Will Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) Affect My Overall Health?

by National Institute of Health

(Page 4 of 5)

Because of lower hormone levels that result from POF, 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 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 POF, 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 POF may experience the condition at a much younger age.

Are there ways to prevent or treat bone conditions in women with POF?

To protect against bone loss, the National Osteoporosis Foundation1 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 recent study found that 27.0 percent of women with POF 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 POF?

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. Recent studies suggest that 3.2 percent of women with POF 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. Current research indicates that an adrenal antibody test is the most effective way to detect Addison's disease in women with POF. 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 POF?

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 POF 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 POF has surgery or undergoes other known physical stresses.

Heart disease

While it is very rare for a young woman with POF 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 POF 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 POF 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 pains. If the blood supply to part of the heart is cut off completely, because of blockage, the result is a heart attack.

About the Author

NIH is the nation's medical research agency - making important medical discoveries that improve health and save lives. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting medical research.