Diagnose

How do I find out if I have Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)?

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Measuring hormone levels in the  body can help diagnose POI

Hormones are signals that control many functions in the body, including  how the ovaries work. When hormone levels are too high or too low,  the signals aren't working correctly.

To diagnose POI, healthcare providers will take a blood sample to  check hormone levels in the body. This helps determine if POI  is causing the symptoms.

POI is hard to diagnose

People with POI often see many doctors and go through several tests before they are diagnosed— this process can take years and can be frustrating.

To diagnose POI, healthcare providers will take a blood sample to check hormone levels in the body. This helps determine if POI is causing the symptoms.

The first sign of POI is often irregular or missed periods—many things can cause this symptom. Healthcare providers will usually start by checking for common reasons, like pregnancy.
Hormone levels change during the menstrual cycle. In POI, when regular periods stop, hormones do not have the same pattern. That makes it hard to know how high or low the levels should be. If hormone levels seem normal in one test, they should still be tested again a second or third time

Getting a POI diagnosis can be a very stressful event

Many people with POI experience a change in their quality of life because of their diagnosis.

Factors that can impact mental health and quality of life for people with POI may include:

Depression
Changes in self-esteem and body image
Reduced sex drive or libido
Vaginal dryness, difficulty with orgasm and/or pain with vaginal sex

A person sits with head in hand, thought bubble filled with tangled circles symbolizing confusion or anxiety.

There are a lot of strategies that people with POI can use to help with these challenges.

Explore strategies for managing POI

When diagnosing POI, doctors look at a hormone called follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

1
FSH is a hormone made by the brain that helps eggs in the ovaries grow
2
In POI, the number of eggs is reduced, and they do not respond properly to FSH, which means they don’t mature as they normally should
3
When the eggs don’t mature, the brain keeps producing more FSH to try to get the ovaries to respond
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This is why people with POI have high levels of FSH in their blood

Talk to your provider about  genetic counseling and testing

Learn what to expect from genetic testing

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