Premature Ovarian Failure (POF): What is it and who’s at risk?
Approximately 1-4% of the female population has Premature Ovarian Failure (POF). Women are normally born with enough eggs in their ovaries so that they can ovulate each month from their first period until about the age of 50. Around that age the supply of eggs is used up and menopause occurs. For girls and young women with POF, something has happened to their supply of eggs in the ovaries.
This could be happening for a variety of reasons such as loss of eggs, dysfunctional or problem eggs, and if they have had to have their ovaries removed at a young age. This is not a natural process like menopause because it’s happening way too early in life. Premature Ovarian Failure usually occurs to some women under the age of 40 and can happen as early as your teens.
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