title: Idiopathic premature ovarian failure: what is the most suitable ovarian stimulation protocol?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the ovarian response to ovarian stimulation in women with idiopathic premature ovarian failure (POF) in a prospective, controlled, and sequential crossover pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten women with idiopathic premature ovarian failure and normal karyotype were included in the study. Phase I was comprised of three consecutive control cycles consisting each of estrogen progestin sequential therapy. Phase II was comprised of three consecutive treatment cycles combining the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) in the background of estrogen priming, followed by gonadotropin ovarian stimulation and corticosteroid immunosuppression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ovulation rates in the treatment cycles (0/10; 0%) did not differ from control cycles (0/10; 0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this pilot study showed that the combination of estrogen priming, corticosteroid immune-suppression, GnRHa pituitary desensitization, and followed by gonadotropin ovarian stimulation is ineffective in restoring ovarian function in women with idiopathic POF.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Awwad
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Farra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hannoun
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abou-Abdallah
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isaacson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ghazeeri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult