Preovarian Failure at 25

[Alice0503]

Hello, I am new to this forum and this topic in general. I am 25 years old and have recently been informed that I have POF. Quite a stunning diagnosis for me at 25. I recently had a consultation with a RE and my fiance and I are getting ready to freeze embryos. Any and all advice is appreciated. We are pretty devastated with the news being that we are both so young. Thank you for your support. Alice

[KEL9611]

Dr Plosker,

I saw a comment you wrote that said and elevated FSH level with nomal periods is not premature ovarian failure and was hoping you may be able to provide me with some optimisim.  I just recently turned 30 and am 125 lbs at 5'8". I have periods either the night of day 27 or the morning of day 28 of my cycle.  I have never missed a period in years, my periods are normal and cramps are not a problem for me.  Every check up with my OBGYN has been normal and she had no reason to think there would be a problem.  I originally went to her because I had been trying for 5-months but never got an LH surge using the OPKs and i used them practically every day of my cycle.  She did a clomid challenge test and my FSH level was a 20 at day 2 and day 9.  I just saw an RE and he did not sound like I had any chance of getting pregnant with my FSH levels but he did an ultrasound of my ovaries and told me that everything looked very good and I had very healthy follicles.  He wants to test my FSH level again along with other bloodwork but I will not get results for 3 weeks.  I am going crazy especially based on his negative outlook if my FSH level is a 20.  Can you think of any reason why my FSH would be so high when I show no other symptoms of POF?  Any advice would be GREATLY APPRECIATED

[Alice0503]

Hi Dr. Plosker,

My fiance and I were referred to a RE (one month ago) because my FSH was high (I wanna say at 11 if that makes sense).  

I went on the bc pill at age 16 and went off 5 months ago. I have had my period on my own three times in the past 5 months (two times in one month and then the third time during a separate month). I completed a Clomid Challenge test and this is what prompted my OBGYN to refer me to a RE.  I just began taking progesterone to induce a period so I can then get some blood work done and then the following month(June) my ovaries will be stimulated to see if I have eggs available. If so, my fiance and I will freeze embryos. If not, we will have to look into egg donors.  We are not planning to have a child unti July of 2009 after we are married.

My mom stopped having periods at 30 years old and did not have any menopausal symptoms. My fraternal twin sister is going through the same exact treatment as I am, currently.  She does not have any periods on her own and has experienced hot flashes, hair loss, depression, etc.

I hope this helps. I am not sure what to call my diagnosis, but I have been told by several doctors that I do indeed have POF or atleast the beginning stages of ovarian failure.

Please help if you have any other advice. Quite devastated at such a young age w/no children.

Kindly,
Alice

[Shayne Plosker, MD]

Dear Alice0503 - I am puzzled by your posting. If you have premature ovarian failure, I do not understand how you can be planning to freeze embryos. The definition of premature ovarian failure is 4-6 months without a period, and an elevated FSH on two occasions at least 6 weeks apart. Is this you? Do you have hot flushes? WIth premature ovarian failure, by definition your ovaries will not have eggs to provide for embryo freezing. If your periods are regular, you are ovulating, and contemplating IVF then you cannot possibly have premature ovarian failure.

Is your FSH elevated? This is different than premature ovarian failure if you are still having regular periods.

[LvnEmbryos]

Well when we do embryo banking which is what it sounds like you are doing, there is no reason not to do more than one cycle.  It will be a good indication how your first cycle goes.  Based on this you may want to talk to your RE about a future cycle...GL!!

[Alice0503]

Should I speak with my RE about freezing embryos more than once? Is this something he will talk with me about? I am just hoping I have eggs to use. He wont know this until he stimulate my ovaries which should be here in the next few weeks.

Thanks again for your advice.

[LvnEmbryos]

So sorry to hear about your news.  Freezing your embryos is a fantastic idea, and if you can do it more than once that is ideal.  I'll be thinking of you.

[Alice0503]

I am not exactly sure what my FSH was. I need to check during my next visit with the RE.

[shayla1]

What did your FSH test at?