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Premature Ovarian “Failure” in the Adolescent
Author(s) -
Rebar Robert W.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1429.000
Subject(s) - premature ovarian failure , hypoestrogenism , premature menopause , amenorrhea , medicine , pregnancy , endocrine system , chemotherapy , pediatrics , gynecology , menopause , biology , hormone , genetics
Premature ovarian “failure” (POF) is an enigmatic and heterogeneous disorder characterized by amenorrhea, hypoestrogenism, and hypergonadotropinism that occurs in women under the age of 40 years. The predominant causes are different in the adolescent, and more of these causes are associated with permanent cessation of ovarian function. It would seem that the more common causes of POF in adolescents include cytogenetic abnormalities involving the X chromosome, ovarian dysfunction occurring in association with other autoimmune endocrine disturbances, and chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy given for any of a number of malignancies. Special challenges in the adolescent beyond establishing the diagnosis include counseling the young woman and her family and discussing the possibility of future pregnancy. Lifelong therapy must be addressed as well. Any discussion of POF raises numerous unanswered questions that should be the focus of future research.