{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]],"date-time":"2026-10-09T16:53:26Z","timestamp":1791564806774,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"Bioscientifica","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790294400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.bioscientifica.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The objectives of this paper are to explore the communication of a diagnosis of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and to examine how the way this diagnosis is communicated affects women with the condition.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Design<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This is a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Setting<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Participants were recruited from across the UK and interviewed remotely using Microsoft Teams.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Participants<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Sixteen women aged 18 and above with a diagnosis of POI were included in this study.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Participants took part in in-depth interviews exploring their experiences of living with POI, including receiving a POI diagnosis. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically. This paper reports on data concerning the experience of receiving a diagnosis specifically.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Three key themes were identified: i) lack of information and support during the diagnosis communication, ii) emotional impact of diagnosis, and iii) framing POI as just a fertility issue. Participants reported considerable distress when diagnoses were delivered abruptly, digitally, or without appropriate support. Conversely, face-to-face, empathetic communication was described as validating and empowering. A consistent concern was the narrow clinical framing of POI as a fertility issue, with insufficient attention paid to long-term health risks, HRT, and emotional wellbeing.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Communicating a diagnosis of POI requires a compassionate, holistic, and person-centred approach. There is an urgent need for healthcare professionals to embrace updated international guidelines, prioritise multidisciplinary care, and address existing disparities in access and support.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Lay summary<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) occurs when the ovaries stop working normally before the age of 40. Although it is often associated with infertility, POI is also a long-term health condition that can affect bone health, heart health, menopause symptoms, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life. Receiving this diagnosis can, therefore, have a profound impact on a woman\u2019s life. This study explored how women experienced being told they had POI. Sixteen women from across the UK took part in in-depth interviews about their experiences. Many described receiving their diagnosis in ways that felt rushed, impersonal, or lacking in compassion. Some were informed by telephone, through an online patient portal, or via printed test results without the opportunity to ask questions or receive immediate support. Women consistently reported that face-to-face consultations with clear explanations and empathy were more helpful and supportive. Participants also felt that healthcare professionals often focused mainly on fertility, with insufficient discussion about hormone replacement therapy (HRT), long-term health risks, symptom management, and emotional wellbeing. Many described feeling confused, isolated, and unprepared following their diagnosis and reported having to search for information themselves. The findings highlight the importance of delivering a diagnosis of POI with compassion, clear information, and appropriate follow-up care. Healthcare professionals should recognise that POI affects much more than fertility and ensure women receive holistic, person-centred support that addresses both the immediate emotional impact of diagnosis and the lifelong management of the condition.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1530\/raf-26-0076","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T17:52:53Z","timestamp":1790358773000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1530\/crossmarkpolicy-13","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Giving a diagnosis of premature ovarian insufficiency: the importance of good communication: insights from a qualitative study"],"prefix":"10.1530","volume":"7","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-1045-1328","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Kate","family":"Pleace","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Reproduction Research, De Montfort University 1 , ,","place":["Leicester, United 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