title: Twin gestation two years after the diagnosis of premature ovarian failure in a woman on hormone replacement therapy. A case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a condition causing amenorrhea, hypoestrogenism and elevated gonadotropins before the age of 40 years and affects around 10% of patients seeking evaluation for secondary amenorrhea. Although it is a rare event, pregnancy has occurred in this group of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A successful twin pregnancy occurred in a 30-year-old woman two years after the diagnosis of POF. Cyclic hormone replacement therapy was initiated after the diagnosis. Twenty-one months later, ultrasound revealed an 8-week twin pregnancy. Two healthy infants, a boy and a girl, were delivered at 36 gestational weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are no clinical or laboratory features that unequivocally establish the diagnosis of POF. Neither high levels of gonadotropins nor an ovarian biopsy with rare follicles excludes the possibility of pregnancy. Even though pregnancy in patients with POF is very unlikely, patients should be informed of this possibility, and a contraceptive method should be considered if pregnancy is not desired.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Rua 14 de Dezembro, 421/21, Campinas/SP, CEP13015-130, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. dramsf@acad.puccamp.br
authors.forename: Arlete Maria dos Santos
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Maurício de Souza
authors.initials: Mde S
authors.lastname: Arruda
authors.forename: Aloísio José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bedone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000209:etiology; D001706:Biopsy; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014427:Twins; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); C466383:Prempro; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate