaces the hormones your adrenal glands are not making.
If left untreated, however, the disease can be life threatening because the body
can't respond properly to stressful events, such as severe illness, injury, or
surgery.
Researchers now recommend that health care providers
screen all women who have confirmed premature ovarian failure for Addison's disease using the adrenal
antibody test, although such screening is not yet standard practice. If women
with undetected Addison's disease undergo an exceptional physical stress, such
as surgery or a car accident, they are at risk for an "adrenal crisis," a
situation that can lead to shock and even death. Therefore, screening for the disease is especially
important before a woman with premature ovarian failure has surgery or undergoes other known physical
stresses.
Heart disease
While it is very rare for a young woman with premature ovarian failure to
develop heart disease, certain factors related to the disorder might increase
her chances of developing heart disease later in life.
Lower levels of estrogen in premature ovarian failure can lead to higher levels of low-density
lipoprotein (LDL)
cholesterol. LDL is known as
"bad" cholesterol because it is the main source
of the buildup and blockage in arteries that can lead to heart attacks.
Lower levels of estrogen in premature ovarian failure can also lead to lower levels of
high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol,
known as "good" cholesterol because it helps prevent buildup and blockage in
the arteries.
After some time, buildup of cholesterol in the
arteries can cause "hardening of the arteries," which means that the blood
flow to the heart is slowed down or blocked. Blood carries oxygen to the
heart. If the heart can't get enough oxygen, a person may have chest pain. If the blood supply to part of
the heart is cut off completely, because of blockage, the result is a heart
attack.
Are there ways to prevent heart disease in women with premature ovarian
failure?
Getting adequate estrogen therapy may help guard against heart disease.
Estrogen helps the body by:
Keeping the lining of the arteries healthy
Relaxing muscles that control arteries to allow
better blood flow to tissues
Normalizing LDL and HDL levels to decrease
cholesterol build up in the arteries that could lead to blockage Maintaining a
healthy body weight and getting regular physical activity are important in
reducing the risk of heart disease. These factors can affect your cholesterol
level, which, in turn, can affect your risk for heart disease. Other risk
factors for heart disease include:
Talk to your health care provider about heart disease to determine what
steps, if any, you should take to lower your risk.
Among women with premature ovarian failure, studies show that 13.8 percent of women with a family
history of premature ovarian failure, and 2.1 percent of women without a family history of
premature ovarian failure may
also have a mild form of Fragile X syndrome.
Fragile X syndrome is a genetic condition that arises
because of an error in a single gene. In women with an affected gene, the
symptoms can range from none at all, to learning disabilities and problems
with math, to a slightly higher risk of anxiety disorder. Women who have an
affected gene may pass it on to their children, who may experience learning
disabilities and other problems as a result.
If you have a confirmed diagnosis of premature ovarian failure, you should
talk to your health care provider about Fragile X syndrome and tests to find
abnormalities in the Fragile X gene.
Night sweats are severe hot flashes that occur at night and result in a drenching sweat. In order to distinguish night sweats that arise from medical causes from those that occur because one's surroundings are too warm, doctors generally refer to true night sweats as severe hot flashes occurring at night that can drench sleepwear and sheets, which are not related to an overheated environment.
Hypothyroidism is any state in which thyroid hormone production is below normal. Normally, the
rate of thyroid hormone production is controlled by the brain at the pituitary.
Hypothyroidism is a very common condition and the symptoms of hypothyroidism are
often subtle.
Low testosterone can affect both men and women. Causes of low testosterone in males include undescended testicles and injury to the scrotum. Low testosterone in females includes ovary conditions. Treatment for low testosterone in men includes testosterone replacement therapy. Currently there is no FDA approved testosterone treatment for women.
Normal vaginal bleeding (menorrhea) occurs through the process of menstruation. Abnormal vaginal bleeding in women who are ovulating regularly most commonly involves excessive, frequent, irregular, or decreased bleeding. Causes of abnormal may arise from a variety of conditions.
Learn about osteoporosis, a condition characterized by the loss of bone density, which leads to an increased risk of bone fracture. Unless one experiences a fracture, a person may have osteoporosis for decades without knowing it. Treatment for osteoporosis may involve medications that stop bone loss and increase bone strength and bone formation, as well as quitting smoking, regular exercise, cutting back on alcohol intake, and eating a calcium- and vitamin D-rich balanced diet.
Addison disease is a hormonal (endocrine) disorder involving destruction of the adrenal glands (small glands adjacent to the kidneys). Diseased glands can no longer produce sufficient adrenal hormones (specifically cortisol) necessary for normal daily body functions. Symptoms include weight loss, muscle weakness, fatigue, low blood pressure, and sometimes darkening of the skin. Treatment of Addison disease involves replacing, or substituting, the hormones that the adrenal glands are not making.
Heart disease (coronary artery disease) is caused by a buildup of cholesterol deposits in the coronary arteries. Risk factors for heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, heredity, diabetes, peripheral artery disease, and obesity. Symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath. There are a variety of tests used to diagnose coronary artery disease. Treatment includes life-style changes, medications, procedures, or surgery.
Hot flashes (or flushing) is the most common symptom experienced by a woman prior to and during the early stages of menopause. Hot flashes can be caused by other conditions. Diagnosis is made by taking a patient history and at times, blood tests. Treatment options include hormone therapy, bioidentical hormone therapy, and medications. There are non-FDA approved natural remedies.
Infertility is the diminished ability to conceive a child. The primary cause of infertility in men is a sperm disorder. In women, the primary cause of infertility is an ovulation disorder. Most forms of infertility can be treated. Conventional infertility therapies include drugs or surgery.
Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited form of mental retardation. It's caused by a mutation on the X chromosome. People with Fragile X syndrome suffer from physical, social, emotional, speech, language, sensory, intelligence, and learning impairments. There is no definitive treatment for Fragile X, though there are ways to minimize the symptoms.
Menstruation (menstrual cycle) is also referred to as a "period." When a woman menstruates, the lining of the uterus is shed. This shedding of the uterine linking is the menstrual blood flow. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days. There can be problems with a woman's period, including heavy bleeding, pain, or skipped periods. Causes of these problems may be amenorrhea (lack fo a period), menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea), or abnormal vaginal or uterine bleeding. There are a variety of situations in which a girl or woman should see a doctor about her menstrual cycle.
Pregnancy planning is important to help prevent exposure of the mother and fetus to potentially harmful medications and substances during the early days, and throughout the pregnancy. Nutritional planning, prevention of birth defects, conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease need careful monitoring. Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and pregnancy induced hypertension are conditions that may arise during pregnancy. Immunizations, inherited disorders, exercise, air travel, intercourse, and birth control are important factors to consider when planning a pregnancy.
Premature menopause is when a woman goes through menopause before the age of 40 because of genetics, illness, or a medical procedure. Symptoms of premature menopause include irregular or missed periods, mood swings, hot flashes, periods that are heavier or lighter than usual, vaginal dryness, bladder irritability, incontinence, dry skin, eyes or mouth, sleeplessness, and decreased sex drive. Though premature menopause cannot be reversed, the symptoms can be managed with methods similar to those used for natural menopause.
Trying to get conceive, or become pregnant can be challenging, frustrating, and an emotional rollercoaster for some couples. There are things you can do to chart progress, which may ultimately lead to a successful healthy pregnancy, or, when necessary, lead to discussions with a fertility specialist. Being aware of your menstrual cycle, charting your fertility pattern, knowing the reasons for infertility, and treating infertility are key points to discuss with your partner and physician.
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