Premature ovarian failure: frequency and risk factors among women attending a network of menopause clinics in Italy

In: BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology · 2002 · vol. 110(1) , pp. 59–63 · doi:10.1016/s1470-0328(02)02929-4 · PMID:12504937 · W2619586967
article OA: closed CC0 ⤵ 4 in-corpus citations
View on OpenAlex View on PubMed View at publisher

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and causes of preterm ovarian failure (menopause before 40 years of age) and early menopause (menopause between 40 and 45 years). DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: Menopause clinics in Italy. POPULATION: Women attending menopause clinics in Italy. METHODS: Between 1997 and 1999 we conducted a large cross sectional study on the characteristics of women around menopause attending a network of first-level outpatient menopause clinics in Italy for general counselling about menopause or treatment of menopausal symptoms. Eligible for the study were all women aged 45-75 years consecutively observed for the first time at the participating centres on randomly selected days during the study period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Factors associated with preterm ovarian failure. RESULTS: Out of 15,253 women aged 55 years or more with spontaneous menopause who entered the study, 269 (1.8%) reported preterm ovarian failure, and 1085 (7.1%) reported spontaneous menopause at age 40-45 years. The risk of preterm ovarian failure and of early menopause was higher in women reporting lifelong irregular menstrual cycles: in comparison with women reporting menopause at age > or =45 years, the OR (irregular vs regular menstrual cycles) of preterm ovarian failure was 1.3 (95% CI 1.0-1.7) and of early menopause of 1.2 (95% CI 1.0-1.5). Parous women reported less frequently preterm ovarian failure (chi(2) trend P < 0.05) and early menopause (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7-1.0). No significant association emerged between risk of preterm ovarian failure or menopause at age 40 to <45 and education, age at menarche, oral contraceptive use and smoking habits. CONCLUSION: Nulliparity and lifelong irregular menstrual cycles are associated with an increased risk of preterm ovarian failure.

My notes (saved in your browser only)

Citation neighborhood (sparse)

Too few in-corpus citations on either side for a chart; here are the lists.

Cites (1)

Cited by (4)

References (12)

Cited by (4)

Source provenance

openalex
last seen: 2026-05-11T03:38:02.056803+00:00
License: CC0 · commercial use OK