How can I easily judge whether my ovarian function is declining? Is there any way to prevent premature ovarian failure?

Author: Fang Weigong, Chief Physician, Acupuncture Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

Reviewer: Yang Weibin, Chief Physician, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Vice President, Graduate School, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

The ovaries are extremely important for maintaining women's health, but they are the first organ in the female reproductive system to age.

Each of us can be said to be a "great detective" in managing our own health. If we can capture some clues of ovarian aging in our daily lives, we can take effective measures to delay ovarian aging and try to keep them working at their jobs until the legal retirement age, thereby effectively protecting women's physical and mental health.

1. What impact does premature ovarian failure have on the body?

Whether the ovarian function is normal or not has absolute say in assessing women's reproductive health.

First of all, we need to understand the function of the ovaries. The ovaries are sexual organs in the female body that have both reproductive and endocrine functions. On the one hand, the ovaries can produce and discharge eggs, which can help women realize their reproductive desires and are closely related to women's fertility; on the other hand, the ovaries are the main source of estrogen and progesterone in the female body, and are two natural "health products" and "skin care products" that maintain women's charm.

After the ovarian function declines, the decrease in hormone levels in the body will affect bone absorption and lead to osteoporosis; it may also have an adverse effect on the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular system and increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. These are the long-term effects of ovarian function decline on the human body.

To sum it up in one sentence, the aging and atrophy of ovarian function will lead to the aging of the female reproductive system and even the organs throughout the body, which can be described as "a single move affects the whole body."

2. How can you easily judge whether your ovarian function has declined?

Women can use simple methods to preliminarily assess the status of their ovarian function. If any abnormality is found, they should seek medical attention in time. The doctor will make a clear diagnosis based on the medical history and comprehensive examination results.

Menstruation is a barometer of women's health and is often used as an effective means of self-diagnosis:

1. Pay attention to the regularity of the menstrual cycle. Under normal circumstances, the menstrual cycle is about 28 days. If the cycle is significantly shortened or prolonged (i.e., earlier or later than one week), it is considered abnormal.

2. Observe the changes in menstrual volume. Ovarian dysfunction is often accompanied by a decrease in menstrual volume, but a few patients also experience an increase in menstrual volume. If the menstrual volume decreases by one-third or even more than half compared to the past, you should pay attention to it and consult a professional doctor as soon as possible.

3. Pay attention to the stability of menstrual period duration. Normal menstrual period is usually 3-7 days. If the menstrual period is significantly shortened or prolonged, such as only lasting half a day to a day, or significantly different from usual, especially when the menstrual period is extended to about 10 days for several consecutive menstrual periods, or even continuous bleeding, you should seek medical attention in time.

In addition, you can also refer to the "Female Ovarian Function Score Sheet" for self-assessment.

Figure 1 Original copyright image, no permission to reprint

The scoring form contains 15 questions and the scoring results are as follows:

8 points or above: indicates that ovarian function is somewhat impaired;

19 points or above: indicates that the degree of ovarian dysfunction is more significant;

31 points or above: indicates that ovarian dysfunction is extremely serious.

When the score reaches moderate or severe decline, it is recommended to seek help from a professional doctor as soon as possible to obtain accurate diagnosis and treatment.

In addition to the above methods, female friends should also pay attention to their age and the health information hidden under the iceberg of age. Because when evaluating female ovarian function, age is often taken together with other indicators for comprehensive consideration. For many years, modern medicine has used 40 years old as the age limit for diagnosing related diseases, such as premature ovarian insufficiency and premature ovarian failure.

Figure 2 Original copyright image, no permission to reprint

However, with the deepening of research and the subdivision of related fields, it is gradually discovered that 35 years old is the beginning of decline for some women. This understanding coincides with the TCM theory of "seven-seven women". The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, which was written about 2,000 years ago, laid the theoretical foundation of TCM. The book takes "seven years" as the physiological change cycle of women and records in detail the natural physiological evolution process of women, namely, "When a woman is seven years old, her kidney qi is strong, her teeth grow longer; at the age of 27, the natal essence arrives, the Ren meridian is open, the Taichong meridian is strong, and the menstruation comes on time, so she can have children; at the age of 37, the kidney qi is balanced, so the real teeth grow and grow to the maximum; at the age of 47, the tendons and bones are strong, the hair grows to the maximum, and the body is strong; at the age of 57, the Yangming meridian weakens, the face begins to burn, and the hair begins to fall; at the age of 67, the three Yang meridians weaken above, the face is all burnt, and the hair begins to turn white; at the age of 77, the Ren meridian is weak, the Taichong meridian is weak, the natal essence is exhausted, and the earth channel is blocked, so the body is damaged and there are no children."

3. How to prevent premature ovarian failure?

The key to preventing premature ovarian failure lies in "three preventions".

First of all, avoid staying up late. Staying up late for a long time will disrupt the female endocrine system. Therefore, you should develop a regular work and rest habit and ensure adequate sleep, which is essential to maintain ovarian function.

Secondly, prevent emotional fluctuations. In the face of work, life and psychological pressure, you need to learn to adjust your emotions in a timely manner and avoid extreme emotions such as excessive sadness or anger, so as not to adversely affect ovarian function. Premature ovarian failure is closely related to excessive stress. Long-term high pressure will change the endocrine environment, causing menstrual abnormalities, ovarian dysfunction, and even decline.

Furthermore, prevent laziness. Actively participating in physical exercise, such as playing ball, swimming, running, cycling and other aerobic exercises, has significant benefits in preventing premature ovarian failure.

In addition, women should pay special attention to avoid cold stimulation during menstruation, such as drinking cold drinks or being in an air-conditioned cold environment for a long time, to prevent uterine cold. Although uterine cold does not necessarily lead to premature ovarian failure, according to traditional Chinese medicine theory, uterine cold may cause ovarian dysfunction and should be taken seriously.

Excessive weight loss should also be avoided. According to the BMI (body mass index), if your weight is within the normal range, it is not recommended to lose weight deliberately. Extreme weight loss methods, such as excessive dieting or taking weight loss drugs, lead to rapid weight loss, which may cause amenorrhea and ovarian failure.