Ep 35 | When It's NOT Peri: Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)

Perimenopause gets blamed for a lot… but sometimes it's innocent. In this first episode of our two-part series When It's NOT Peri, the Docs talk about what happens when symptoms that look like perimenopause are actually something else entirely. Sometimes the ovaries aren't "transitioning"… they're waving a much earlier white flag.

This episode of OvaryActive zeroes in on premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). This is a condition where ovarian function declines before age 40. Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch walk through what POI is and what it isn't. They also talk about why diagnosis can take years, how it differs from typical perimenopause, and the detective work involved in ruling out other causes like thyroid issues, genetics, or prior treatments.

Along the way, listeners will understand why symptoms can feel confusingly similar yet require a completely different medical approach. POI is more than a cycle change. It's a long-term health consideration affecting bone, heart, brain, fertility, and mental health. And early treatment matters.

Think of this episode as the "wait, could it be something else?" guide: equal parts validation, science, and practical next steps to help you recognize when maybe it's NOT peri.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[1:52] Maybe it's NOT peri. Maybe it's POI
[6:15] The workup: genetics, fragile x, turner syndrome, & more
[9:41] Causes to rule out
[12:09] We treat POI aggressively, here's why
[15:46] Long-term health stakes
- bone health, heart & brain, mental health, & sexual health
[23:43] How to treat POI
[26:25] Contraception options in POI
[30:12] Long-term planning
[32:54] Special cases
[39:06] Key takeaways & wrap-up: POI is NOT peri

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

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Avsnitt(42)

Ep 41 | Brain Docs, Part 2: Migraines, Hormones, & Perimenopause

Perimenopause is apparently the perfect time to start worrying about dementia, cholesterol, hearing aids, and whether your brain is quietly packing its bags. This episode of OvaryActive is part 2 of ...

28 Maj 38min

Ep 40 | Brain Docs, Part 1: Brain Fog, Dementia Fears, & Perimenopause

Perimenopause can make your brain feel like it left the room — not that it remembers why it went there in the first place. In this first part of a two-part series with the Brain Docs, OvaryActive is t...

14 Maj 27min

Ep 39 | Weird Symptoms of Perimenopause

Perimenopause: where your body starts doing weird things and then gaslights you about it. In this episode of OvaryActive, Dr. Amy Voedisch and Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su dive into the "wait…what?" sympt...

23 Apr 34min

Ep 38 | When Hormones Are Not the Only Answer

Perimenopause: the phase where your body does whatever it wants, whenever it wants, and your brain has thoughts about it. So what happens when hot flashes hit, anxiety creeps in, and suddenly you're q...

9 Apr 36min

Ep 37 | When Its NOT Peri: Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (FHA) with Chrisandra Shufelt, MD

Perimenopause is still taking the blame… but in this unexpected third installment (because Amy just got too excited), we're talking about functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA). Dr. Chrisandra Shuf...

26 Mars 38min

Ep 36 | When It's NOT Peri: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Perimenopause gets blamed for a lot of things – mood swings, weird cycles, rogue chin hairs – but sometimes the culprit isn't peri at all. In Part 2 of When It's NOT Peri, the Docs are talking about p...

12 Mars 42min

Ep 34 | Heart Disease and Perimenopause: The Risk Factors We're Missing

When we talk about perimenopause, we talk a lot about symptoms, but not nearly enough about what's happening to your heart. Since February is Heart Health Month, it's the perfect time to take a "beat"...

12 Feb 45min