|
Premature ovarian failure (POF) describes persistently elevated (menopausal) levels of follicle stimulating hormone occurring prior to age 40. Unlike true menopause, POF may not be permanent in all cases and there is still a small chance that pregnancy can occur. There are many causes of POF and a full infertility evaluation is warranted. Some causes include gonadal dysgenesis, fragile X premutation, viral infection, environmental exposure (radiation or chemotherapy), and familial predisposition. A thorough evaluation by a Reproductive Endocrinologist, Fertility Specialist is very important when this diagnosis is considered.
In many circumstance, women with POF will pursue IVF using donor eggs. When a donor's eggs are used, the IVF cycle success rates equal that of the donor's age group. For example, if the eggs from a 22 yr old female are used in an IVF cycle with the resultant embryos being placed in a fifty year old woman; success rates equal the 22 yr old group and are typically high. In fact, as long as a woman's uterus is intact and healthy and she has no major health problems pregnancies can be produced at almost any age. Most programs have a maximum patient age beyond which they will not admit women to their donor egg program. Our maximum age for the female is 50.
|
