Chennai: Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) remains a major problem associated with infertility in women. POF also referred to as premature ovarian insufficiency, is a condition where there is a physiological, age-related decrease in the number of eggs in the ovaries, which could impact the chances of pregnancy at a younger age (less than 40 years).
A recent study conducted by The Institute for Social and Economic Change shows nearly 4 per cent of Indian women experience signs of menopause between 29 and 34 years of age. Additionally, this figure goes up to 8 percent in the case of women between 35 and 39 years of age. What is even more worrying is the rising incidence of young wo-men facing infertility.
Dr Madhupriya, fertility consultant at Nova IVI Fertility, Chennai, said, “When the ovaries fail, they don’t produce normal amounts of oestrogen hormone or release eggs regularly. A lesser number of eggs in the ovaries reduce women’s fertility potential and makes it difficult for them to conceive. We observe that in around 1-2 per cent of all infertility cases, women younger than 35 years old are left with a lesser number of eggs or no eggs in their ovaries.”
Lifestyle changes such as smoking, contraceptive pill use, previous ovarian surgeries, anticancer therapies and familial POF are some reasons for the disease. Psychologist N. Jessie emphasises on the need of psychological support to women with POF saying, “Women with POF be given mental support through counselling and as they can suffer from depression and infertility becomes a major responsible factor.”
