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The role of hormone replacement therapy in the management of premature ovarian failure

Nature Clinical Practice Endocrinology & Metabolism volume 4, pages 60–61 (2008)Cite this article

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is classically defined by amenorrhea of 4–6 months duration, with two follicle-stimulating hormone measurements in the menopausal range (made at an interval of 1–2 months), occurring before 40 years of age. In many cases affected women retain ovarian follicles, and some women have intermittent follicular development, variations in endogenous estradiol levels, and irregular menstrual bleeding. Consequently, many clinicians now believe that 'primary ovarian insufficiency' might be a more accurate term for this condition. The prevalence of POF is 1:1,000 by age 30 years and 1–2:100 by age 40 years. In most cases the karyotype is XX and the etiology remains unknown. The two major effects of POF are hypoestrogenism and infertility. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) should, therefore, be considered for these patients.

Over the past 10 years, studies such as the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) have emphasized the risks of estrogen and progestin therapy in postmenopausal women. Data on heart disease, stroke, venous thromboembolism, and breast and ovarian cancers have caused a drop in the number of women receiving HRT. Nonetheless, every physician should be conscious that data from these studies should not be extrapolated to women with POF.

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  1. Endocrinology Department, Saint-Antoine Hospital, 184 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, Paris 75012, France sophie.christin-maitre@sat.aphp.fr

Authors and Affiliations

  1. S Christin-Maitre is a Professor of Endocrinology in the Reproductive Endocrine Unit at Saint-Antoine Hospital, University Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris, France.,

    Sophie Christin-Maitre

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  1. Sophie Christin-Maitre
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Christin-Maitre, S. The role of hormone replacement therapy in the management of premature ovarian failure. Nat Rev Endocrinol 4, 60–61 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpendmet0699

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