I Have Premature Ovarian Failure — Can I Still Get Pregnant?

Premature ovarian failure is relatively rare. Only 1 in 1,000 women under the age of 30 and 30 in 1,000 under the age of 40 reach the end of their ovarian reserves — the number of viable eggs remaining in your ovaries. If you have premature ovarian failure, you probably have questions. Perhaps most importantly, you might be wondering if you can still get pregnant. 

Here at the California Center for Reproductive Health, we help women and couples from throughout the greater Los Angeles area to get pregnant and have healthy babies at our two modern and welcoming offices in Encino and West Hollywood, California. Our experienced doctors can identify the cause of your fertility problems, including premature ovarian failure, and provide a wide range of options to help you grow your family.

What is premature ovarian failure?

Premature ovarian failure is clinically diagnosed when your ovaries stop releasing viable eggs before the age of 40, well before you reach menopause. Many factors contribute to premature ovarian failure, such as:

You might not know that you have premature ovarian failure until you start trying to get pregnant without success. Remember, if you’re under the age of 35, you should talk to a fertility specialist, like our compassionate and experienced doctors, Eliron Mor, MD, and Irene Wood, MD, here at the California Center for Reproductive Health if you don’t get pregnant within 12 months of trying. If you’re 35 or older, get help if you’re not pregnant within six months. 

However, you might also stop getting your periods or have menopause symptoms,

like hot flashes, night sweats, and mood changes. 

Can I get pregnant if I have premature ovarian failure?

While possible, it is highly unlikely that you’ll be able to conceive through intercourse alone if you have ovarian failure. However, just because your ovaries aren’t releasing eggs, doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant. You just need to explore your fertility treatment options and find the treatment that will work best for you.

What are my fertility treatment options?

We offer a variety of fertility treatments here at the California Center for Reproductive Health. We begin with a thorough exam and testing to confirm the cause of your fertility issues before recommending any treatment. 

In most cases, in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment is going to give you the best chances of getting pregnant. If you still have some eggs, we can prescribe medication to stimulate ovulation so we can try to harvest and fertilize your own eggs. However, if your ovarian reserves are completed depleted, we have a thoroughly vetted egg donor program to provide you with egg cells. 

Preparing for the future

Not only can we store your IVF embryos for future use, but we can also harvest and store your own eggs. For example, if you know you want to have children someday, but aren’t ready just yet, we can collect and store your eggs so that you can have children via IVF when you’re ready. Alternatively, if you know you’re going to have chemotherapy or another treatment that could damage your fertility, we can collect your eggs before you have your treatment and store them so you can use them to get pregnant later.

Our team is here to help you grow your family. We know it’s emotionally challenging, and our compassionate staff provides gentle care while still maintaining honesty about your condition and options. 

If you’re struggling to get pregnant or know that you have premature ovarian failure, call us or schedule an appointment online today for expert fertility testing and treatment.

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