Premature ovarian failure, sometimes referred to as premature menopause, refers to the loss of normal ovarian function before the age of 40. Ovarian failure can mean that the body cannot produce eggs or cannot produce the normal amounts of the hormone estrogen needed for reproductive health. Symptoms of premature ovarian failure include irregular or skipped periods, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, irritability, difficulty concentrating and decrease in libido.
Turner Syndrome
Turner syndrome is a condition caused by a missing or incomplete sex chromosome, and can cause failure to begin puberty, short stature, infertility, heart defects and occasionally learning disabilities, according to MayoClinic.com. Most people are born with two sex chromosomes. Boys have an X chromosome and a Y chromosome, and girls have two X chromosomes. In Turner syndrome, a copy of a girl's X chromosome is damaged or missing.
In babies, Turner syndrome may present as a receding or small lower jaw, low-set ears, drooping eyelids, broad chest with widely spaced nipples, short hands, arms that turn outward, fingernails turned upward, swelling of the hands and feet, delayed growth, slightly smaller than average height at birth and wide or web-like neck. In adolescence or early adulthood, Turner syndrome symptoms may include learning disabilities, difficulty in social situations, a sudden stop in sexual development including failure to begin puberty due to premature ovarian failure. If Turner syndrome is suspected, chromosomal tests will confirm the diagnosis. Treatment often involves human growth hormone therapy and estrogen therapy.
Fragile X Syndrome
Fragile X syndrome, also known as Martin-Bell syndrome and Marker X syndrome, is a genetic disorder which causes mental retardation. Patients with Fragile X syndrome are missing a gene responsible for producing a protein needed for brain development. According to MedlinePlus, a website operated by the National Institutes of Health, a person with Fragile X may make little or none of this protein, which means that she will show little if any initial signs of Fragile X. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explain that Fragile X syndrome is the most common known genetic cause of mental retardation and developmental disability in the United States.
Symptoms of Fragile X syndrome in women include large body size, large forehead or ears with a prominent jaw, mental retardation, avoiding eye contact and hyperactive behavior. Women with mild Fragile X syndrome often suffer premature ovarian failure or difficulty conceiving. A diagnosis of Fragile X syndrome includes a genetic test called a polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, test that looks for a mutation in a specific gene known as the FMRI gene. There is no treatment for Fragile X syndrome, but there are specialized training and education programs to help children function to the best of their abilities.
Autoimmune Premature Ovarian Failure
Premature ovarian failure may arise from damage caused by an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease causes the body to attack its own healthy cells. In rare cases, a woman’s body produces antibodies against her own ovarian tissue, causing harm to the follicles containing eggs. While it is unclear of the exact reason this autoimmune premature ovarian failure occurs, MayoClinic.com explains that a potential cause is exposure to a virus. Treatment for autoimmune premature ovarian failure often involves estrogen therapy and corticosteroids to help control inflammation.
