Is unilateral oophorectomy associated with age at menopause? A population study (the HUNT2 Survey)

Medium-term Ovarian Volume and Anti-Müllerian Hormone After Ovarian-sparing Surgery for Benign Neoplasms in Pediatric Patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Benign ovarian neoplasms are common in the pediatric population. In young adult women, oophorectomy has been shown to negatively impact long-term ovarian endocrine function. Recently, ovarian-sparing surgery (OSS) has been proposed as it offers similar results to oophorectomy in terms of recurrence rates. However, the impact of OSS on functional preservation in girls and adolescents remains unclear due to limited follow-up data. The aim of this study was to evaluate ovarian function and its morphological correlation in the medium term in girls undergoing OSS for benign neoplasms.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted including girls under 15 years of age who underwent OSS for benign neoplasms at our hospital between January 2014 and July 2022. Eligible patients were cited to an on-site evaluation at least 12 months after surgery. Data collected included age at surgery, tumor volume, history of adnexal torsion and recurrence. Postoperative ovarian volume was assessed by transabdominal pelvic ultrasound, and serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels were measured and compared to expected values for age.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven patients presented with 39 ovarian neoplasms; 31 underwent OSS. Mean age at surgery was 11.7 years, and mean period from surgery to face-to-face evaluation was 46.6 months. Excluding cases with ovarian torsion, normal ovarian volume (>-2 standard deviations (SD) from the expected value for age) was observed in 22/27 ovaries (81.5 %). In patients with normal volume ovaries after unilateral disease, 17/19 (89.5 %) AMH values were > -1SD from the expected value. A positive and statistically significant correlation was found between postoperative ovarian volume and AMH levels (Pearson correlation 0.52, p < 0.01). One patient who underwent oophorectomy and one who underwent OSS reported achieving pregnancy without medical intervention. No ipsilateral recurrences were observed during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

OSS is a viable alternative for treating benign neoplasms in girls, showing morphological and functional results comparable to healthy women from one-year post-intervention onwards. Long-term follow-up and prospective studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of OSS in maximizing fertility and avoiding premature menopause, which occurs after oophorectomy at an early age, while maintaining similar oncological outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Unilateral Oophorectomy and Age at Natural Menopause: A Longitudinal Community-Based Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association between unilateral oophorectomy (UO) and age at natural menopause.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of survey data from Alberta's Tomorrow Project (2000-2022).

SETTING

Prospective cohort study in Alberta, Canada.

POPULATION

23 630 women; 548 experienced UO and 23 082 did not experience UO.

METHODS

Flexible parametric survival analysis was used to analyse age at natural menopause, and logistic regression was used to analyse early menopause and premature ovarian insufficiency by UO status, controlling for birth year, parity, age at menarche, past infertility, hormonal contraceptive use and smoking.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Age at natural menopause occurred by a final menstrual period without medical cause and sub-classified as early menopause (< 45 years) and premature ovarian insufficiency (< 40 years).

RESULTS

Compared to no UO, any UO was associated with elevated risk of earlier age at natural menopause, which was strongest in early midlife (adjusted HR at age 40 1.71, 95% CI 1.31-2.19) and diminished over time. Compared to age 55 years at UO, risks of earlier age at natural menopause were largest and uniform in magnitude when UO occurred between approximately ages 20-40 years (adjusted HR for UO at age 30 2.32, 1.46-3.54) and then diminished as age at UO approached the average age at natural menopause. Any UO was associated with higher odds of early menopause (adjusted OR 1.90, 1.30-2.79) and premature ovarian insufficiency (adjusted OR 3.75, 1.72-8.16).

CONCLUSIONS

Unilateral oophorectomy is associated with earlier age at natural menopause, particularly when performed before 40 years of age.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation for an 8 year old girl after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in China: case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Preconditioning before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) severely damages ovarian function, resulting in infertility and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) in young women and girls. Ovarian function and fertility preservation before HSCT is crucial. In China, many patients miss this opportunity, highlighting the need for ovarian function and fertility preservation after HSCT. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) is a standard method for fertility preservation and protecting ovarian function. The objective of this case report is to report a case of OTC performed on an 8-year-old girl after HSCT, and present a review about the necessity and feasibility of ovarian preservation after HSCT.

CASE

An 8-year-old girl required a second HSCT due to a relapse of dermatomyositis. Before the procedure, she visited our center for OTC. Hormonal assessments showed FSH 1.17 IU/L, LH 0.00 IU/L, E2 < 11.80 pg/ml, and AMH 0.81 ng/ml. Pelvic ultrasound revealed bilateral ovarian sizes of approximately 1.5 × 0.7 × 0.7 cm and 1.6 × 0.9 × 0.7 cm, with 10 and 4 visible follicles, respectively. We proceeded with OTC, surgically retrieving the entire left ovary via laparoscopy. Seven ovarian cortical slices were cryopreserved by slow freezing, with an average of 1079 follicles in per 2 mm diameter cortical tissue slice.

CONCLUSION

Patients who miss fertility preservation before HSCT should consult fertility preservation and gynecological endocrinology experts as early as possible after HSCT and undergo regular follow-up. If clinical evidence indicates residual ovarian function, fertility protection measures should be discussed promptly. OTC should be assessed as a successful option for women after HSCT.

Puberty progression in girls with Turner syndrome after ovarian tissue cryopreservation

OBJECTIVE

To study the impact of unilateral ovariectomy for ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) on the function of the remaining ovary in girls with Turner syndrome.

DESIGN

A prospective cohort study as a follow-up of OTC in a research setting (the TurnerFertility trial, NCT03381300).

SETTING

University Hospital.

PATIENT(S)

A total of 28 girls with Turner syndrome with follicles in their cryopreserved ovarian cortex tissue, aged 5-19 years. Of the 28 girls, 21 had a 45,X/46,XX mosaic karyotype; 5 had structural aberrations of the X chromosome; 1 had a 45,X monosomy; and 1 had a 45,X/47,XXX karyotype.

INTERVENTION(S)

Girls were monitored annually after OTC for pubertal development and levels of antimüllerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and inhibin B.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Thelarche, menarche, and onset of premature ovarian insufficiency.

RESULT(S)

The girls were monitored for a median duration of 3.4 years (maximum 6.6 years). The pubertal development of five prepubertal girls is still unknown; all were aged <10 years and had low gonadotropin and estradiol levels at the end of the follow-up. Seven of the eight girls of approximately pubertal age (10-12 years) experienced spontaneous thelarche, although one received medication to induce puberty. Eleven of the 14 girls between the ages of 14-17 years experienced spontaneous menarche; three other girls with thelarche still had ongoing puberty at the end of follow-up with normal gonadotropins and AMH levels above the detection limit. Approximately 6-12 months after OTC, a decline in AMH concentration was observed in 57% (16/28) of girls, followed by an increase in AMH concentration in the following years. Six of the total 28 girls started hormone replacement therapy because of symptoms of premature ovarian insufficiency, and all had AMH levels <0.50 μg/L before OTC.

CONCLUSION(S)

Pubertal development progressed after unilateral ovariectomy for OTC in most girls with Turner syndrome. Hormone replacement therapy was required within a few years for girls with unfavorable parameters before OTC, such as AMH levels <0.50 μg/L. Decisions regarding OTC should be personalized, considering the girl's preferences and specific characteristics.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03381300-Preservation of ovarian cortex tissue in girls with Turner syndrome-Full Text View-ClinicalTrials.gov. Registered on: December 21, 2017. The first patient was recruited on January 1, 2018.

Treating Benign Ovarian Lesions in the Pediatric Population: A Single Institution's Retrospective Investigation of Laparoscopy Versus Open Repair

Background: Benign ovarian lesions in the pediatric population have variable risk of recurrence or development of metachronous lesions, leading to variations in operative approach. Our study compares outcomes with differing surgical approaches to better elucidate risk of recurrent or metachronous lesions, time to development of these lesions, and hospital length of stay to determine if one operative approach has superior outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively examined data from Indiana University Health facilities from 2002 to 2020. Patients ≤18 years old who underwent surgical management of a benign ovarian lesion were included. Patients were categorized as undergoing oophorectomy versus ovarian sparing surgery (OSS), with open and laparoscopic approaches. Significance was defined as P < .05. Results: We identified 127 patients who underwent an open (n = 65) versus laparoscopic (n = 55) surgical approach. Patients undergoing open surgery had a greater mean size of lesion (P = .05) and longer length of stay (P < .01). Complication rates (P = .1), rates of developing a metachronous or recurrent lesion postoperatively (P = .47), and time to formation of additional lesions were similar between groups (P = .25). The incidence of identifying an additional lesion after surgery was 14.2% (n = 18) in the mean time of 29.5 ± 31.6 months [SEM 7.5]. Risk of developing a metachronous lesion was similar regardless of the operative approach. Surgery for recurrent ovarian lesions was rare and occurred in only 1 case. Conclusions: Laparoscopic surgery was performed for smaller lesions and was associated with a shorter length of hospital stay. Laparoscopic and OSS was found to have no increased risk of developing metachronous lesions nor increased reoperative risk compared with traditional open and oophorectomy techniques.

Oncofertility care for children, adolescents, and young adults at risk for treatment-related fertility loss

As therapy for childhood malignancies becomes more sophisticated and survival has improved, long-term therapy-related sequelae have emerged. Loss of reproductive potential among childhood cancer survivors is one such concern that has become increasingly recognized among patients, families, and healthcare providers. The risk status for infertility based upon therapy received, state of current reproductive technology and outcomes, and an emphasis on adequate referral and counseling for fertility preservation options are reviewed. Contributing factors to infertility are discussed, and options for female and male preservation based upon age and pubertal status are summarized. This article highlights the current state of fertility opportunities for children and adolescents undergoing therapy for cancer. Providers caring for these young patients should be familiar with such options and should routinely initiate evaluations for eligibility of fertility preservation.

Navigating fertility dilemmas across the lifespan in girls with Turner syndrome-a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Girls with Turner syndrome (TS) lack a partial or complete sex chromosome, which causes an accelerated decline of their ovarian reserve. Girls have to deal with several dilemmas related to their fertility, while only a limited number of them are referred to a fertility specialist and counselled about options of family planning on time.

OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE

This scoping review provides an update of the literature on fertility in girls with TS throughout their lifespan and aims to propose a clinical practice guideline on fertility in TS.

SEARCH METHODS

Databases of PubMed, Embase, and Web of science were searched using the following key terms: Turner syndrome, fertility, puberty, pregnancy, sex-hormones, karyotype, fertility preservation, assisted reproductive techniques, and counselling, alongside relevant subject headings and synonymous terms. English language articles published since 2007 were critically reviewed. Pregnancies after using donated oocytes and data about girls with TS with Y-chromosomal content were excluded.

OUTCOMES

This search identified 1269 studies of which 120 were extracted for the review. The prevalence of natural conception ranged from 15% to 48% in women with 45,X/46,XX, 1% to 3% in women with 45,X, and 4% to 9% in women with other TS karyotypes. When assessing a girl's fertility potential, it was crucial to determine the karyotype in two cell lines, because hidden mosaicism may exist. In addition to karyotype, assessment of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) played a significant role in estimating ovarian function. Girls with AMH above the detection limit were most likely to experience spontaneous thelarche, menarche, and ongoing ovarian function during the reproductive lifespan. Fertility preservation became more routine practice: vitrification of oocytes was reported in 58 girls with TS and a median of five oocytes were preserved per stimulation. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation has demonstrated the presence of follicles in approximately 30% of girls with TS, mostly in girls with mosaic-TS, spontaneous puberty, and AMH above the detection limit. Although girls and their parents appreciated receiving counselling on fertility in TS, only one in ten girls with TS received specialized counselling. Unfamiliarity with fertility preservation techniques or uncertainties regarding the eligibility of a girl for fertility preservation constituted barriers for healthcare professionals when discussing fertility with girls with TS.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS

There currently is a high demand for fertility preservation techniques in girls with TS. A reliable prognostic model to determine which girls with TS might benefit from fertility preservation is lacking. Only a minority of these girls received comprehensive fertility counselling on the full spectrum of fertility, including uncertainties of fertility preservation, pregnancy risks, and alternatives, such as adoption. Fertility preservation could be a viable option for girls with TS. However, the question remains whether enough oocytes can be obtained for a realistic prospect of a live birth. It is important that girls and parents are empowered with the necessary information to make a well-informed decision.

Spontaneous pregnancy after thread-embedding therapy treatment with premature ovarian insufficiency after unilateral oophorectomy: a case report

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a condition characterized by menstrual disturbance, subfertility, and estrogen deficiency symptoms. Women with POI have a small chance of natural conception, which may be even smaller when complicated with unilateral ovarian due to reduction of the ovarian follicular reserve. In China, acupuncture has been widely used to treat POI and POI-induced infertility, and studies have shown that acupuncture is helpful for improving ovarian function. Thread-embedding therapy is a method of acupuncture treatment development and extension, which can make the acupuncture effect last. In this article, we report a patient diagnosed with POI after unilateral oophorectomy (UO) who spontaneously conceived after thread-embedding therapy. Thread-embedding therapy may improve ovarian function in patients with POI, thereby providing a treatment strategy for infertility in patients with POI. This case report was written in accordance with the CARE guidelines.

Laparoscopic Ovarian-Sparing Surgery for the Management of Benign Ovarian Lesions in Pediatric Patients: A Retrospective Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Laparoscopic ovarian-sparing surgery (OSS) is safe and effective management approach for benign ovarian lesions in pediatric patients. This study evaluates the outcomes of females younger than 18 years who underwent the OSS procedure between December 2013 and November 2022 at a single institution.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of records from 82 females who underwent OSS for ovarian lesions. OSS was performed based on diagnostic imaging that suggested the benign nature of the lesion.

RESULTS

Of the 82 patients studied, 78 had unilateral lesions and 4 had bilateral synchronous lesions. The mean age was 14 years. The majority (62 cases) of the surgeries were laparoscopic, with 20 requiring conversion to open surgery due to factors such as indistinguishable edges and large size of the lesion. We identified 8 cases of ovarian torsion. The surgical specimens revealed that 46 were ovarian teratomas, 2 were granulosa cell tumors, 15 were cystadenomas, and 23 were functional cysts. There were no intraoperative complications. Two recurrences were observed in patients who were initially treated for bilateral ovarian teratomas. One patient developed a pelvic abscess. Additionally, three patients had metachronous ovarian tumors during the follow-up period. In patients followed with ultrasound imaging, the viable ovary was visualized in 83.6% of the cases (61 out of 73).

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate the effectiveness of laparoscopic OSS in preserving ovarian function and providing clinical benefits in patients with benign ovarian lesions. We recommend regular follow-up with ultrasound to exclude metachronous lesions or recurrence.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Expert consensus on fertility preservation in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in girls in China

Aims: Preconditioning before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) seriously damages the ovarian function and causes female infertility. This consensus focuses on the fertility preservation(FP) for girls needing HSCT, aim to make doctors in different disciplines aware of the importance, necessity and technique of ovarian protection.Materials and methods: Summarizing relevant literature and organizing multidisciplinary experts, including obstetrics and gynecology, reproductive medicine, oncology, pediatrics and hematology for full discussion.Results: Individuals exposed to HSCT in childhood are at higher risk of loss of fertility. Considering the high risk of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) after conditioning and negative impact of POI on fertility, physical and mental health, it is absolutely necessary to protect fertility before HSCT conditioning. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is the main fertility preservation option for these population.Conclusions: Fertility preservation before HSCT conditioning is crucial. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is often the only option for these population.

Effects of different volumes of ovariectomy on fertility and offspring development of rats

Objective

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of removal of different volumes of ovarian tissue on fertility and offspring development of SD rats.

Methods

SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups according to different volumes of ovariectomy: Sham group (n=6), non-ovariectomized; 25%-OVX group (n=6), with half of the left ovary excised; 50%-OVX group (n=5), with the left ovary excised; 75%-OVX group (n=5), with the left ovary and half of the right ovary excised; 87.5%-OVX group (n=6), with the left ovary and three quarters of the right ovary excised; 100%-OVX group (n=6), with bilateral ovaries excised. These female rats (F0) were mated with healthy male rats one and four months after the surgery, and the offspring of F0 rats were named F11mon and F14mon, respectively. The number of days from mating to delivery and number of live cubs were recorded. At postnatal day 21 (P21), the body weight, length and anogenital distance (AGD) of the cubs were measured.

Results

There were no differences in the number of live cubs between 25%-OVX, 50%-OVX and sham groups. Rats in the 87.5%-OVX group did not give birth at 1 month and 4 months after the operation. When compared with the sham group, the body weight and length of F11mon at P21 were increased in 25%-OVX group and 50%-OVX group. However, after the second delivery, we controlled each mother's lactation to no more than eight pups. As a result, there were no differences in the body weight, length and AGD of F14mon compared with sham group.

Conclusion

Removal of less than 50% of the ovaries did not affect the fertility of rats and offspring development of rats.

Reducing Unnecessary Oophorectomies for Benign Ovarian Neoplasms in Pediatric Patients

Importance

Although most ovarian masses in children and adolescents are benign, many are managed with oophorectomy, which may be unnecessary and can have lifelong negative effects on health.

Objective

To evaluate the ability of a consensus-based preoperative risk stratification algorithm to discriminate between benign and malignant ovarian pathology and decrease unnecessary oophorectomies.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Pre/post interventional study of a risk stratification algorithm in patients aged 6 to 21 years undergoing surgery for an ovarian mass in an inpatient setting in 11 children's hospitals in the United States between August 2018 and January 2021, with 1-year follow-up.

Intervention

Implementation of a consensus-based, preoperative risk stratification algorithm with 6 months of preintervention assessment, 6 months of intervention adoption, and 18 months of intervention. The intervention adoption cohort was excluded from statistical comparisons.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Unnecessary oophorectomies, defined as oophorectomy for a benign ovarian neoplasm based on final pathology or mass resolution.

Results

A total of 519 patients with a median age of 15.1 (IQR, 13.0-16.8) years were included in 3 phases: 96 in the preintervention phase (median age, 15.4 [IQR, 13.4-17.2] years; 11.5% non-Hispanic Black; 68.8% non-Hispanic White); 105 in the adoption phase; and 318 in the intervention phase (median age, 15.0 [IQR, 12.9-16.6)] years; 13.8% non-Hispanic Black; 53.5% non-Hispanic White). Benign disease was present in 93 (96.9%) in the preintervention cohort and 298 (93.7%) in the intervention cohort. The percentage of unnecessary oophorectomies decreased from 16.1% (15/93) preintervention to 8.4% (25/298) during the intervention (absolute reduction, 7.7% [95% CI, 0.4%-15.9%]; P = .03). Algorithm test performance for identifying benign lesions in the intervention cohort resulted in a sensitivity of 91.6% (95% CI, 88.5%-94.8%), a specificity of 90.0% (95% CI, 76.9%-100%), a positive predictive value of 99.3% (95% CI, 98.3%-100%), and a negative predictive value of 41.9% (95% CI, 27.1%-56.6%). The proportion of misclassification in the intervention phase (malignant disease treated with ovary-sparing surgery) was 0.7%. Algorithm adherence during the intervention phase was 95.0%, with fidelity of 81.8%.

Conclusions and Relevance

Unnecessary oophorectomies decreased with use of a preoperative risk stratification algorithm to identify lesions with a high likelihood of benign pathology that are appropriate for ovary-sparing surgery. Adoption of this algorithm might prevent unnecessary oophorectomy during adolescence and its lifelong consequences. Further studies are needed to determine barriers to algorithm adherence.

Pediatric, adolescent, and young adult breast and reproductive tumors

Tumors of the breast and reproductive organs that occur in children, adolescents, and young adults (AYA) have different biological features and can present special challenges. Although prognosis for these tumors is generally favorable, the long-term effects of treatment can be debilitating. Treatments are often multimodal and may include surgery as well as chemotherapy and/or radiation, which can cause considerable distress and anxiety related to loss of femininity or masculinity, concern over future fertility, or sexual dysfunction. Thus, tumors of the reproductive organs in pediatric/AYA patients require special consideration of the treatment effects beyond the intended oncologic outcome. Multidisciplinary teams should be involved in their care and address issues of fertility, sexual dysfunction, and psychosexual concerns before treatment begins. This review addresses histology, risk factors, prognosis, staging and treatment of gynecologic, breast and testicular cancers in pediatric and AYA patients.

Slowest first passage times, redundancy, and menopause timing

Biological events are often initiated when a random "searcher" finds a "target," which is called a first passage time (FPT). In some biological systems involving multiple searchers, an important timescale is the time it takes the slowest searcher(s) to find a target. For example, of the hundreds of thousands of primordial follicles in a woman's ovarian reserve, it is the slowest to leave that trigger the onset of menopause. Such slowest FPTs may also contribute to the reliability of cell signaling pathways and influence the ability of a cell to locate an external stimulus. In this paper, we use extreme value theory and asymptotic analysis to obtain rigorous approximations to the full probability distribution and moments of slowest FPTs. Though the results are proven in the limit of many searchers, numerical simulations reveal that the approximations are accurate for any number of searchers in typical scenarios of interest. We apply these general mathematical results to models of ovarian aging and menopause timing, which reveals the role of slowest FPTs for understanding redundancy in biological systems. We also apply the theory to several popular models of stochastic search, including search by diffusive, subdiffusive, and mortal searchers.

Retrospective review of changes in testosterone dosing and physiologic parameters in transgender and gender-diverse individuals following hysterectomy with and without oophorectomy

BACKGROUND

As more transgender and gender-diverse patients undergo hysterectomy, gaps in knowledge remain about how testosterone dosing or other physiologic parameters change following surgery and how these are influenced by concomitant oophorectomy.

AIM

The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of testosterone dosing change after gender-affirming hysterectomy and to compare this incidence between patients who underwent oophorectomy and ovarian preservation.

METHODS

This multicenter retrospective cohort study consisted of transmasculine patients who underwent hysterectomy for gender affirmation.

OUTCOMES

Outcome measures included testosterone dosing changes at least 3 months following hysterectomy, as identified by clinical documentation, as well as clinical and laboratory parameters assessed for a change after hysterectomy: free and total testosterone, estradiol, hemoglobin, hematocrit, total cholesterol, weight, and blood pressure.

RESULTS

Of the 50 patients, 32 (64%) underwent bilateral oophorectomy, 10 (20%) unilateral oophorectomy, and 8 (16%) maintained both ovaries. Eight percent (n = 4) changed testosterone dosing following hysterectomy. Those who underwent bilateral oophorectomy were no more likely to change their testosterone dose than those who did not (P = .09). Those who also used menstrual suppression were 1.31 times more likely to change doses of testosterone after hysterectomy (95% CI, 1.09-1.82; P = .003). For those who had pre- and posthysterectomy laboratory and clinical values, the majority saw no clinically significant change. However, among patients who underwent bilateral oophorectomy, the calculated free testosterone increased by 90.1 ± 288.4 ng/dL (mean ± SD), and estradiol dropped by 20.2 ± 29.0 pg/mL.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

In a field where access to care can be a significant barrier, there is unlikely to be a need for routine reassessment of testosterone dose or laboratory parameters following hysterectomy, whether or not a bilateral oophorectomy occurs.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

Limitations of the study include its retrospective nature and the lack of consistent clinical laboratory testing, which resulted in limited data about any given hormonal change. The heterogeneity of our population limited the number of patients undergoing or not undergoing oophorectomy; however, it allowed our study to more truly reflect a clinical environment.

CONCLUSION

In a multisite cohort of individuals who underwent hysterectomy for gender affirmation, few patients changed testosterone dosing after surgery. In addition, dosing change was not associated with the presence or absence of bilateral oophorectomy, and most measured laboratory values remained consistent following hysterectomy.

Effects of Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation on Primary Ovarian Insufficiency in Girls Undergoing Bone Marrow Transplantation

OBJECTIVE

To determine if removing an ovary for ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) increased rates of primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) in girls undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Institutional review board approval was obtained from all 3 clinical sites.

DESIGN

Multicenter retrospective cohort study SETTING: Academic children's hospitals PATIENTS: Females aged 2-21 who underwent BMT with or without OTC from 2010 to 2017.

INTERVENTIONS

None MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of POI in girls who underwent OTC vs those who underwent BMT alone as determined by serum markers, presence of menses, or clinical diagnosis.

RESULTS

A total of 142 patients were identified, 43 who had OTC and 99 with BMT alone. The rate of POI in girls undergoing OTC was 65% vs 41.8% in those who underwent BMT alone (P = .26).

CONCLUSIONS

Although this study was not powered to detect a lack of difference, it is reassuring that there does not seem to be a clinically significant increase in POI in patients undergoing OTC.

A Rare Ovarian Tumor: The Sclerosing Stromal You Do Not Expect-A Case Series in the Adolescent Population and a Literature Review

Sclerosing stromal tumor (SST) is a rare ovarian tumor arising from the sex cord-stromal cells that occurs mainly in young adults during the second and third decades of life and rarely in pediatric and adolescent populations. The objective of this study is to report three illustrative cases of SST in young girls who had undergone surgery at our clinic in or after 2009, and to perform a literature review of this rare ovarian tumor. A retrospective chart review of female patients aged <18 years with a diagnosis of SST treated in a tertiary pediatric hospital was performed. Furthermore, a 10-year review of the SST literature was completed. Three cases of SST at our institution were outlined. After reviewing the literature, 18 SST cases were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 13.4 years, and the reported clinical presentations were abdominal or pelvic pain and menstrual irregularity. Seven patients had abnormal hormone tests or CA-125 levels. In approximately 30% of cases, conservative surgery was performed, preserving residual ovarian tissue. In conclusion, some preoperative findings may help in suggesting the presence of SST. However, definitive diagnosis can only be made by histopathological examination. It is important to consider this tumor because, given its benign behavior, a conservative approach is preferred, particularly in this age group.

Fertility preservation in women with benign gynaecological conditions

Although a wealth of data has been published regarding fertility preservation (FP) in women with malignant diseases who receive gonadotoxic treatment, the role of FP in non-malignant conditions has been studied to a much lesser extent. These include benign haematological, autoimmune, and genetic disorders, as well as a multitude of benign gynaecological conditions (BGCs) that may compromise ovarian reserve and/or reproductive potential due to pathogenic mechanisms or as a result of medical or surgical treatments. Alongside accumulating data that document the reproductive potential of cryopreserved oocytes and ovarian tissue, there is potential interest in FP for women with BGCs at risk of infertility; however, there are currently insufficient data about FP in women with BGCs to develop guidelines for clinical practice. The purpose of this article is to appraise the available evidence regarding FP for BGC and discuss potential strategies for FP based on estimated ovarian impairment and on short-term and long-term reproductive goals of patients. Cost-effectiveness considerations and patients' perspectives will also be discussed.

Ovarian Reserve Disorders, Can We Prevent Them? A Review

The ovarian reserve is finite and begins declining from its peak at mid-gestation until only residual follicles remain as women approach menopause. Reduced ovarian reserve, or its extreme form, premature ovarian insufficiency, stems from multiple factors, including developmental, genetic, environmental exposures, autoimmune disease, or medical/surgical treatment. In many cases, the cause remains unknown and resulting infertility is not ultimately addressed by assisted reproductive technologies. Deciphering the mechanisms that underlie disorders of ovarian reserve could improve the outcomes for patients struggling with infertility, but these disorders are diverse and can be categorized in multiple ways. In this review, we will explore the topic from a perspective that emphasizes the prevention or mitigation of ovarian damage. The most desirable mode of fertoprotection is primary prevention (intervening before ablative influence occurs), as identifying toxic influences and deciphering the mechanisms by which they exert their effect can reduce or eliminate exposure and damage. Secondary prevention in the form of screening is not recommended broadly. Nevertheless, in some instances where a known genetic background exists in discrete families, screening is advised. As part of prenatal care, screening panels include some genetic diseases that can lead to infertility or subfertility. In these patients, early diagnosis could enable fertility preservation or changes in family-building plans. Finally, Tertiary Prevention (managing disease post-diagnosis) is critical. Reduced ovarian reserve has a major influence on physiology beyond fertility, including delayed/absent puberty or premature menopause. In these instances, proper diagnosis and medical therapy can reduce adverse effects. Here, we elaborate on these modes of prevention as well as proposed mechanisms that underlie ovarian reserve disorders.

Why Turner patients with 45, X monosomy should not be excluded from fertility preservation services

In this case report, we highlight the practical dilemma, i.e. to perform ovarian tissue cryopreservation surgery in a 45, X Turner Syndrome patient or not, by reporting on the presence of follicles in a 13-year-old female diagnosed with 45, X monosomy and an unmeasurable anti-müllerian hormone serum level. We compare our results with previous research, highlight the challenges we faced in this case and provide recommendations for daily practice. Hereby, we demonstrate that excluding certain subgroups of Turner Syndrome patients (e.g. monosomy patients, and/or girls with an anti-müllerian hormone level below 2.0 ng/l) may be premature, especially based on the current state of published research data. This practical example of a challenging dilemma in the counselling of Turner Syndrome patients for fertility preservation is of interest for clinicians involved in fertility counselling and Turner Syndrome care.

Cystic Teratoma Resection With Ovarian Preservation in a Pediatric Transgender Male: A Case Report

Ovarian teratomas are germ cell-derived tumors that are classically reported in the literature to occur in cisgender female patients. While this is statistically the most common patient population that they are diagnosed in, they can also occur in transgender men with ovaries who have not undergone a previous oophorectomy. Because of the lack of research and literature regarding this unique patient population, decisions regarding the treatment of these neoplasms are controversial. Here, we report the case of a pediatric transgender male who developed an ovarian teratoma and discuss specific considerations for treating ovarian neoplasms in the transgender population.

Age-related fertility decline: is there a role for elective ovarian tissue cryopreservation?

Age-related fertility decline (ARFD) is a prevalent concern amongst western cultures due to the increasing age of first-time motherhood. Elective oocyte and embryo cryopreservation remain the most established methods of fertility preservation, providing women the opportunity of reproductive autonomy to preserve their fertility and extend their childbearing years to prevent involuntary childlessness. Whilst ovarian cortex cryopreservation has been used to preserve reproductive potential in women for medical reasons, such as in pre- or peripubertal girls undergoing gonadotoxic chemotherapy, it has not yet been considered in the context of ARFD. As artificial reproductive technology (ART) and surgical methods of fertility preservation continue to evolve, it is a judicious time to review current evidence and consider alternative options for women wishing to delay their fertility. This article critically appraises elective oocyte cryopreservation as an option for women who use it to mitigate the risk of ARFD and introduces the prospect of elective ovarian cortex cryopreservation as an alternative.

Fresh and cryopreserved ovarian tissue transplantation for preserving reproductive and endocrine function: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation involves freezing and storing of surgically retrieved ovarian tissue in liquid or vapour nitrogen below -190°C. The tissue can be thawed and transplanted back with the aim of restoring fertility or ovarian endocrine function. The techniques for human ovarian tissue freezing and transplantation have evolved over the last 20 years, particularly in the context of fertility preservation in pre-pubertal cancer patients. Fresh ovarian tissue transplantation, using an autograft or donor tissue, is a more recent development; it has the potential to preserve fertility and hormonal function in women who have their ovaries removed for benign gynaecological conditions. The techniques of ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation have progressed rapidly since inception; however, the evidence on the success of this intervention is largely based on case reports and case series.

OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE

The aim of this study was to systematically review the current evidence by incorporating study-level and individual patient-level meta-analyses of women who received ovarian transplants, including frozen-thawed transplant, fresh or donor graft.

SEARCH METHODS

The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018115233). A comprehensive literature search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from database inception to October 2020. Authors were also contacted for individual patient data if relevant outcomes were not reported in the published manuscripts. Meta-analysis was performed using inverse-variance weighting to calculate summary estimates using a fixed-effects model.

OUTCOMES

The review included 87 studies (735 women). Twenty studies reported on ≥5 cases of ovarian transplants and were included in the meta-analysis (568 women). Fertility outcomes included pregnancy, live birth and miscarriage rates, and endocrine outcomes included oestrogen, FSH and LH levels. The pooled rates were 37% (95% CI: 32-43%) for pregnancy, 28% (95% CI: 24-34%) for live birth and 37% (95% CI: 30-46%) for miscarriage following frozen ovarian tissue transplantation. Pooled mean for pre-transplant oestrogen was 101.6 pmol/l (95% CI: 47.9-155.3), which increased post-transplant to 522.4 pmol/l (95% CI: 315.4-729; mean difference: 228.24; 95% CI: 180.5-276). Pooled mean of pre-transplant FSH was 66.4 IU/l (95% CI: 52.8-84), which decreased post-transplant to 14.1 IU/l (95% CI: 10.9-17.3; mean difference 61.8; 95% CI: 57-66.6). The median time to return of FSH to a value <25 IU/l was 19 weeks (interquartile range: 15-26 weeks; range: 0.4-208 weeks). The median duration of graft function was 2.5 years (interquartile range: 1.4-3.4 years; range: 0.7-5 years). The analysis demonstrated that ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation could restore reproductive and hormonal functions in women. Further studies with larger samples of well-characterized populations are required to define the optimal retrieval, cryopreservation and transplantation processes.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation may not only be effective in restoring fertility but also the return of reproductive endocrine function. Although this technology was developed as a fertility preservation option, it may have the scope to be considered for endocrine function preservation.

Live birth and pregnancy rates after in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection in women with previous unilateral oophorectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To quantify the effect of unilateral oophorectomy (UO) on the rates of live birth and pregnancy in women undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI).

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

SETTING

Search of databases of published articles.

PATIENT(S)

The final analytical cohort encompassed 1,057 IVF/ICSI cycles in women with previous UO and 45,813 IVF/ICSI cycles in control women. Eighteen studies were identified by database searches of MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and cited references. The review encompassed studies published up to June 1, 2021.

INTERVENTION(S)

UO prior to IVF/ICSI.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

The primary outcomes were the rates of live birth and pregnancy following IVF/ICSI. The secondary outcomes included the amount of gonadotropins administered for ovarian stimulation and the number of retrieved oocytes.

RESULT(S)

The studies were rated from medium to high quality (from 5 to 8) according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. All studies were observational, with inherent bias, and heterogeneity was high. The primary outcome of live birth had a significantly lower odds ratio (OR) in women with previous UO compared with controls (OR = 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.57 to 0.91, z = -2.72). The OR for pregnancy rate per initiated treatment cycle was also significantly lower in women with previous UO compared with controls (OR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.86, z = -3.35). Additionally, the dose of administered gonadotropins was significantly higher and the number of retrieved oocytes was significantly lower in women with UO.

CONCLUSION(S)

The meta-analysis showed a significant detrimental effect of UO on the rates of live birth and pregnancy. The analysis further supports previous data showing a decreased sensitivity to gonadotropins and a lower number of recovered oocytes in women with previous UO.

STUDY REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO 2020, CRD42020160313.

Oophorectomy and rate of dementia: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Globally, dementia disproportionally affects women, which is not fully explained by higher female longevity. Oophorectomy at any age leads to the permanent loss of ovarian sex steroids, potentially increasing the risk of dementia. We aimed to investigate the association between oophorectomy and dementia and whether this was conditional on age at oophorectomy, hysterectomy or use of hormone therapy (HT).

METHODS

A prospective study of 24,851 female nurses from the Danish Nurse Cohort. Nurses were followed from age 60 years or entry into the cohort, whichever came last, until date of dementia, death, emigration or end of follow-up (December 31, 2018), whichever came first. Poisson regression models with log-transformed person-years as offset were used to estimate the associations.

RESULTS

During 334,420 person-years of follow-up, 1,238 (5.0%) nurses developed dementia and 1,969 (7.9%)/ 1,016 (4.1%) contributed person-time after bilateral-/unilateral oophorectomy. In adjusted analyses, an 18% higher rate of dementia was observed following bilateral oophorectomy (aRR 1.18: 95% CI, 0.89-1.56) and 13% lower rate (aRR 0.87: 95% CI, 0.59-1.23) following unilateral oophorectomy compared to nurses who retained their ovaries. Similar effects were detected after stratification according to age at oophorectomy. No statistically significant modifying effects of hysterectomy or HT were detected (Pinteraction≥0.60).

CONCLUSIONS

Bilateral, but not unilateral, oophorectomy was associated with an increased rate of incident dementia. We were unable to establish whether this association was conditional on hysterectomy or HT use. Although an increase in dementia after bilateral oophorectomy is biologically plausible, limited statistical power hampers the precision of the estimates.

Standardizing the surgical management of benign ovarian tumors in children and adolescents: A best practice Delphi consensus statement

AIM

No widely agreed consensus protocols exist for the management of benign ovarian tumors (BOT) in children. This presents a substantial risk for suboptimal management. We aimed to generate multispecialty consensus guidance to standardize surgical management and provide a clear follow-up protocol for children with BOTs.

METHODS

Prospective two-round confidential e-Delphi consensus survey distributed among multispecialty expert panel; concluded by two semistructured videoconferences.

MAIN RESULTS

Consensus was generated on these core outcome sets: preoperative/intraoperative management; follow-up; adolescent gynecology referral. (1) Children with BOTs should receive the same management as other patients with potentially neoplastic lesions: Preoperative discussion at a pediatric oncology multidisciplinary meeting to risk stratify tumors, and management by health professionals with expertise in ovarian-sparing surgery and laparoscopy. (2) Ovarian-sparing surgery for BOTs should be performed wherever possible to maximize fertility preservation. (3) Ovarian masses detected during emergency laparoscopy/laparotomy should be left in situ wherever feasible and investigated appropriately (imaging/tumor markers) before resection. (4) Follow-up should be undertaken for all patients after BOT resection. Patients should be offered referral to adolescent gynecology to discuss fertility implications.

CONCLUSION

This best practice Delphi consensus statement emphasizes the importance of managing children with BOTs through a well-defined oncological MDT strategy, in order to optimize risk stratification and allow fertility preservation by ovarian-sparing surgery wherever possible.

Lessons from a large nationwide cohort of 350 children with ovarian mature teratoma: A study in favor of ovarian-sparing surgery

BACKGROUND

Ovarian mature teratoma (OMT) is a common ovarian tumor found in the pediatric population. In 10%-20% of cases, OMT occurs as multiple synchronous or metachronous lesions on ipsi- or contralateral ovaries. Ovarian-sparing surgery (OSS) is recommended to preserve fertility, but total oophorectomy (TO) is still performed.

DESIGN

This study reviews the clinical data of patients with OMT, and analyzes risk factors for second events. A national retrospective review of girls under 18 years of age with OMTs was performed. Data on clinical features, imaging, laboratory studies, surgical reports, second events and their management were retrieved.

RESULTS

Overall, 350 children were included. Eighteen patients (5%) presented with a synchronous bilateral form at diagnosis. Surgery was performed by laparotomy (85%) and laparoscopy (15%). OSS and TO were performed in 59% and 41% of cases, respectively. Perioperative tumor rupture occurred in 23 cases, independently of the surgical approach. Twenty-nine second events occurred (8.3%) in a median time of 30.5 months from diagnosis (ipsilateral: eight cases including one malignant tumor; contralateral: 18 cases; both ovaries: three cases). A large palpable mass, bilateral forms, at diagnosis and perioperative rupture had a statistical impact on the risk of second event, whereas the type of surgery or approach did not.

CONCLUSION

This study is a plea in favor of OSS as the first-choice treatment of OMT when possible. Close follow-up during the first 5 years is mandatory considering the risk of 8.3% of second events, especially in cases with risk factors.

Recurrence and Metachronous Disease in Children with Benign Ovarian Tumors: A Systematic Review of the Literature

AIM

 The majority of ovarian tumors in children are benign, with good prognosis following complete resection. Little is published on the incidence of tumor recurrence and metachronous disease, and follow-up management of children with benign ovarian tumors (BOTs) remains a matter of debate. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the incidence and timing of recurrence and metachronous disease in children with BOTs in pediatric literature.

METHODS

 Comprehensive literature searches of the English literature (PubMed, OVID, EMBASE databases) from inception to present according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis guidelines. Outcomes for tumor recurrence and metachronous disease were synthesized.

RESULTS

 Nineteen studies comprising 1,069 patients with BOTs were included in the analysis. All studies were retrospective cohort studies of children less than 18 years old. A total of 56 events of recurrence or metachronous disease were reported in these patients. The overall risk of recurrence/metachronous event occurrence was 5.2%/2.9%. Seventy-five percent of events occurred within the first 4 years following resection.

CONCLUSION

 Although the studies identified are few and heterogeneous, they demonstrate a significant risk of tumor recurrence and metachronous disease for children following resection of a BOT.Especially following total unilateral oophorectomy, these children are at risk of losing the contralateral ovary in case of metachronous disease.Immediate discharge from follow-up, therefore, does not appear safe. The majority of events occurred within the first 4 years following resection. Follow-up for children following resection of a BOT should, therefore, be continued for a minimum of 4 years following surgery. Larger, long-term prospective studies are required to more accurately determine the true incidence and long-term outcomes for children and adolescents with these tumors.

The long-term association between bilateral oophorectomy and depression: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Depression is a leading cause of disability globally and affects more women than men. Ovarian sex steroids are thought to modify depression risk in women and interventions such as bilateral oophorectomy that permanently change the sex steroid milieu may increase the risk of depression. This study aimed to investigate the associations between unilateral and bilateral oophorectomy and depression over a 25-year period (1993-2018) and whether this varied by age at oophorectomy or use of menopausal hormone therapy.

METHODS

Twenty-five thousand one hundred eighty-eight nurses aged ≥45 years from the Danish Nurse Cohort were included. Nurses with depression prior to baseline were excluded. Poisson regression models, with log-transformed person-years as offset, were used to assess the associations between oophorectomy and incident depression. Nurses who retained their ovaries were the reference group.

RESULTS

Compared with nurses with retained ovaries, bilateral oophorectomy was associated with a slightly higher rate of depression (rate ratio [RR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-1.23), but without statistical significance. However, when stratified by age at oophorectomy, compared with nurses with retained ovaries, bilateral oophorectomy at age ≥51 years was associated with higher rates of depression (RR 1.16; 95% CI, 1.00-1.34), but not bilateral oophorectomy at age <51 years (RR 0.86; 95% CI, 0.69-1.07); P value for difference in estimates = 0.02. No association between unilateral oophorectomy and depression was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort of Danish female nurses, bilateral oophorectomy at age ≥51 years, but not at younger ages, was associated with a slightly higher rate of depression compared with those who retained their ovaries.

Endometrioma surgery-a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect on antral follicle count and anti-Müllerian hormone

OBJECTIVE

Accurate preoperative counseling about whether an endometriotic cystectomy has a detrimental effect on the ovarian reserve has been a considerable challenge, because studies assessing the postoperative antral follicle counts and anti-Müllerian hormone levels have reported conflicting results. Our objective was to explore the impact of endometriotic cystectomy on both the anti-Müllerian hormone levels and antral follicle counts, with focus on prospective studies in which both variables were measured for each woman concurrently (overcoming unmeasured confounding), in the same setting (overcoming surgical technique differences), and at the same 3 postoperative time points, namely early (1-6 weeks), intermediate (2-6 months) and late (9-18 months), to overcome time-sensitive changes.

DATA SOURCES

Databases of PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and EBSCO were searched between January 2000 and October 2020.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Only prospective cohort studies that evaluated the impact of endometriotic stripping cystectomy on anti-Müllerian hormone levels and antral follicle counts in the same women, at matching time points, and in the same setting were eligible.

STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS

Two authors performed the screening and data extraction independently.

RESULTS

A total of 14 prospectively designed studies were eligible for the meta-analysis and included 650 women. The included studies had a low risk of bias. The postoperative weighted mean differences in serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels dropped significantly when compared with the preoperative levels by an estimated 1.77 ng/mL (95% confidence interval, 0.77-2.77; P<.001), 1.17 ng/mL (95% confidence interval, 0.66-1.67; P<.001), and 2.13 ng/mL (95% confidence interval, 1.61-2.65; P<.001) at the early (1-6 weeks), intermediate (2-6 months), and late (9-18 months) time points, respectively. This corresponded to a mean reduction in serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels at each of the 3-time points of 44.4%, 35.1%, and 54.2%, respectively. Conversely, the postoperative weighted mean difference in the antral follicle count estimates did not change significantly at any of the 3 time points; the early antral follicle count was 0.70 (95% confidence interval, -2.71 to 3.56; P=.63), the intermediate count was -0.94 (95% confidence interval, -2.53 to 0.65; P=.25), and the late count was 2.58 (95% confidence interval, -0.43 to 5.58; P=.09). Overall, high levels of heterogeneity were encountered (I² ranging between 92% and 94% for the anti-Müllerian hormone levels and between 94% and 98% for the antral follicle counts at the 3 time points), which were attenuated when similar anti-Müllerian hormone assays were compared, and the meta-regression suggested that age did not contribute to heterogeneity.

CONCLUSION

Endometriotic cystectomies are associated with a significant reduction in the serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels but not in the antral follicle counts, with the detrimental effects on the anti-Müllerian hormone levels consistently detectable at the early-, intermediate-, and late-postoperative time points. In women with endometrioma, the anti-Müllerian hormone level may provide a more accurate assessment of the risk for iatrogenic depletion of the ovarian reserve.

Fertility Preservation for Prepubertal Patients at Risk of Infertility: Present Status and Future Perspectives

The increasing cure rate of cancer has led to a vast population of survivors having to face the late adverse effects of oncological treatments, with fertility impairment being one of the most sensitive issues for patients. Different options to preserve the fertility of adult patients are routinely used in clinical practice. However, fertility preservation strategies for prepubertal patients at risk of infertility are limited to the cryopreservation of immature gonadal tissue. In recent decades, many research efforts have been focused on the future use of cryopreserved gonadal tissue. This review discusses the common status of fertility preservation measures for pediatric patients undergoing gonadotoxic treatment, focusing especially on the challenges that remain to be solved in order to implement this fundamental service.

Fertility Preservation: How to Preserve Ovarian Function in Children, Adolescents and Adults

Chemotherapy, pelvic radiotherapy and ovarian surgery have known gonadotoxic effects that can lead to endocrine dysfunction, cessation of ovarian endocrine activity and early depletion of the ovarian reserve, causing a risk for future fertility problems, even in children. Important determinants of this risk are the patient’s age and ovarian reserve, type of treatment and dose. When the risk of premature ovarian insufficiency is high, fertility preservation strategies must be offered to the patient. Furthermore, fertility preservation may sometimes be needed in conditions other than cancer, such as in non-malignant diseases or in patients seeking fertility preservation for personal reasons. Oocyte and/or embryo vitrification and ovarian tissue cryopreservation are the two methods currently endorsed by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, yielding encouraging results in terms of pregnancy and live birth rates. The choice of one technique above the other depends mostly on the age and pubertal status of the patient, and personal and medical circumstances. This review focuses on the available fertility preservation techniques, their appropriateness according to patient age and their efficacy in terms of pregnancy and live birth rates.

Can time to menopause be predicted?

Menopause represents the definite end of a woman's reproductive life and the onset of a persistent hypoestrogenic state. This postmenopausal period will for most women last several decades. Although mean menopausal age seems to have increased somewhat during the last century, there is a significant individual variation in age at natural menopause. With efficient contraception, women of reproductive age can now, to some extent, choose when they want to have children. As a consequence of this and other sociodemographic changes, age at first birth has increased significantly over the last 50 years. It is well documented that long before a woman enters the menopausal transition and subsequent menopause, fertility declines and finally ceases. Being able to predict when a woman will enter menopause would therefore, from a reproductive perspective, be of major interest. Several sociodemographic, morphometric, and endocrine factors are associated with age at menopause or time to menopause. Unfortunately the sensitivity and specificity of these in predicting time to or age at menopause are low. Therefore, with the exception of anti-Müllerian hormone measurements, either alone or in combination with chronological age close to menopause, there are as of now no reliable ways of predicting when a woman will enter menopause.

Effect of Genetic Variation in CYP450 on Gonadal Impairment in a European Cohort of Female Childhood Cancer Survivors, Based on a Candidate Gene Approach: Results from the PanCareLIFE Study

BACKGROUND

Female childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) carry a risk of therapy-related gonadal dysfunction. Alkylating agents (AA) are well-established risk factors, yet inter-individual variability in ovarian function is observed. Polymorphisms in CYP450 enzymes may explain this variability in AA-induced ovarian damage. We aimed to evaluate associations between previously identified genetic polymorphisms in CYP450 enzymes and AA-related ovarian function among adult CCSs.

METHODS

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels served as a proxy for ovarian function in a discovery cohort of adult female CCSs, from the pan-European PanCareLIFE cohort (n = 743; age (years): median 25.8, interquartile range (IQR) 22.1-30.6). Using two additive genetic models in linear and logistic regression, nine genetic variants in three CYP450 enzymes were analyzed in relation to cyclophosphamide equivalent dose (CED) score and their impact on AMH levels. The main model evaluated the effect of the variant on AMH and the interaction model evaluated the modifying effect of the variant on the impact of CED score on log-transformed AMH levels. Results were validated, and meta-analysis performed, using the USA-based St. Jude Lifetime Cohort (n = 391; age (years): median 31.3, IQR 26.6-37.4).

RESULTS

CYP3A4*3 was significantly associated with AMH levels in the discovery and replication cohort. Meta-analysis revealed a significant main deleterious effect (Beta (95% CI): -0.706 (-1.11--0.298), p-value = 7 × 10-4) of CYP3A4*3 (rs4986910) on log-transformed AMH levels. CYP2B6*2 (rs8192709) showed a significant protective interaction effect (Beta (95% CI): 0.527 (0.126-0.928), p-value = 0.01) on log-transformed AMH levels in CCSs receiving more than 8000 mg/m2 CED.

CONCLUSIONS

Female CCSs CYP3A4*3 carriers had significantly lower AMH levels, and CYP2B6*2 may have a protective effect on AMH levels. Identification of risk-contributing variants may improve individualized counselling regarding the treatment-related risk of infertility and fertility preservation options.

Early-life Farm Exposure and Ovarian Reserve in a US Cohort of Women

BACKGROUND

In a previous exploratory study, we reported lower concentrations of the ovarian reserve biomarker anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in adulthood with prenatal farm exposure. We now examine this association as well as childhood farm exposure using enrollment data from the Sister Study, a large US cohort of women.

METHODS

We collected prenatal and childhood farm exposure data by questionnaire and telephone interview. However, serum AMH data were available only for a nested subset: premenopausal women ages 35-54 subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer (n = 418 cases) and their matched controls (n = 866). To avoid potential bias from restricting analyses to only premenopausal controls, we leveraged the available cohort data. We used data from both premenopausal cases and controls as well as postmenopausal women ages 35-54 (n = 3,526) (all presumed to have undetectable AMH concentrations) and applied weights to produce a sample representative of the cohort ages 35-54 (n = 17,799). The high proportion of undetectable AMH concentrations (41%) was addressed using reverse-scale Cox regression. An adjusted hazard ratio (HR) <1.0 indicates that exposed individuals had lower AMH concentrations than unexposed individuals.

RESULTS

Prenatal exposure to maternal residence or work on a farm was associated with lower AMH concentrations (HR 0.66; 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 0.48 to 0.90). Associations between childhood farm residence exposures and AMH were null or weak, except childhood contact with pesticide-treated livestock or buildings (HR 0.69; 95% CI = 0.40 to 1.2).

CONCLUSIONS

Replication of the prenatal farm exposure and lower adult AMH association raises concern that aspects of prenatal farm exposure may result in reduced adult ovarian reserve.

Factors related to age at natural menopause in China: results from the China Kadoorie Biobank

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the potentially modifiable factors affecting age at natural menopause (ANM) in Chinese women.

METHODS

We used cross-sectional data from the China Kadoorie Biobank study which that recruited 0.5 million (0.3 million women) Chinese adults aged 30 to 79 from 2004 to 2008. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine the relationships between ANM and various factors recorded at baseline.

RESULTS

Among 87,349 postmenopausal women, the mean ANM (SD) was 48.7 (4.3) years. Older age, being a housewife, earlier menarche, and passive smoking were associated with both premature menopause (PM, ie, ANM <40 years) and early menopause (EM, ie, ANM between 40 and 44 years). A higher odds for EM was observed in women who were widowed (odds ratio: 1.10, 95% confidence interval: 1.04-1.16), had spontaneous abortions (1.33 [1.05-1.69]), current regular smoking (1.19 [1.07-1.37]), and frequent spicy food intake (1.11 [1.05-1.08]). Higher socioeconomic status; later first birth; more live births and induced abortions; longer breastfeeding; tea drinking, as well as intakes of meat, fruits, dairy, and soybean products; and increased body mass index gain were inversely associated with PM and/or EM. In contrast, women who had more pregnancies, occasional alcohol drinking, higher levels of physical activity or body mass index, vitamin intake, and hypertension were more likely to have a later age at menopause (LM, ie, ANM ≥53 years).

CONCLUSIONS

This large epidemiological study found a wide range of sociodemographic, lifestyle, dietary, and reproductive factors related to PM, EM, and LM in Chinese women.

Could hormonal and follicular rearrangements explain timely menopause in unilaterally oophorectomized women?

STUDY QUESTION

Does unilateral oophorectomy modify the relationship between serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels and antral follicle count (AFC)?

SUMMARY ANSWER

No altered 'per-ovary' and 'per-follicle' AMH production and antral follicle distribution was evident in unilaterally oophorectomized women compared to matched controls.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

The age of menopause onset is relatively unchanged in patients having undergone unilateral oophorectomy. Mechanisms that occur to preserve and maintain ovarian function in this context remain to be elucidated.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

Forty-one infertile women, with no polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and no endometriosis, aged 19-42 years old, having undergone unilateral oophorectomy (One Ovary group; average time since surgery: 23.8 ± 2.2 months) were retrospectively age-matched (±1 year) with 205 infertile women having two intact ovaries and similar clinical features (Control group).

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Serum AMH levels, 3-4 mm AFC, 5-12 mm AFC, and total AFC (3-12 mm) were assessed on cycle Day 3 in both groups. Hormonal and ultrasonographic measurements obtained from patients in the Control group (i.e. having two ovaries) were divided by two to be compared with measurements obtained from patients of the One Ovary group (i.e. having one single remaining ovary). To estimate per-follicle AMH production, we calculated the ratio between serum AMH levels over 3-4 mm AFC, 5-12 mm AFC, and total AFC (3-12 mm), and the strength of the correlation between serum AMH levels and total AFC. The main outcome measure was to assess Day 3 AMH/Day 3 AFC ratio and hormonal-follicular correlation.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

As expected, before correction, mean serum AMH levels (1.46 ± 0.2 vs 2.77 ± 0.1 ng/ml, P < 0.001) and total AFC (7.3 ± 0.6 vs 15.1 ± 0.4 follicles, P < 0.0001) were lower in the One Ovary group compared to the Control group, respectively. Yet, after correction, per-ovary AMH levels (1.46 ± 0.2 vs 1.39 ± 0.1 ng/ml) and total AFC (7.3 ± 0.6 vs 7.5 ± 0.2 follicles) values were comparable between the two groups. Consistently, per-follicle AMH levels (3-4 mm, 5-12 mm, and total) were not significantly different between the two groups (0.39 ± 0.05 vs 0.37 ± 0.02 ng/ml/follicle; 0.69 ± 0.12 vs 0.59 ± 0.05 ng/ml/follicle, and 0.23 ± 0.03 vs 0.19 ± 0.01 ng/ml/follicle; respectively). In addition, the prevalence of 3-4 mm follicles was comparable between the two groups (66.7% for One Ovary group vs 58.8% for Control group, respectively). Finally, the correlation between serum AMH levels and total AFC was similar for patients in the One Ovary group (r = 0.70; P < 0.0001) compared to those in the Control group (r = 0.68; P < 0.0001).

LIMITATIONS/REASONS FOR CAUTION

The retrospective character of the analysis might lead to potential bias.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

The present investigation did not provide evidence of altered 'per-ovary' and 'per-follicle' AMH production and antral follicle distribution in unilaterally oophorectomized women compared to matched controls. Further studies are warranted to support the hypothesis that follicle-sparing mechanisms are clearly at stake in remaining ovaries after unilateral oophorectomy to explain their long-lasting function and timely menopausal onset.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

The authors have no funding or competing interests to declare.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.

Combining fertility preservation procedures to spread the eggs across different baskets: a feasibility study

STUDY QUESTION

What is the reproductive potential following combinations of ovarian stimulation, IVM and ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) in female patients seeking fertility preservation (FP)?

SUMMARY ANSWER

In selected patients, combining different FP procedures is a feasible approach and reproductive outcomes after FP in patients who return to attempt pregnancy are promising.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

FP is increasingly performed in fertility clinics but an algorithm to select the most suitable FP procedure according to patient characteristics and available timeframe is currently lacking. Vitrification of mature oocytes (OV) and OTC are most commonly performed, although in some clinical scenarios a combination of procedures including IVM, to spread the sources of gametes, may be considered in order to enhance reproductive options for the future.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

Retrospective, observational study in a university-based, tertiary fertility centre involving all female patients who underwent urgent medical FP between January 2012 and December 2018. Descriptive analysis of various FP procedures, either stand-alone or combined, was performed, and reproductive outcomes of patients who attempted pregnancy in the follow-up period were recorded.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

In total, 207 patients underwent medical FP. Patient-tailored strategies and procedures were selected after multidisciplinary discussion. When deemed feasible, FP procedures were combined to cryopreserve different types of reproductive tissue for future use. The main primary outcome measure was the number of mature oocytes. Live birth rates were evaluated in patients who returned for reproductive treatment.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

Among patients seeking FP, 95/207 (46%) had breast cancer, 43/207 (21%) had haematological malignancies and 31/207 (15%) had a gynaecological tumour. Mean ± SD age was 27.0 ± 8.3 years. Eighty-five (41.1%) patients underwent controlled ovarian stimulation (COS), resulting in 10.8 ± 7.1 metaphase II (MII) oocytes for vitrification. Eleven (5.3%) patients had multiple COS cycles. Transvaginal oocyte retrieval for IVM was performed in 17 (8.2%) patients, yielding 9.2 ± 10.1 MII oocytes. Thirty-four (16.4%) patients underwent OTC combined with IVM of oocytes retrieved from ovarian tissue 'ex vivo' (OTO-IVM), yielding 4.0 ± 4.3 MII oocytes in addition to ovarian fragments. Seventeen (8.2%) patients had OTC combined with OTO-IVM and transvaginal retrieval of oocytes for IVM from the contralateral ovary, resulting in 13.5 ± 9.7 MII oocytes. In 13 (6.3%) patients, OTC with OTO-IVM was followed by controlled stimulation of the contralateral ovary, yielding 11.3 ± 6.6 MII oocytes in total. During the timeframe of the study, 31/207 (15%) patients have returned to the fertility clinic with a desire for pregnancy. Of those, 12 (38.7%) patients had preserved ovarian function and underwent ART treatment with fresh oocytes, resulting in nine (75%) livebirth. The remaining 19 (61.3%) patients requested warming of their cryopreserved material because of ovarian insufficiency. Of those, eight (42.1%) patients had a livebirth, of whom three after OTO-IVM. To date, 5/207 patients (2.4%) achieved an ongoing pregnancy or livebirth after spontaneous conception.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Our FP programme is based on a patient-tailored approach rather than based on an efficiency-driven algorithm. The data presented are descriptive, which precludes firm conclusions.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Combining different FP procedures is likely to enhance the reproductive fitness of patients undergoing gonadotoxic treatment but further follow-up studies are needed to confirm this.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

No external funding was used for this study and the authors have no competing interests.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.

International consensus: ovarian tissue cryopreservation in young Turner syndrome patients: outcomes of an ethical Delphi study including 55 experts from 16 different countries

STUDY QUESTION

What is the standpoint of an international expert panel on ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) in young females with Turner syndrome (TS)?

SUMMARY ANSWER

The expert panel states that OTC should be offered to young females with TS, but under strict conditions only.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

OTC is already an option for preserving the fertility of young females at risk of iatrogenic primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). Offering OTC to females with a genetic cause of POI could be the next step. One of the most common genetic disorders related to POI is TS. Due to an early depletion of the ovarian reserve, most females with TS are confronted with infertility before reaching adulthood. However, before offering OTC as an experimental fertility preservation option to young females with TS, medical and ethical concerns need to be addressed.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

A three-round ethical Delphi study was conducted to systematically discuss whether the expected benefits exceed the expected negative consequences of OTC in young females with TS. The aim was to reach group consensus and form an international standpoint based on selected key statements. The study took place between February and December 2018.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Anonymous panel selection was based on expertise in TS, fertility preservation or medical ethics. A mixed panel of 12 gynaecologists, 13 (paediatric) endocrinologists, 10 medical ethicists and 20 patient representatives from 16 different countries gave consent to participate in this international Delphi study. In the first two rounds, experts were asked to rate and rank 38 statements regarding OTC in females with TS. Participants were offered the possibility to adjust their opinions after repetitive feedback. The selection of key statements was based on strict inclusion criteria.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

A total of 46 participants completed the first Delphi round (response rate 84%). Based on strict selection criteria, six key statements were selected, and 13 statements were discarded. The remaining 19 statements and two additional statements submitted by the expert panel were re-evaluated in the second round by 41 participants (response rate 75%). The analysis of the second survey resulted in the inclusion of two additional key statements. After the approval of these eight key statements, the majority of the expert panel (96%) believed that OTC should be offered to young females with TS, but in a safe and controlled research setting first, with proper counselling and informed consent procedures, before offering this procedure in routine care. The remaining participants (4%) did not object but did not respond despite several reminders.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

The anonymous nature of this study may have led to lack of accountability. The selection of experts was based on their willingness to participate. The fact that not all panellists took part in all rounds may have resulted in selection bias.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

This international standpoint is the first step in the global acceptance of OTC in females with TS. Future collaborative research with a focus on efficacy and safety and long-term follow-up is urgently needed. Furthermore, we recommend an international register for fertility preservation procedures in females with TS.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

Unconditional funding (A16-1395) was received from Merck B.V., The Netherlands. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Fertility Considerations in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients Undergoing Cancer Therapy

Survivors of pediatric cancer are at increased risk for infertility and premature hormonal failure. Surgeons caring for children with cancer have an important role to play in understanding this risk, as well as advocating for and performing appropriate fertility preservation procedures. Fertility preservation options in males and females vary by pubertal status and include nonexperimental (oocyte harvest, ovarian tissue cryopreservation, sperm cryopreservation) and experimental (testicular tissue cryopreservation) options. This review summarizes the basics of risk assessment and fertility preservation options and explores unique considerations in pediatric fertility preservation.

Delaying Reproductive Aging by Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation and Transplantation: Is it Prime Time?

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and autotransplantation can restore ovarian endocrine function and fertility and recently were changed from experimental to fertility preservation procedures for medical indications by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. Such advances have resulted in discussions around the utility of ovarian cryopreservation in healthy women to preserve fertility and delay menopause or as a hormone replacement approach. Such 'elective' use of ovarian tissue cryopreservation requires a risk-benefit assessment. Here, we review evidence for and against the utility of ovarian tissue harvesting in healthy women, scrutinize recent and needed advances to enhance the feasibility of such an approach, and provide practice and future research guidelines.

Biological Impact of Unilateral Oophorectomy: Does the Number of Ovaries Really Matter?

Although unilateral oophorectomies are performed more often than bilateral ones in women of reproductive age, their clinical consequences have been less intensively investigated. Experimental models in animals have shown that compensatory mechanisms occur after a unilateral oophorectomy (UO). This review aims to summarize the available evidence on the biological effects of unilateral oophorectomy on women. Evaluated outcomes include age at onset of menopause, risk of cardiovascular and neurological disease, risk of mortality and fertility outcome after spontaneous conception or in vitro fertilization (IVF). Results were compared with findings reported after bilateral oophorectomy and/or ovarian excision and/or women with intact ovaries. An electronic database search was performed using PubMed and Scopus, followed by a manual search to identify controlled studies that compared women after UO with women with two intact ovaries. In particular, a systematic review of fertility outcomes after IVF was performed, and the data were summarized in a table. Women who underwent UO had a similar age at menopause and similar clinical pregnancy rate compared to women with two ovaries. However, decreased ovarian reserve affecting the quantity but not the quality of the ovarian pool after IVF was observed in the UO group. Furthermore, an increased risk of neurological disease and even an increased risk of mortality was observed in women with single ovary. These data need to be confirmed by further studies, and a plausible mechanism of action must be identified. At present, patients who undergo UO can be reassured with regard to their reproductive potential and their age at onset of menopause.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation to delay menopause: facts and fiction

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation (OTCT) is increasingly being used in young cancer patients for fertility restoration and prevention of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and has recently been advocated as a method to delay menopause. This is accomplished by cryopreserving ovarian tissue that is excised laparoscopically in thin pieces at a young age. Cryopreserved tissue will be transplanted at menopause, when ovarian function is no longer present. Transplantation may need to be repeated several times to achieve long-term restoration of ovarian function. However, it is unknown whether ovarian grafts result in a normal steroid pulsatile secretion, similar to that present during reproductive years. In addition, it is not known whether the need to restore ovarian activity appears earlier in women who undergo OTCT to delay menopause, although indirect data suggest that this is likely to be true. Until today, no cohort or comparative studies evaluating OTCT as a potential alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have been published and, thus, there is no evidence to suggest that OTCT is superior to HRT in terms of both efficacy and safety. Given the availability of alternative, established treatments for managing menopausal symptoms, as well as the multiple unanswered questions regarding the method, it is imperative that, before OTCT is regarded as a mainstream technique for management of menopausal symptoms, further evaluation and clinical investigation are undertaken.

Fertility preservation in women for medical and social reasons: Oocytes vs ovarian tissue

Approximately 10% of cancers occur in women under 45 years of age. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and bone marrow transplantation cure more than 90% of cancer in women, but can result in premature ovarian insufficiency depending on follicular reserve, age, and drugs used. Some benign diseases are also indications for fertility preservation, particularly those requiring chemotherapy (like thalassemia and lupus), recurrent endometriosis, and family history of premature menopause. Social reasons also account for a large proportion of women who wish to postpone pregnancy. This article discusses the two main strategies for fertility preservation, namely oocyte vitrification and ovarian tissue cryopreservation, examining the indications and results of these options. Oocyte cryopreservation is an effective approach, but further studies are needed in cancer patients to ensure the excellent outcomes obtained in women without cancer or in egg donation programs. For prepubertal girls or cases where immediate therapy is required, cryopreservation of ovarian tissue is the only available option.

Fertility preservation in borderline ovarian tumor patients and survivors

Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) represent around 15% of all epithelial ovarian cancer. Around one third of those patients is under 40 and has not completed childbearing when the tumor is diagnosed. Cancer survivors are more and more concerned about their future fertility since a large proportion of those with BOTs are young. Whatever the tumor stage, information regarding future fertility after treatment and fertility preservation (FP) options must be delivered to all patients before treatment. A multidisciplinary team will discuss and propose personalized treatment and FP strategies. Nowadays, the FP options offered to patients with BOT are the followings: i) minimal invasive conservative surgery, ii) oocyte cryopreservation after controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) or in vitro maturation (IVM) and iii) ovarian tissue cryopreservation. Generally, the most common strategy to preserve future fertility is represented by minimal invasive conservative surgery. However, with the remarkable success and evolution of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) - notably progress and efficiency in COS and oocyte vitrification - have led to offer another potential approach for FP consisting in oocyte cryopreservation. Several COS protocols, such as random start or dual stimulation associating tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors with gonadotropins provide similar results when compared to standard protocols while providing safety by minimizing the risk of high estrogen exposure. When COS is contraindicated, oocyte cryopreservation can still be possible throw IVM. Even though, oocyte competence after IVM is lower than that obtained after COS. A less used approach is cryopreservation of ovarian tissue, consisting in freezing ovarian cortex fragments for a future thawing and graft. Some concerns and limitations regard the ovarian cortex graft and the risk of reintroducing malignant cells once performed. Nonetheless, the latter it is the only option in prepubertal patients.

Describing the status of reproductive ageing simply and precisely: A reproductive ageing score based on three questions and validated with hormone levels

OBJECTIVE

Most women live to experience menopause and will spend 4-8 years transitioning from fertile age to full menstrual stop. Biologically, reproductive ageing is a continuous process, but by convention, it is defined categorically as pre-, peri- and postmenopause; categories that are sometimes supported by measurements of sex hormones in blood samples. We aimed to develop and validate a new tool, a reproductive ageing score (RAS), that could give a simple and yet precise description of the status of reproductive ageing, without hormone measurements, to be used by health professionals and researchers.

METHODS

Questionnaire data on age, menstrual regularity and menstrual frequency was provided by the large multicentre population-based RHINE cohort. A continuous reproductive ageing score was developed from these variables, using techniques of fuzzy mathematics, to generate a decimal number ranging from 0.00 (nonmenopausal) to 1.00 (postmenopausal). The RAS was then validated with sex hormone measurements (follicle stimulating hormone and 17β-estradiol) and interview-data provided by the large population-based ECRHS cohort, using receiver-operating characteristics (ROC).

RESULTS

The RAS, developed from questionnaire data of the RHINE cohort, defined with high precision and accuracy the menopausal status as confirmed by interview and hormone data in the ECRHS cohort. The area under the ROC curve was 0.91 (95% Confidence interval (CI): 0.90-0.93) to distinguish nonmenopausal women from peri- and postmenopausal women, and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.83-0.88) to distinguish postmenopausal women from nonmenopausal and perimenopausal women.

CONCLUSIONS

The RAS provides a useful and valid tool for describing the status of reproductive ageing accurately, on a continuous scale from 0.00 to 1.00, based on simple questions and without requiring blood sampling. The score allows for a more precise differentiation than the conventional categorisation in pre-, peri- and postmenopause. This is useful for epidemiological research and clinical trials.

Association between age at menarche and age at menopause among women of an indigenous population of North Bengal, India

Menarche and menopause are two major components of a woman's reproductive life. Ages at menarche and menopause vary widely between and within populations and are influenced by various factors, both genetic and environmental. The present community-based cross-sectional investigation aimed to assess the association between ages at menarche and natural menopause among women belonging to the indigenous Rajbanshi population of North Bengal, India. The investigation was carried out from January 2015 to May 2015 among 510 Rajbanshi women aged between 45 and 55 years residing in the district of Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. A structured schedule was used to collect data on ages at menarche and natural menopause, marital status, parity, education, age of first and last pregnancies, duration of breastfeeding, nature of occupation, health status, smoking and monthly family income. Anthropometric measurements of height and weight were recorded and Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated. The statistical analyses, which included descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression (BLR), were done using SPSS. The women's mean age of menarche and median age of natural menopause were 12.52 years and 50 years, respectively. The BLR analysis indicated that education, age at first pregnancy had significant effects on the age at natural menopause among women who experienced menarche at <12 years of age (p<0.05). In the case of women who attained menarche at ≥12 years of age, marital status, age at last pregnancy, parity, education, duration of breastfeeding, smoking, occupation, monthly income and BMI had a greater influence on age at natural menopause. There appears to be an indirect association between age at menarche and age at natural menopause, along with different predictor variables, among the Rajbanshi women.