Primary Ovarian Insufficiency

Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (or Premature Menopause) is a difficult and little understood diagnosis for infertility with ramifications for your general health as well as for your fertility. We talk with Dr. Alex Quaas, a Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist with Reproductive Partners of San Diego and an Associate Professor at UCSD.

In this episode, we cover:

What is Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)?
Is there a difference between the labels/diagnoses – Primary Ovarian Insufficiency, Premature Ovarian Failure, Premature Menopause?
What are the symptoms (other than an inability to get pregnant)?
Is there a decrease in egg quality and increase chromosomal abnormalities?
How is POI diagnosed?
How does the diagnosis differ from PCOS?
What causes primary ovarian insufficiency?
Is there any correlation between POI and taking Accutane (a treatment for acne) as a teen?
Is there a link between premature ovarian failure and the HPV vaccine (Gardasil or Cervarix)?
Can losing one ovary lead to Primary Ovarian Insufficiency?
Are those with autoimmune diseases more susceptible to POI?
Can IVF lead to Primary Ovarian Insufficiency? Is there any evidence that aggressive stimulation of the ovaries during a typical IVF cycle can contribute to POI?
How effective is IVF with woman with Primary Ovarian Insufficiency?
What are the odds of a spontaneous pregnancy for a woman with POI?
What is the role of the infertility nurse in helping women with POI?
Is there a medical way to slow down the diminution of ovarian egg reserves?
Are their lifestyle choices that contribute to POI or contribute to increasing a woman’s ovarian reserves?
Are there supplements or vitamins that help improve fertility for women with Primary Ovarian Insufficiency?
Has alternative medical approaches or Eastern Medicine been effective with increasing fertility for women with POI?
What are the other health implications for women with Primary Ovarian Insufficiency?