SEX HORMONE LEVELS AND GONADOTROPHIN RELEASE IN PREMATURE OVARIAN FAILURE

Summary Premature ovarian failure was studied in ten women under the age of 30; eight had an ovarian biopsy and five of these showed primordial follicles. Plasma levels of oestradiol and progesterone were similar to the follicular phase of a normal menetrual cycle, but in eight patients cervical smears showed a cornification index of less than one per cent. Levels of both androgens and of sex hormone binding globulin capacity were generally normal. Administration of LH-RH caused a release of FSH which was similar to post menopausal women and higher than normally menstruating women, and a release of LH which was higher than both. Two patients were treated with exogenous gonadotrophins without effect.