Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (Premature Menopause; Premature Ovarian Failure; Premature Ovarian Insufficiency; Hypergonadotropic Hypogonadism) By JoAnn V Pinkerton, MD, University of Virginia Health System Reviewed / Revised Jan 2023 View Patient Education Etiology Symptoms and Signs Diagnosis Treatment Key Points Topic Resources Common Causes of Primary... In primary ovarian insufficiency, ovaries do not regularly release eggs and do not produce enough sex hormones despite high levels of circulating gonadotropins (especially follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH]) in women < 40.