BONE LOSS IN YOUNG-WOMEN WITH KARYOTYPICALLY NORMAL SPONTANEOUS PREMATURE OVARIAN FAILURE

Objective: To evaluate the effects of karotypically normal spontaneous premature ovarian failure on femoral neck bone mineral density. Metho ds: Eighty-nine women with karyotypically normal spontaneous premature ovarian failure who desired fertility were evaluated at a tertiary ca re academic center and underwent hip and spinal bone density measureme nts by conventional dual-photon absorptiometry. Seventy-seven of the w omen (87%) had sought medical advice previously and had taken a variet y of estrogen and progestin replacement regimens at least intermittent ly. The median (range) age was 32 (20-39) years, and the median (range ) time since diagnosis was 1.5 (0.5-11) years. Findings were compared with a reference group of 218 regularly menstruating women of similar age. Results: Sixty of the 89 women with premature ovarian failure (67 %, 95% confidence interval 57, 77) had a femoral neck bone mineral den sity more than 1 standard deviation (SD) below the mean of the referen ce group (P < .001, chi(2) with Yates correction). Even in women in wh om the bone mineral density measurement was made within just 1.5 years of the diagnosis, nearly one-half (47%) had a femoral neck bone miner al density more than 1 SD below the mean of the reference group (P < . 01). Conclusion: Two-thirds of young women with karyotypically normal spontaneous premature ovarian failure have a femoral neck bone mineral density more than 1 SD below the mean of a reference group. These you ng women need early education regarding strategies to maintain their b one mass and ongoing medical evaluation to maintain compliance with th ese strategies.