Premature ovarian failure may be the result of the destruction of eggs in the ovaries. Some patients experience complete destruction of all eggs within the ovaries. In these cases, no treatment will restore egg development.

However, some patients experience a condition known as premature autoimmune ovarian failure. In these cases eggs still remain in the ovaries, but they are prevented from working normally by the body's own immune system.

This study was designed to evaluate patients with premature ovarian failure. It will provide researchers with information that may be used later in other studies related to this condition. In addition, patients participating in this study may be selected for other studies that may benefit them directly.

Condition	Treatment or Intervention
Amenorrhea Hypoaldosteronism Hypogonadism Infertility Premature Ovarian Failure	Drug: OCRH

Further Study Details: 

Expected Total Enrollment:  1000

No proven therapy to restore ovarian function and fertility is available to patients with karyotypically normal spontaneous premature ovarian failure. We know that one-half of these patients have primordial follicles remaining in the ovary, and these follicles can function intermittently. This is a diagnostic omnibus protocol that permits baseline clinical evaluation of patients with premature ovarian failure. The findings will determine patients' suitability for specifically focused therapeutic research protocols.

Genders Eligible for Study:  Female

Criteria

INCLUSION CRITERIA:
Women 18 to 42 years of age with premature ovarian failure who meet the following requirements will be candidates for the study: 1) at least a four month history of amenorrhea not due to pregnancy, and 2) at least two documented serum FSH levels or two documented LH levels in the menopausal range for the corresponding assay (greater than or equal to 20 U/ml for FSH and greater than or equal to15 U/L for LH in the current Clinical Center assays).
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Women with evidence for karyotypic, metabolic, toxic, or iatrogenic cause of the ovarian failure will not be candidates.

Maryland
      National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), 9000 Rockville Pike,  Bethesda,  Maryland,  20892,  United States; Recruiting

Study ID Numbers:  910127; 91-CH-0127
Record last reviewed:  March 30, 2004
Last Updated:  November 23, 2004
Record first received:  November 3, 1999
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00001275
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on 2005-04-08