Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) affects 1% of young women under the age of 40. It occurs when a woman has a loss of eggs, a dysfunction of the eggs or has had them damaged because of cancer treatment. It results in premature menopause and for many of these women, they will suffer uncomfortable and sometimes distressing symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings, sleeping problems, tiredness and vaginal dryness.
There is a need to distinguish women who have had surgical treatment from other sufferers of premature menopause, such as those who have had a spontaneous POF with low estrogen levels. In the latter, up to 50% may have some return of ovarian function, though full recovery is highly unlikely. As such, the term ‘Premature ovarian dysfunction’ may be more appropriate to describe their condition. Treatment offered has to be tailored to their needs.
Dr Nick Panay, consultant gynaecologist at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea and Chelsea & Westminster Hospitals in London and editor-in-chief of Climacteric, The Journal of the International Menopause Society, suggests that there may be a rise in the numbers of women with POF, partly a result of the increasing cure rates from gynaecological cancers. Dr Panay believes that there is a need to understand the scale of POF and of premature ovarian dysfunction so that the specific physical and psychological needs of women can be met.
Dr Panay said, “Premature menopause is an upsetting life-event for those women who have it. For some, it may be ameliorated by HRT and other new treatments but for others, the knowledge of their infertility will severely impact on their lives. Some of these women may also have other associated conditions such as osteoporosis and the risk of heart disease.
“There is currently a knowledge gap. More young women are having successful treatment for gynaecological cancers but because of the symptoms from POF, they lack vim and vigour. They may have survived the cancer for the time being but are left physically and/or psychologically wanting. We need to address this urgently so that their quality of life improves.
“We are here to help them. More research is needed to understand the best treatment for women with POF and the effects on her health and psychological wellbeing.”
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Notes
For more information and to speak to Dr Nick Panay, please contact Gerald Chan at the RCOG press office on 020 7772 4664 or email gchan@rcog.org.uk.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 8th International Scientific Meeting is taking place in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, from Monday 7 to Wednesday 9 December 2009. The meeting is held in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Health Services Co. (SEHA) and sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. For more information about the meeting, please click here.
