Introduction

Premature ovarian failure is diagnosed when a woman under the age of 40 years becomes menopausal, that is, she has not had a period for 12 months and her hormonal profile (follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and oestradiol (E₂)) is in the menopausal range.

There are also increasing numbers of women who are being diagnosed with low ovarian reserve. 

Ovarian reserve is an assessment of the number and quality of the eggs remaining in the ovary.  There is as yet no definitive test to determine ovarian reserve.

However, the diagnosis of low ovarian reserve is made in a woman who is generally menstruating regularly, is infertile and whose day 2-4 (of the menstrual cycle) measurement of  FSH is >10 IU/L and whose E₂ is >300 pmol/L.

These women may become pregnant spontaneously but the probability of this is low. Their chance of spontaneous pregnancy, however, is greater than for the woman with diagnosed premature ovarian failure who has about a 2-5% lifetime chance of spontaneous pregnancy.

A woman diagnosed with low ovarian reserve is at greater risk of developing early menopause.

Content Update July 24, 2007