Young bodies, aging ovaries: A systematic review and meta-synthesis of women's perspectives on spontaneous premature ovarian insufficiency.
Maria Patricia Roman, Shaurya Aggarwal, Stergios K Doumouchtsis
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-synthesis examined qualitative research on the experiences of women with spontaneous premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), excluding POI caused by medical interventions. Thirteen studies involving 389 women were included. Inductive analysis identified five themes: emotional and psychological effects, physical experiences, social and relational challenges, diagnostic and treatment challenges, and coping and adaptation. The synthesis describes impacts extending beyond reproductive loss, including the tension between early ovarian aging and chronological youth. The authors conclude that care should be woman-centred and incorporate emotional support, timely diagnosis, and culturally sensitive interventions.
Key findings
- The review included 13 qualitative studies involving 389 women with spontaneous POI.
- Five themes covered emotional and psychological effects, physical experiences, social and relational challenges, diagnostic and treatment challenges, and coping and adaptation.
- The synthesis characterises POI's effects as biopsychosocial and extending beyond reproductive loss.
Why it matters
The findings highlight that spontaneous POI can affect emotional wellbeing, physical experience, relationships, and interactions with healthcare, not only fertility. Recognising these interconnected concerns may help clinicians understand why diagnosis and care can be challenging and why support needs to address more than reproductive outcomes.
What to keep in mind
The synthesis was restricted to peer-reviewed qualitative studies published in English, and excluded studies on iatrogenic POI and mixed or quantitative methods.