Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) is diagnosed when your ovaries stop working properly before the age of 40. It’s often confused with early menopause, but POI happens earlier than the typical menopause age range of 45+.
The earlier you identify and treat POI, the lower your risk of future complications. Book a consultation today and speak with one of our hormone specialists.
What are the Symptoms of POI?
You don’t need every symptom to be diagnosed.
If your periods have stopped and you notice several of the following, speak to a doctor:
- Hot flushes
- Insomnia
- Low libido
- Difficulty concentrating
- Joint pain
- Changes in hair and skin
- Depression or anxiety
- Low thyroid function
- Memory problems
- Brittle bones
- Vaginal dryness
- Recurrent thrush or urinary symptoms
It can affect your:
- Hormone levels
- Mood and mental wellbeing
- Bone strength
- Cardiovascular (heart) health
- Overall long-term health
POI symptoms can look like menopause, but when they happen under 40, we can help you find the proper support your hormones need. The earlier you identify and treat POI, the lower your risk of future complications.
What Causes POI?
In many cases, the exact cause isn’t clear. But there are known risk factors.
Medical treatments or surgery:
- Oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries)
- Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus)
- Chemotherapy
- Pelvic radiotherapy
These can damage the ovaries and affect hormone production.
Autoimmune conditions:
POI has been linked to:
- Thyroid disorders
- Diabetes
- Addison’s disease
In these cases, your immune system may mistakenly attack ovarian tissue.
Other risk factors:
- Sudden weight loss
- Eating disorders
- Genetic predisposition
- A close family member with POI
- Variants in certain genes (such as the FSH receptor gene)
How We Treat Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Syndrome
POI doesn’t just affect your cycle. It can impact your bones and heart health too, which is why treatment needs to go beyond managing symptoms.
At Marion Gluck Clinic, we take a personalised and long-term approach to care and treatment.
We use Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT), bioidentical hormones have the same chemical structure as your body’s own hormones.
This allows us to:
- Replace the hormones your body is missing
- Protect bone and cardiovascular health
- Tailor treatment to your exact hormone levels
- Adjust your plan as your needs change
Why Choose the Marion Gluck Clinic
- Specialist doctors focused exclusively on hormone health
- Personalised treatment plans with ongoing monitoring and adjustments
- Experts in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
- A holistic, whole-body approach that addresses stress, lifestyle, nutrition, and overall wellbeing alongside hormone balance
Book an Appointment Today
The Marion Gluck Clinic is a leading private medical clinic based in London. Start your journey back to optimal health by booking a consultation with one of our expert doctors. To book, you can use our online booking form, call our Patient Care Team on 020 7191 2378, or email secretary@mariongluckclinic.com
FAQs
POI is when your ovaries stop functioning normally before age 40, leading to irregular or absent periods and hormonal changes.
1 in 100 women have POI at the age of 40, with 1 in 1,000 women experiencing symptoms before the age of 30. Because of the health complications and related conditions linked to POI, women with this diagnosis have an average life expectancy that is approximately two years shorter than those without the condition. At Marion Gluck Clinic, we are intentional in our efforts to provide long term solutions beyond temporary discomfort management directly to our patients.
The exact cause is often unknown, but links include ovarian surgery, cancer treatments, autoimmune conditions, sudden weight loss or eating disorders, and genetic factors.
Symptoms vary but may include hot flushes, insomnia, low libido, mood changes, memory issues, bone weakness, vaginal dryness, and more.
Yes POI can impact bone density, heart health, and emotional wellbeing, so early medical support is important.
Hormone imbalances can influence fertility. Discuss your family planning goals with your doctor as part of your treatment planning.
We use Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) to replace missing hormones and help support bone and cardiovascular health, not just relieve symptoms.
BHRT helps balance your hormones and significantly relieves symptoms of menopause, and other hormone-related conditions including premenstrual syndrome (PMS), postnatal depression, and endometriosis.
Traditional HRT uses synthetic hormones and their chemical structure is similar to, but not exactly the same as those produced by the body. These chemical differences can mean that synthetic hormones act differently in the body and can produce different effects. We produce bioidentical hormones from diosgenin, sourced from Mexican yams, that are 100% identical to the hormones your body naturally makes, unlike synthetic hormones.
We see many women who have concerns about side effects of traditional HRT, and those who have tried synthetic hormone treatments but had unwanted side effects and as a result are looking for HRT alternatives. Because bioidentical hormones typically avoid the side effects associated with synthetic hormones, they have become a popular choice.
We work closely with Specialist Pharmacy to seamlessly deliver your hormone prescriptions, which can come in different formats, from creams, to lozenges.