Premature ovarian failure: etiology, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
Abstract
Background: Premature ovarian failure (POF) and connected problems are usually underestimated by the therapists. Precise analysis of etiology and adequate treatment enable resumption of reproductive function in some groups of the women with POF.
Methods: Etiology of POF is heterogenous. It can be defined as genetic, autoimmune, iatrogenic, the rest presents as idiopathic. Among basic diagnostic procedures there are precise patient’s history and determinations of FSH, LH, TSH, inhibin B, AMH (antimüllerian hormone) concentration, kariotype and ACTH test. Additional procedures encomprise determinations of atherogenic factors (LDL, HDL, VLDL, hSCRP), determination of lenght of Q-T interval on standard EKG and immunologic investigations on cellular and humoral level. Therapeutic possibilities include estrogen replacement treatment in case of idiopathic etiology and corticosteroid administration in case of autoimmune etiology of POF.
Conclusions: Precise analysis of POF etiology enables specific treatment and resumption of reproductive function in some forms of POF (idiopathic and autoimmune).
Downloads
References
Khaw KT. Epidemiology of the menopause. Br Med Bull 1992; 48: 249–61.
Beckers NG, Macklon NS, Eijkemans MJ, Fauser BC. Women with regular menstrual cycles and a poor response to ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization exhibit follicular phase characteristics suggestive of ovarian aging. Fertil Steril 2002; 78: 291–7.
Torgerson DJ, Thomas RE, Reid DM. Mothers and daughters menopausal ages: is there a link? Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 1997; 74: 63–6.
Coulam CB, Adamson SC, Annegers JF. Incidence of premature ovarian failure. Obstet Gynecol 1986; 67: 604–6.
Harlow BL, Cramer DW, Annis KM. Association of medically treated depression and age at natural menopause. Am J Epidemiol 1995; 141: 1170–6.
Orshan SA, Furniss KK, Forst C, Santoro N. The lived experience of premature ovarian failure. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2001; 30: 202–8.
Ross JL, Stefanatos GA, Kushner H, Bondy C, Nelson L, Zinn A, et al. The effect of genetic differences and ovarian failure: intact cognitive function in adult women with premature ovarian failure versus Turner syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2004; 89: 1817–22.
Booker M. Premature ovarian failure. Contemp Rev Obstet Gynaecol 1991; 3: 115–8.
Santoro N. Research on the mechanisms of premature ovarian failure. J Soc Gynecol Investig 2001; 8 Suppl 1: S10–2.
Mattison DR, Evans MI, Schwimmer WB, White BJ, Jensen B, Schulman JD. Familial premature ovarian failure. Am J Hum Genet 1984; 36: 1341–8.
Fassnacht W, Mempel A, Strowitzki T, Vogt PH. Premature ovarian failure (POF) syndrome: towards the molecular clinical analysis of its genetic complexity. Curr Med Chem 2006; 13: 1397– 410.
Allingham-Hawkins DJ, Babul-Hirji R, Chitayat D, Holden JJ, Yang KT, Lee C, et al. Fragile X premutation is a significant risk factor for premature ovarian failure: The international collaborative POF in Fragile X study-preliminary data. Am J Med Genet 1999; 83: 322–5.
Gersak K, Meden-Vrtovec H, Peterlin B. Fragile X premutation in women with sporadic premature ovarian failure in Slovenia. Hum Reprod 2003; 18: 1637–40.
Vianna-Morgante AM, Costa SS, Pavanello RCM, Otto PA, Mingroni- Netto RC. Premature ovarian failure (POF) in Brazilian fragile X carriers. Genet Mol Biol 1999; 22: 471–4.
Hundscheid RD, Sistermans EA, Thomas CM, Braat DD, Straatman H, Kiemeney LA, et al. Imprinting effect in premature ovarian failure confined to paternally inherited fragile X premutations. Am J Hum Genet 2000; 66: 413–8.
Murray A, Webb J, Grimley S, Conway G, Jacobs P. Studies of FRAXA and FRAXE in women with premature ovarian failure. J Med Genet 1998; 35: 637–40.
Duff GL, Bernstein C. Five cases of Addison’s disease with socalled atrophy of the adrenal cortex. Bull Johns Hopkins Hosp 1933; 52: 67–83.
Betterle C, Volpato M. Adrenal and ovarian autoimmunity. Eur J Endocrinol 1998; 138: 16–25.
Kauffman RP, Castracane VD. Premature ovarian failure associated with autoimmune polyglandular syndrome: pathophysiological mechanisms and future fertility. J Womens Health 2003; 12: 513–20.
Coulam CB. The prevalence of autoimmune disorders among patients with primary ovarian failure. Am J Reprod Immunol 1983; 4: 63–6.
Betterle C, Rossi A, Dalla Pria S, Artifoni A, Pedini B, Gavasso S, et al. Premature ovarian failure: autoimmunity and natural history. Clin Endocrinol 1993; 39: 35–43.
Wheatcroft NJ, Toogood AA, Li TC, Cooke ID, Weetman AP. Detection of antibodies to ovarian antigens in women with premature ovarian failure. Clin Exp Immunol 1994; 96: 122–8.
Luborsky JL, Visintin I, Boyers S, Asari T, Caldwell B, DeCherney A. Ovarian antibodies detected by immobilized antigen immunoassay in patients with premature ovarian failure. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1990; 70: 69–75.
Moncayo H, Moncayo R, Benz R, Wolf A, Lauritzen C. Ovarian failure and autoimmunity. Detection of autoantibodies directed against both the unoccupied luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin receptor and the hormone-receptor complex of bovine corpus luteum. J Clin Invest 1989; 84: 1857– 65.
Sotsiou F, Bottazzo GF, Doniach D. Immunofluorescence studies on autoantibodies to steroid-producing cells, and to germline cells in endocrine disease and infertility. Clin Exp Immunol 1980; 39: 97–111.
Horejsi J, Martinek J, Novakova D, Madar J, Brandejska M. Autoimmune antiovarian antibodies and their impact on the success of an IVF/ET program. Ann NY Acad Sci 2000; 900: 351–6.
Miyake T, Sato Y, Takeuchi S. Implications of circulating autoantibodies and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets for the genesis of premature ovarian failure. J Reprod Immunol 1987; 12: 163–71.
Hoek A, Schoemaker J, Drexhage HA. Premature ovarian failure and ovarian autoimmunity. Endocr Rev 1997; 18: 107–34.
Conway GS, Kaltsas G, Patel A, Davies MC, Jacobs HS. Characterization of idiopathic premature ovarian failure. Fertil Steril 1996; 65: 337–41.
Sedmak DD, Hart WR, Tubbs RR. Autoimmune oophoritis: a histopathologic study of involved ovaries with immunologic characterization of the mononuclear cell infiltrate. Int J Gynecol Pathol 1987; 6: 73–81.
Forges T, Monnier-Barbarino P, Faure GC, Bene MC. Autoimmunity and antigenic targets in ovarian pathology. Hum Reprod Update 2004; 10: 163–75.
Luborsky J, Llanes B, Davies S, Binor Z, Radwanska E, Pong R. Ovarian autoimmunity: greater frequency of autoantibodies in premature menopause and unexplained infertility than in the general population. Clin Immunol 1999; 90: 368–74.
Luborsky J. Ovarian autoimmune disease and ovarian autoantibodies. J Womens Health Gend Based Med 2002; 11: 585–99.
Luborsky J, Pong R. Pregnancy outcome and ovarian antibodies in infertility patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Am J Reprod Immunol 2000; 44: 261–5.
Monnier-Barbarino P, Jouan C, Dubois M, Gobert B, Faure G, Bene MC. Antiovarian antibodies and in vitro fertilization: cause or consequence? Gynecol Obstet Fertil 2003; 31: 770–3.
Gobert B, Barabarino-Monnier P, Guillet-Rosso F, Bene MC, Faure GC. Ovary antibodies after IVF. Lancet 1990; 335: 723.
Siddle N, Sarrel P, Whitehead M. The effect of hysterectomy on the age at ovarian failure: identification of a subgroup of women with premature loss of ovarian function and literature review. Fertil Steril 1987; 47: 94–100.
Baker JW, Morgan RL, Peckham MJ, Smithers DW. Preservation of ovarian function in patients requiring radiotherapy for paraaortic and pelvic Hodgkin’s disease. Lancet 1972; 1: 1307–8.
Horning SJ, Hoppe RT, Kaplan HS, Rosenberg SA. Female reproductive potential after treatment for Hodgkin’s disease. N Engl J Med 1981; 304: 1377–82.
Jewelewicz R, Schwartz M. Premature ovarian failure. Bull NY Acad Med 1986; 62: 219–36.
Nogales-Ortiz F, Tarancon I, Nogales FF Jr. The pathology of female genital tuberculosis. A 31-year study of 1436 cases. Obstet Gynecol 1979; 53: 422–8.
Faddy MJ, Gosden RG, Gougeon A, Richardson SJ, Nelson JF. Accelerated disappearance of ovarian follicles in mid-life: implications for forecasting menopause. Hum Reprod 1992; 7: 1342–6.
Gougeon A. Regulation of ovarian follicular development in primates: facts and hypotheses. Endocr Rev 1996; 17: 121–55.
Tan SL, Child TJ, Gulekli B. In vitro maturation and fertilization of oocytes from unstimulated ovaries: predicting the number of immature oocytes retrieved by early follicular phase ultrasonography. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002; 186: 684–9.
Scheffer GJ, Broekmans FJ, Dorland M, Habbema JD, Looman CW, Te Velde ER. Antral follicle counts by transvaginal ultrasonography are related to age in women with proven natural fertility. Fertil Steril 1999; 72: 845–51.
Scheffer GJ, Broekmans FJ, Looman CW, Blankenstein M, Fauser BC, TeJong FH, et al. The number of antral follicles in normal women with proven fertility is the best reflection of reproductive age. Hum Reprod 2003; 18: 700–6.
Nikolaou D, Templeton A. Early ovarian ageing. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2004; 113: 126–33.
Byskov AG, Faddy MJ, Lemmen JG, Andersen CY. Eggs forever? Differentiation 2005; 73: 438–46.
Liu Y, Wu C, Lyu Q, Yang D, Albertini DF, Keefe DL, Liu L. Germline stem cells and neo-oogenesis in the adult human ovary. Dev Biol. V tisku 2007.
Bukovsky A, Virant-Klun I, Svetlikova M, Willson I. Ovarian germ cells. Methods Enzymol 2006; 419: 208–58.
Bukovsky A, Virant-Klun I. Adult stem cells in the human ovary. In: Carlos S, Pellicer A, eds. Stem cells in reproductive medicine: Basic science and therapeutic potential. London: Informa Healthcare; 2006. p. 53–69.
Fanchin R, Schonauer LM, Righini C, Guibourdenche J, Frydman R, Taieb J. Serum anti-Mullerian hormone is more strongly related to ovarian follicular status than serum inhibin B, estradiol, FSH and LH on day 3. Hum Reprod 2003; 18: 323–7.
Vrtovec B, Delgado R, Zewail A, Thomas CD, Richartz BM, Radovancevic B. Prolonged QTc interval and high B-type natriuretic peptide levels together predict mortality in patients with advanced heart failure. Circulation 2003; 107: 1764–9.
Writing Group for the British Menopause Society Council. Management of premature menopause. Menopause Int 2007; 13: 44–5.
Skouby SO, Al-Azzawi F, Barlow D, Calaf-Alsina Erdogan Ertungealp J, Gompel A, Graziottin A, Hudita D, et al. Climacteric medicine: European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS) 2004/2005 position statements on peri- and postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy. Maturitas 2005; 51: 8–14.
Surrey ES, Cedars MI. The effect of gonadotropin suppression on the induction of ovulation in premature ovarian failure patients. Fertil Steril 1989; 52: 36–41.
Taylor AE, Adams JM, Mulder JE, Martin KA, Sluss PM, Crowley WF Jr. A randomized, controlled trial of estradiol replacement therapy in women with hypergonadotropic amenorrhea. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1996; 81: 3615–21.
Dmowski WP, Rana N, Michalowska J, Friberg J, Papierniak C, el- Roeiy A. The effect of endometriosis, its stage and activity, and of autoantibodies on in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer success rates. Fertil Steril 1995; 63: 555–62.
Kim CH, Chae HD, Kang BM, Chang YS, Mok JE. The immunotherapy during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer cycles in infertile patients with endometriosis. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 1997; 23: 463–70.
Geva E, Fait G, Lerner-Geva L, Lessing JB, Swartz T, Wolman I, et al. The possible role of antiovary antibodies in repeated in vitro fertilization failures. Am J Reprod Immunol 1999; 42: 292–6.
Kocijančič A, Meden-Vrtovec H. Pregnancy in three patients with hypergonadotrophic ovarian failure. Acta Eur Fert 1987; 18: 263–6.
Friedman CI, Barrows H, Kim MH. Hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1983; 145: 360–72.
The Author transfers to the Publisher (Zdravniški vestnik/Slovenian Medical Journal) all economic copyrights following form Article 22 of the Slovene Copyright and Related Rights Act (ZASP), including the right of reproduction, the right of distribution, the rental right, the right of public performance, the right of public transmission, the right of public communication by means of phonograms and videograms, the right of public presentation, the right of broadcasting, the right of rebroadcasting, the right of secondary broadcasting, the right of communication to the public, the right of transformation, the right of audiovisual adaptation and all other rights of the author according to ZASP.
The aforementioned rights are transferred non-exclusively, for an unlimited number of editions, for the term of the statutory
The Author can make use of his work himself or transfer subjective rights to others only after 3 months from date of first publishing in the journal Zdravniški vestnik/Slovenian Medical Journal.
The Publisher (Zdravniški vestnik/Slovenian Medical Journal) has the right to transfer the rights, acquired parties without explicit consent of the Author.
The Author consents that the Article be published under the Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0 (attribution-non-commercial) or comparable licence.
