Premature ovarian insufficiency

Description

Amenorrhea due to loss of ovarian function before the age of 40. Primary ovarian insuficiency (POI) is a state of female hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. It can manifest as primary amenorrhea with onset before menarche or secondary amenorrhea.; The causes of primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) include chromosomal and genetic defects, autoimmune processes, chemotherapy, radiation, infections and surgery, but many are unidentified (idiopathic). The age of 40 is set by convention but is supported by clinical observations. From a statistical point of view, the age limit of 40 is approximately two standard deviations (SD) below the average age at natural menopause (50 plus/minus 4 years).