Spontaneous and Successful Pregnancies After Premature Ovarian Insufficiency: Case Series

Abstract

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) formerly referred to as premature menopause, premature ovarian failure or primary ovarian failure (POF) implies quantitative and qualitative alterations in the functional integrity of the ovarian follicles leading to irregularity of menses, clinical manifestations of signs and symptoms of menopause and impaired fertility performance. This phenomenon tends to occur in about 1% of the women population in their reproductive years and arbitrarily below the age of 40 years. We hereby present case series of seven subjects who were specifically complaining of infertility or low fertility from a total of 242 women with presumed diagnosis of premature ovarian insufficiency. These were extracted from a pool of 10,090 clients that were documented over a year’s period i.e. from January 1, 2020 up to December 31, 2020. Our patients achieved spontaneous pregnancies and underwent a normal course of the pregnancies that culminated in uneventful childbirths. The deliveries invariably took place in private setups. We maintained a close contact telemetrically and physically; and followed them up during their course of the delivery and the postpartum period since they were denoted as very high risk pregnancy. To the best of our knowledge, there is no isolated similar case report or publication in the Ethiopian setting. The objective of the case series presentation is linked with the intention of adding to the world literature highlighting its relevance, desire to create more awareness and establish the basis for further inspiration to develop future undertakings in the understanding of diminished ovarian reserve vis-a-vis premature ovarian insufficiency and spontaneous pregnancy.