3 Key Points

• Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) and early menopause are not the same and the distinction changes what may still be possible for your fertility.
• Many women with POI still have intermittent ovarian activity, which means ovulation can return and cycles can improve with the right support.
• Functional testing provides essential clues about why ovarian signaling has slowed and which areas of the body need attention.

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Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) and early menopause are often used interchangeably, but they describe different patterns of ovarian function. Understanding these differences helps you make informed decisions about testing, support strategies, and next steps if you want to grow your family.

This blog breaks down the hormonal differences, the underlying drivers, and the testing that helps identify what is reversible and what requires ongoing support.

POI and Early Menopause Have Different Biological Patterns

POI occurs before age 40 and describes ovaries that are under functioning, not completely shut down. Women with POI often experience irregular cycles, fluctuating FSH, and periods of spontaneous ovulation. Early menopause happens between ages 40 and 45 and reflects a complete cessation of ovarian activity.

POI often includes:
• irregular or absent cycles
• intermittent ovulation
• fluctuating FSH
• AMH that may be low but still measurable
• the possibility of ovarian activity returning

Early menopause typically includes:
• no period for 12 months or more
• consistently elevated FSH
• decreased estrogen
• no signs of ovarian activity

The distinction matters, because POI leaves room for greater variability in hormone signaling and ovarian responsiveness.

Related podcast episode: Can You Reverse Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Naturally

Functional Testing Helps Identify Why Ovarian Function Is Struggling

Traditional testing focuses on AMH, FSH, and estradiol. Functional testing looks deeper to uncover what may be triggering ovarian shutdown.

Key areas include:

Thyroid Measurement

TSH between 1 and 2 mIU/L is considered optimal for fertility.
Testing should also include Free T3, Free T4, antibodies, and reverse T3. Subclinical thyroid issues can disrupt ovulation and contribute to elevated FSH.

Inflammation Markers

Studies show that elevated CRP and homocysteine can impair ovarian signaling and follicle maturation. These markers guide anti-inflammatory and nutrient focused interventions.

Gut and Vaginal Microbiome Testing

Research links dysbiosis, infections, and inflammation with impaired ovarian function and implantation challenges. Hidden infections can influence egg quality and hormonal conversion.

Mineral and Nutrient Status

Hair tissue mineral analysis, nutrient panels, and genetic insight help identify deficiencies that influence hormone communication.

Supporting research:
• Autoimmune thyroid disease, particularly Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, is present in about 14–32.7 percent of women diagnosed with POI and is associated with ovarian dysfunction. British Menopause Society

• Oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to ovarian aging by promoting cellular damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and follicular atresia, which are associated with reduced ovarian reserve and egg quality. Journal of Ovarian Reserach

Supporting Ovarian Function Requires a Whole Body Approach

POI and early menopause share many of the same underlying drivers, including inflammation, thyroid imbalance, nutrient deficiencies, stress physiology, and immune activity. Supporting these areas can improve how the body communicates with the ovaries.

Key strategies include:

• anti inflammatory, nutrient dense nutrition
• optimal protein intake
• mitochondrial support with targeted nutrients
• correcting mineral imbalances
• supporting gut and vaginal health
• nervous system regulation to restore hormonal signaling
• addressing environmental exposures when relevant

Although not every case leads to restored cycles or ovulation, supporting these systems often improves overall health, hormone balance, and the internal environment needed for conception.

Case Study: Natural Pregnancy with AMH 0.08 ng/mL (Amanda)

After irregular cycles, low energy, and a miscarriage following a diagnosis of POI, Amanda joined the Fab Fertile Couples Coaching Program to understand what was driving her symptoms.

Functional testing identified inflammation, hormone imbalance, and gut health issues that were impacting ovarian signaling. With targeted support, her cycles became predictable, her energy improved, her hormone patterns stabilized, and she later conceived naturally and welcomed her daughter. Her experience highlights how functional work can provide clarity and support for women with POI who want to understand their next steps.

This is an individual example and does not guarantee similar results for all clients.

Next Steps in Your Fertility Journey

Subscribe to Get Pregnant Naturally for evidence-based guidance on functional fertility, and share this episode with anyone on their fertility journey.

Not sure where to start? Download our most popular guide:  Ultimate Guide to Getting Pregnant This Year If You Have Low AMH/High FSH it breaks everything down step by step to help you understand your options and take action

For personalized support to improve pregnancy success, book a call here.

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Timestamps

00:00 Understanding POI and early menopause and why the distinction changes your fertility options when cycles are irregular or absent.

01:45 What POI before age 40 means and how irregular periods and fluctuating FSH can still indicate remaining ovarian activity.

03:00 Real examples of women with AMH at 0.04 ng/mL and 0.08 ng/mL who conceived by addressing inflammation, gut health, thyroid, and stress patterns.

04:00 How disrupted communication between the brain and ovaries drives POI and the role of autoimmunity, nutrient status, and the nervous system.

05:00 What premature menopause looks like on labs and why confirming ovarian shutdown matters when planning next steps.

06:10 How some women in their forties regain cycles and conceive naturally and what this reveals about hormonal resilience.

08:00 Factors that accelerate ovarian aging, including elevated hsCRP, gut infections, thyroid imbalance, environmental toxins, and nutrient gaps.

09:50 Why the gut and vaginal microbiome influence egg quality and implantation and how hidden infections affect fertility outcomes.

10:50 How functional thyroid ranges guide fertility decisions and why a TSH below 2 mIU/L supports better ovarian signaling and hormone balance.

14:40 Nutrition, mitochondrial support, mineral balance, and mind body work that help improve egg health and ovulation signaling.

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Transcription

[00:00:00] When you're told you have premature ovarian insufficiency or premature menopause, it can feel like the door is closing for your fertility. But these terms don't always mean the same thing, and understanding the difference is essential, especially if you're still hoping to try to conceive.

In today's episode of POI versus Early Menopause, what's the difference and why it matters for fertility? We're breaking down exactly what's happening hormonally in each condition, why they're often confused, and how a functional fertility approach can identify what's reversible, what's not, and how to best support your body.

You'll learn what the labs are telling you, what signs to look for, that your ovaries may still be active, and how to support hormone communication, egg health, and overall vitality, even if your cycle has stopped. Let's go.

Welcome back. I'm Sarah Clark, founder of Fab Fertile. For over a decade, my team and I have helped hundreds of couples improve their chances of pregnancy success, whether naturally or through IVF. We specialize in supporting those with low AMH, high FSH, diminished ovarian reserve, premature ovarian [00:01:00] efficiency, and recurrent pregnancy loss through functional testing and personalized fertility strategies.

This episode is for you as if you've been told you have premature ovarian insufficiency, premature menopause, or early menopause, and you wanna understand whether your ovaries have truly stopped functioning or if there's still activity that can be supported. You're under 45 and you've noticed irregular  or missing cycles, hot flashes, high FSH, and you wanna know what steps  to take from a functional fertility lens, or you felt dismissed or told it's over, but you want to explore testing, nutrition, mind-body strategies t

That can help your hormones and ovaries recover function naturally or alongside medical care. Thanks so much for listening. I'm so thankful that you're here. Make sure you hit subscribe or follow, and if you know of someone else who is on the fertility journey, please share this podcast with them.

 We're talking all about POI, premature insufficiency, some different terms with this, and really what this can mean. So we're gonna start off with. Premature ovarian insufficiency. Before the age of 40, so I was diagnosed with POI at [00:02:00] 28. Back then it was called premature ovarian failure.

Now they've changed the wording to be premature ovarian insufficiency. And essentially it means the ovaries are not functioning normally, but they have not completely shut down. So typically irregular or missing periods.  so for me it went irregular, and we see this a lot with our clients.

The, it's been irregular for a while, then all of a sudden it starts being missed periods not coming for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 months, but not always gone. Often the FSH is high, but FSH does fluctuate each cycle. Typically above 25. 

So the key message here is that POI says means there's still ovarian activity left, ovulation can return. We do see this, and natural pregnancy is still possible. So from a functional fertility standpoint, POI is about dysregulation. So it's not permanent loss. We look for why the communication between the brain and the ovaries is broken down from an autoimmune issue.

From a nervous [00:03:00] system dysregulation, from nutrient deficiencies, from thyroid, all of this piece, as long as it's idiopathic, POI and not genetic, although we do work with people that have genetic, but typically, most people we work with are idiopathic. So you don't have the fragile X, you don't have the Turner Syndrome, you've got the genetic piece and you've got that outta the way .

so I'm just thinking a number of people here that we have. So Rebecca, she was 27. She had a premature ovarian insufficiency. Her AMH was at 0.04 ng/mL. She got pregnant naturally after four or five months following her Fab Fertile Method. Amanda, her AMH was at 0.08 ng/mL. She had premature ovarian insufficiency. She got pregnant with us after about a year went on to have her daughter.

Sarah who came in and said she was a great case study. She had an AMH of 0.08 ng/mL and then went on after four months. She also had autoimmune issues and multiple gut issues. So we, so all of these followed our Fab Fertile Method worked on their health, and and Sarah got pregnant after four, four months naturally.

So I never want to sugarcoat this is a tough [00:04:00] diagnosis, but if you run around doing a bunch of. A bunch of protocols working with practitioners that really don't understand this. 'cause it is very multifactorial. It's not just the one thing, Hey, we should, you should go gluten free. Hey, let's look at your stress.

Maybe you have nutrient issues. Like it's not just one thing that typically moves the needle. Although sometimes we do see people make one change and it happens. But usually it's multifactorial something. And a lot of the times it's the stress that has tilted things all the wrong way. All your biomarkers your blood work.

And then we look at testing  and then we start to nourish the adrenals, nourish the the body and help the body feel safe to procreate. Then the cycle can come back. So our goal is always depending on where you are with the cycle, to bring the cycle back. And then we continue  sometimes people do cycle monitoring too, to see what's happening  with the follicles as things start to come back so you can catch ovulation and get pregnant.

Typically , with IVF, they're going to tell you to it's donor eggs for you, or you've got to rush to an IVF because things are, depleting as we [00:05:00] speak. But that's not the case. We need to work on your health. You can get pregnant naturally, or if you can use IVF when we've built that strong foundation.

So then we hear premature menopause. So also before the age of 40, what it means is the ovaries have stopped working completely and cycles have been absent for more than 12 months. But, and also that the FSH is staying high, so sometimes it's the final stage of premature ovarian insufficiency. A lot of these terms, it's like the terms are there to diagnose.

But I remember I was listening to a podcast years ago and talking about a guy that came in, he was. Covered from head to toe with rashes, and they at a dermatologist convention and about 50 to a hundred dermatologists came up to this man and tried to say, you know what it was, he had dermatitis, he had hives, he had all these different clinical names for what he had, but it didn't really matter when he went gluten free.[00:06:00]

The head to toe rash went away. So instead of just like pointing the finger and trying to diagnose what it is, let's look under the hood and see what's driving. In this case, what's driving the reproductive system to shut down? And so from a functional fertility standpoint, we, we don't wanna be blind to a diagnosis of premature menopause.

Maybe you've been told that and your cycle has gone away for years, we have had people with no cycle for years brought back their cycle in their 40s. We've had people at 44 with an AMH of 0.02 ng/mL being told donor eggs are the only option getting pregnant naturally. So if it can happen for them, it can happen for you, but I don't want it I'm not here to give false hope, right?

This is a tough one. And so we need to be able to catch, ovulation and if the ovarian function can flicker back on, we can then see if the body's in a strong position to support the reproductive health and pregnancy. And if you're supported [00:07:00] hormonally and the right nutrition and the nervous system dysregulation, then we see the period come back.

So our goal is wherever you are with the period, if it's irregular, we wanted to get regular. If you're not ovulating, we wanna, bring the ovulation back in. So we're looking at the cycle, but we don't just look at the cycle and do ovulation predictor kits and use the Mira which we like, and we use the Inito, which we like 

to test your hormone levels with urine. But we also look to need to look beyond that because just testing every month can become very triggering. We need to look at all the biomarkers. What else is driving the hormones to be off?  and then we have early menopause. So we've got premature ovarian insufficiency, we've got premature menopause, and then early menopause.

And so some of these terms are used interchangeably. Basically it's, so we've got to look at your health and dig deeper. But early menopause, between 40 to 45 menopause has occurred earlier than average. Most women reached at around 50 to 51. It's still the same physiology as menopause. It's just happening sooner.

But we need to look at the underlying [00:08:00] imbalances, what's driving it, the stress, inflammation. So I've talked a lot about high sensitivity, C-reactive protein. We want that below one. Yours is elevated. We see it a lot. And there's stressors from food sensitivities, gut infections, environmental toxins.

Your adrenals, your thyroid's, mismanaged. You're not getting enough. B vitamins. because your methylation pathways, you have the MTHFR gene variant. You have yeah. We have those gut issues. This can accelerate early menopause. And so we've had people, like we just said, regaining their period in their 40s, people43, 44 going on to get pregnant naturally with low AMH and high FSH.

So the focus is always your health. It's not about, thinking donor eggs are the only option or rushing to an IVF that is there, but we need to deploy it at the right time. There's a lot of push right now for the PRP, so the plasma rich the platelet rich plasma, but we see that doesn't work.

And I have people spending a lot of money on this stuff  rushing around North America. [00:09:00] And clinics are like, wait a minute, with POI or Diminished Ovarian Reserve, there's not much we can do. So let's give them a PRP and wake up the ovaries But the body wasn't ready to sustain pregnancy. And many times we see that couples are passing infections back and forth and there's something going on with his semen as well. So we need to look at his semen, the DNA fragmentation, if the, the embryos, , if it's implanting, but it's not making it.

You're having pregnancy losses, looking at the quality of the eggs and the quality of the semen.  90 days to improve egg quality. The life cycle of the sperm is six is 70 to 80 days, so we need to do this in a targeted manner. Looking at your health. So that's the definition. So really it's a spectrum.

POI is where your ovaries are still trying, but they haven't completely stopped. Premature menopause. The ovaries may have gone quiet before the age of 40. Early menopause around 40 to 45. It's still menopause just earlier than expected. But why did the ovaries slow down? Why did they stop early And can we support them to function again?

So we [00:10:00] see people that haven't had, had very low follicles or none, have the follicles come back. This is tough though. when you've got this diagnosis, that little diagnosis can worm its way into your subconscious and you start thinking, uhoh, there's nothing I can do. I'm doomed.

So at each step we work on our health we can look at testing in black and white, so we can see. We can see, if we're in a toxic relationship or a toxic work environment, all these pieces can then tip all of our biomarkers the wrong way. So we need to give ourself grace. If you've just been diagnosed with this.

It can just have you reeling, right? So like I know it firsthand and I see it all the time and I see a lot of people running around wasting a bunch of time. So send me a message at hello@fabfertile.ca. Subject line FERTILE. If you want to get my eyes on your specific situation. We have a whole team here that includes an OB/GYN with a functional medicine background, functional nutrition practitioners, fertility mindset coaches really put this all together.

 We ship the testing worldwide. We look at your blood work and give you a plan. And specializing in this. 'cause You go [00:11:00] to a local practitioner you can spend a bunch of money with people that just don't really understand this. Let's look at some testing beyond the basics.

 the conventional testing is going to focus on FSH. estrodial AMH, but really the results can vary widely cycle to cycle. The functional side of things, we're looking at the underlying imbalances like we just talked about contributing to the ovarian dysfunction, the thyroid.

We don't want a normal thyroid. We want optimal TSH below 2 mIU/L We wanna look at the full panel FREET3, FREET4, antibodies, reverse T3. But we want those all on the optimal levels. I've got a whole podcast on this where I'll link below, but send me a message to hello@fabfertile.ca Subject Line THYROID

I'll send you our thyroid guide so it'll tell you those exact optimal numbers you're looking for. So is it our whole thesis on this, is it actually early menopause? Or is it your adrenals? So the adrenals impact, the thyroid impacts the AMH, the FSH and the follicle count.

And so we need to be able to [00:12:00] boost up your mineral ratios, 'cause that can impact hormone signaling. And we do hair tissue mineral analysis. This is a cheapy test. We start with stool testing and bringing in food and some genetics. And then we can bring in the hair testing. If all your nutrients are low, the minerals are low, maybe you've got some heavy metals in there.

This can really help fine tune this. We look at vaginal microbiome testing. We do the health of the gut microbiome, and then that helps work on the health of the vaginal microbiome. So if you've got hidden infections such as ureaplasma or dysbiosis, that can impact ovarian and hormonal health, and we can pass infections back and forth.

Sometimes we got to bring in the seminal microbiome. That's why the embryos aren't making it, especially with pregnancy loss. If you are going in and if you've got an embryo and you are waiting to transfer, we have got to do this beforehand. Your gut health, your vaginal microbiome, because you got this beautiful embryo, it's ready.

It could be because there's infections and that's why it's not making it. So we've got to [00:13:00] dot the i's cross the T's. Not beat yourself up because you didn't know this stuff. If you're here right now, you can learn about it.  I've been doing this podcast for almost eight years now.

Eight years of never missing a week. I dunno how I've done it, but I'm very consistent. But, and over a million downloads. It's being able to educate you because when I was diagnosed with this over 25 years ago,  no one told me any of this information. So if you found it, there's things you can do.

You're typical, we work with, type A action oriented people. And even if you're feeling in a low place right now, maybeyou've got all those, symptoms of hot flashes or night sweats or insomnia or mood swings, you're feeling really low. We can bring in some of the bioidentical hormones, get you feeling better, and then we can start working on some of this stuff.

It's meeting you where you are and we specialize in this and then we bring in genetic testing so you're not just throwing spaghetti at the wall and guessing. What to do from a diet and lifestyle standpoint, taking a bunch of supplements, following the Mediterranean diet, all these [00:14:00] generalized recommendations.

We wanna be able to get the diet that's right for you. So the other guide I have is that is the Elimination Diet. Taking out the top allergen, systematically, reintroduce them. Send me a message at hello@fabfertile.cs subject line 10 DAY and we'll tell you exactly which foods to take out, which are dairy, gluten, soy, corn, peanuts, eggs, processed sugar, alcohol.

Take 'em out for 10 days. You can do anything for 10 days and then systematically reintroduce them, you and your partner, not just you. You're doing it together. And then being able to fine tune this with the genetic testing, especially if you have pregnancy losses. This can help improve pregnancy outcomes, support the body with all the different nutrients that you need based on your genetic SNPs, and personalize this.

And so what could be driving the ovarian shutdown? So autoimmunity, I've done. Multiple episodes on autoimmune issues. Over the years, we've helped many people with Hashimoto's Celiac ulcerative colitis, go on to get pregnant when they've [00:15:00] gone through multiple failed IVFs. But no one looked at the fact that they have an autoimmune issue and the body's on fire and thyroid antibodies.

We like the TPO below 10, the TBG below 30. If it's 300, 400, 500, That could be why things aren't working. That can Im impact your ovarian function inflammation. So the elevated high sensitivity, c-reactive protein and homocysteine.

This can impair follicle development and hormone conversion. The nervous system dysregulation. Chronic cortisol elevation, it can impact your ovulation. And so even if you don't feel stressed, the body might feel stressed. Environmental triggers such as toxins and mold and all the chemicals we're exposed to, maybe that's what's causing the ovarian function to to go down.

So as we start to minimize those. Use our testing to  help take some of those toxins outta your body. You've got to do this in a gentle way. This is not you on a harsh parasite cleanse, a harsh detox. You're gonna kick it out, no, we don't wanna do that. I can see people that really destroy their [00:16:00] bodies by doing that and just following these recommendations that is not right for re reproductive health.

So studies linking autoimmune thyroid disease and POI. Research showing that improved ovarian function when inflammation and oxidative stress are reduced. So I have a podcast episode all on that on autoimmune issues. One fifth they're saying of POI can be autoimmune issues. Some functional strategies to support ovarian health nutrition.

Yeah, you wanna do anti-inflammatory nutrient dense. Omegas adequate protein. We don't wanna be on a vegan diet right now. I have many people actually have come to us and I'm like, why are you vegan? I just thought it was healthier. Yeah, it's better than eating processed food. But you can also do dirty, vegan, dirty, keto, these things where you're just doing a whole bunch of packaged foods, or in this case, maybe not enough protein.

Obviously the vegans are gonna argue that of course you can get, have protein. So if you are a vegan or vegetarian and you are not willing to change that, we have got to look at your protein intake. We're not [00:17:00] gonna force you to eat meat. But if you're open-minded and ready to look at this, we can do things to make sure your body gets enough protein, 'cause that's important for your hormones, 

So nutrition is key mineral balance. We do that hair tissue mineral analysis to look at your calcium, your magnesium, your copper and zinc ratios that can inf influence your ovarian activity. The mitochondria support. So a lot of us are probably already taking the coq 10 or ubiquinol. That can help with

egg energy and metabolism. The gut support. Many of us are not doing this, or we've done one little protocol from a stool test,  I see people do one stool test. I'm like where's the protocol? They didn't even gimme a protocol. What you'll always have a protocol.  if you are not pregnant, there's something that's, this is not working.

There's something that's being missed.  just doing one test and  not even getting a protocol off the test, is not serving you. Or maybe you've done everything. People tell me you've done it all. I'm like, have you done anything with your diet? No. Or maybe [00:18:00] just, started to eat organic, but they're still eating gluten.

They've got the top allergens and this is causing inflammation in your body. We need to address the infections. You can eat the most pristine diet. You haven't addressed all the gut infections. That could be why it's impacting your ovarian reserve. And then also the mind body work. Lots of studies linking IVF success actually with  reducing stress and with mind body work, that's we have mindset coaches in here to be able to help reset your nervous system.

Give you hope, this is key. If you've got POI  that diagnosis can worm its way into your subconscious and you start thinking, oh. And then if you're in panic and worry, that's not when the baby comes in. We need to be feeling safe, being able that the body is, wants to procreate.

so the mind body work is essential. And that's when we have the, those mindset coaches  This is not about me guaranteeing anything. We need to work on your health and ovarian function can return not in everyone. It doesn't return in everyone. But if you haven't looked at this, [00:19:00] you have missed a whole side of things that your REI is not trained in.

They're trained to do medications and surgeries. They're not trained to look at any of this piece. We wanna include them on your team, but we don't go just to them. They tell you donor eggs and you go, oh, I better, save my money up for that. Or they tell you, you got a little shot with IVF and you do that, you spend 20,000 on one round.

There's clinics that offer it cheaper, obviously, but it's typically sold in packages of three. And we think that's our option. But you don't have a medication deficiency. There's something going on with your body, so we need to work on your health first. Using testing, doing this in a targeted manner.

It's not just I'm going to eat a healthy lifestyle. Yeah, great. Do that. Don't eat the processed food. Don't eat the fast food, but we got to go deeper. Genetics and food sensitivity testing, gut microbiome, vaginal microbiome, looking at your adrenals, all this stuff is key.

So we don't waste time. We're not anti IVF., we have a whole IVF readiness [00:20:00] checklist. When are you ready to go to IVF? And obviously that's a personal decision and you need to deploy it at the right time. The PRP  platelet rich plasma,once you've done all the foundational work, you can do that and then do an IVF.

We see people that it hasn't worked before, then it goes on to work. And then you look at the testing, educate yourself on what's going on with your health. Don't listen that, hey, everything looks normal, it's all great. You don't have the genetic side of things. Oh, great, that's good.  you don't have the fragile X or the Turner Syndrome.

But what about your inflammatory markers? What about, maybe you have the MTHFR, what about that? The thyroid iis normal. But you've got antibodies in the thyroid. You, your reverse T3 three is elevated. you have a food sensitivity that non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or maybe you have an autoimmune disease.

When you work on the foundational piece, that can help you respond better to the medical interventions. And so we can bring in some bioidentical hormones depending on your [00:21:00] symptoms, that can be part of it. And then the whole idea is to potentially reduce those as well.

But we can bring in some progesterone or some estradiol there to help. But by itself, the HRT is a bandaid, so we don't just go on. Please don't go on synthetic HRT. You wanna do bioidentical, but  even the bioidentical, you've got to make the target diet and lifestyle changes along with it.

So POI and premature menopause are not the same, and the diagnosis doesn't mean that fertility is impossible. We need to look at the underlying issues of what's going on with your health. The functional testing like we have here with our Fab Fertile method can help

pinpoint so you know exactly what's happening and you can be educated about your health. You don't need to rely on a doctor that's gonna gate keep this information from you. We can work on your nutrition, your stress regulation supplementation to support the hormonal communication. And then we wanna be able to, when we're ready.

When  we've addressed the infections, we've [00:22:00] reduced inflammation. Your biomarkers have come back online and they're in the optimal range. You got people running off to IVF and they're anemic and their iron is low and their ferritin is low, and they're wondering why things aren't working and their thyroid is off and there's a whole bunch of issues.

We need to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy postpartum period and a healthier child. We always what the health is first, and then if we wanna deploy the medical interventions. And so if you wanna get my eyes on your specific situation, send me a message at hello@fabfertile.ca subject line FERTILE, and I will give you some options to help. Take care.

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How to Get Started With Functional Fertility Support

Book your call here to get your personalized plan and options to help improve pregnancy success either naturally or with IVF treatment. 

Check out our Fab Fertile functional fertility program here and learn how to improve AMH levels naturally.  We work with couples that have low AMH, high FSH, diminished ovarian reserve, premature ovarian insufficiency, and recurrent pregnancy loss.

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Is POI the same as early menopause
No. POI occurs before age 40 and includes periods of ovarian activity. Early menopause occurs between 40 and 45 and reflects a complete decline in ovarian function.

Can cycles return after POI is diagnosed
Cycles can sometimes return because POI involves fluctuating hormone levels rather than permanent shutdown. This depends on the underlying factors affecting ovarian signaling.

What thyroid level is recommended for fertility
Most reproductive endocrinologists and functional practitioners aim for TSH between 1 and 2 for optimal fertility outcomes.

Does AMH predict whether cycles will return
No. AMH reflects ovarian reserve but does not predict whether ovulation will occur in a given cycle. Ovarian activity can still happen with very low AMH.

Should I consider IVF if I have POI
IVF can be an option, but timing matters. Many women benefit from supporting thyroid, gut health, inflammation, nutrients, and stress patterns before treatment so the body is better prepared.

Does a diagnosis of early menopause or POI mean natural conception is impossible
A diagnosis does not determine outcome on its own. The focus should be on what is driving ovarian decline and how to support the systems influencing egg development.

Key Takeaways

• POI and early menopause are different conditions and require different expectations and support strategies.

• POI does not always mean permanent ovarian shutdown. Hormone levels can fluctuate, and ovulation can return.

• Functional testing provides essential clues that traditional testing does not reveal.

• Improvements in inflammation, thyroid function, gut health, nutrient status, and stress patterns can support hormone signaling.

• A combined approach that includes both functional and medical guidance gives the strongest foundation for next steps.

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Resources

📩 Get your free 10-day elimination diet plan! Email hello@fabfertile.ca with the subject line 10 DAY to receive your guide and take the first step toward reconnecting with your fertility.

📩 Get your free Protein for Fertility Guide! Email hello@fabfertile.ca with the subject line PROTEIN to receive your guide and learn how to fuel your body for stronger cycles and better fertility outcomes.

📩 Get your free Thyroid for Fertility Guide! Email hello@fabfertile.ca with the subject line THYROID to receive your guide and learn the optimal thyroid lab ranges for conception, plus often missed nutrition, lifestyle, and testing strategies to improve thyroid function so pregnancy is more likely to succeed.

Is Ureaplasma Affecting Your Fertility? How It Impacts Low AMH, Poor Egg Quality & IVF Success: https://fabfertile.com/blogs/podcasts/the-hidden-threat-ureaplasma-s-impact-on-ivf-success?_pos=3&_sid=61d224007&_ss=r

Why Addressing Homocysteine Levels Can Boost Egg and Sperm Health: https://fabfertile.com/blogs/podcasts/why-addressing-homocysteine-levels-can-boost-egg-and-sperm-health?_pos=1&_sid=09ab3d411&_ss=r

The Shocking Truth About POI and Autoimmune Diseases: https://fabfertile.com/blogs/podcasts/the-shocking-truth-about-poi-and-autoimmune-diseases?_pos=1&_sid=15ebee0b5&_ss=r

9 FAQs About Low AMH And High FSH That Can Help You Improve Pregnancy Success: https://fabfertile.com/blogs/education/9-faqs-about-low-amh-and-high-fsh-that-can-help-you-improve-pregnancy-success?_pos=1&_sid=b70e5c62a&_ss=r

Our favorite fertility tracker (use code FABFERTILE15 to save 15) - https://www.inito.com/en-us/?srsltid=AfmBOoo85sXu_esmFN5Kz6iysaTkBKgYl35Jubv-BaLkkxXVggdk6nes