Primary Ovarian Insufficiency

Primary ovarian insufficiency or premature menopause is one of the stressful problems in women younger than 40, which may cause numerous early or late psychological and physical complications. Failure of germ cell development is associated with complete ovarian insufficiency, while their decreased number is more likely associated with partial ovarian insufficiency, which leads to secondary amenorrhea. The aim of this study was to assess 11 young women in whom premature menopause occurred between 14 and 25 years of age. Menopausal symptoms, total urinary gonadotropins, therapy, ultrasonography and laparoscopy of the gonads were investigated and the patients were referred to a genetic counselor for cytogenetic tests and counseling. Laparascopically, in four rudimentary types of ovarian streaks, probably a representative form of gonadal dysgenesis was found. In four patients, the ovaries were typical of the corrugated wrinkled ovaries of postmenopausal women. The chromosomal nuclear sex was positive in 10 and the karyotype was normal in 9 of 11 patients in whom these tests were performed. This finding has substantial implications for understanding human primary ovarian insufficiency and for developing effective alternative therapies.