Premature Ovarian Failure, or POF, affects 1 in 100 women but many women may not even know they're affected. What can keep women and doctors alike from noticing this disease? The Pill!
Premature Ovarian Failure (POF), also known as Premature Menopause, occurs when the ovaries aren't making enough of certain hormones for the body to ovulate properly. It can cause irregular menstrual cycles, bone loss, and if left untreated, infertility. Irregular periods can be a sign of POF - and a simple hormone test can diagnose the disease. But many times, doctors can write off missed or irregular periods as a result of poor diet or stressful life style, and put women on the pill without testing for POF. The pill then masks the symptoms - forces the body to menstruate regularly - without addressing the source of the disease.
So what happens if you've been taking the pill for years, stop taking it, and months later are still not ovulating regularly or pregnant? While its normal to not have a period for up to a few months after stopping the pill (your body has to start making its own hormones again, after all) after about 3 months or more, you might want to speak to your Ob-Gyn. They can easily test for hormone levels and let you know if you're affected by Premature Ovarian Failure. It is important to get treatment for POF - untreated it heightens your risk for osteoporosis.
So, if you're coming off the pill and don't start ovulating again, talk to your doctor and stay healthy!
Infertility is a growing problem in this world. If you suspect that you're having fertility problems, you should read this article to get the facts on what causes infertility. There are natural alternatives to harmful drugs that this article will direct you to.
ReplyDeleteInfertility Clinic