Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) (cont.)

Premature ovarian failure affects approximately:

• One in 10,000 women by age 20
  
  
• One in 1,000 women by age 30
  
  
• One in 250 women by age 35
  
  
• One in 100 women by age 40

The most common first symptom of premature ovarian failure is having irregular periods. Health care providers sometimes dismiss irregular or skipped periods (sometimes called amenorrhea - pronounced AY-men-or-ee-uh) as being related to stress; but a woman's monthly cycle is actually an important sign of her health, in the same way that blood pressure or temperature are signs of health. If you have irregular periods or skip periods, you should tell your health care provider, so that he or she can begin to determine the cause of these problems.

Some women with premature ovarian failure also experience other symptoms with premature ovarian failure. These symptoms are similar to those experienced by women who are going through natural menopause and include (but are not limited to):

• Hot flashes
  
  
• Night sweats
  
  
• Irritability
  
  
• Poor concentration
  
  
• Decreased interest in sex
  
  
• Pain during sex
  
  
• Drying of the vagina
  
  
• Infertility

Source: MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/premature_ovarian_failure_pof/article.htm