there is no completely standardized evaluation for pof. generally the following four elements need to be present to make a diagnosis of pof: absent periods for four or more months. age 40 or less. evidence of low estrogen (such as vaginal dryness or hot flashes). fsh blood test results of more than 40miu on two tests taken a little over a month apart. probably the most important part of the work up for pof is for the gynecologist to consider it as a possibility. one study of 48 women with pof found age 25 to be the average age of symptom onset but it took two years to get the correct diagnosis. almost two-thirds of the women had to see three or more doctors before getting the correct diagnosis.
what should i ask of my gynecologist if i want them to check for premature ovarian failure or pof?