Know your ovaries: Premature Ovarian Failure (POF)

According to doctors at Nova IVI Fertility (NIF) - a subsidiary of Nova Medical Centers - Hyderabad is witnessing young women in their 20’s and early 30’s with low or zero eggs in their ovaries.

Doctors attribute the incidence of low eggs to a condition called ‘Premature Ovarian Failure’ (POF) that is normally found in women under the age of forty. Dr Saroja Koppala, fertility consultant, says, “Over the last ten years, the incidence of premature ovarian failure has increased from just over 1 per cent in 2005 to almost 7-8 per cent in 2015, nationally.

This holds true for Hyderabad as well where we have seen an increasing number of women facing issues of premature ovarian failure.” Low ovarian reserve negatively affects female fertility primarily through sub-optimal number of eggs. Smaller number of eggs reduces women’s fertility and makes it more difficult to get pregnant.

“The only option for these women is to opt for IVF treatments with donor eggs,” says Dr Koppala. “Additionally, while preventive measures could be recommended, it is the lack of awareness on reasons for the condition to occur, which further poses a problem.

It is therefore strongly recommended that even young women in their 20s who face complications in conceiving should immediately visit a fertility expert,” she added. For further information, visit novaivifertility.com or contact Dr Azam Khan at 9848343882.