Demographic, clinical and hormonal characteristics of patients with premature ovarian insufficiency and those of early menopause: data from two tertiary premature ovarian insufficiency centers in Greece

The aim of the study was to compare demographic, hormonal and clinical parameters in patients with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and women with early menopause in Greece. One hundred thirty-nine women of Greek origin, aged 14-45 years, referring for oligomenorrhea and having elevated FSH concentrations were divided into three groups regarding the age of menstrual disturbances onset [POI1: </=30 years (n = 42); POI2: 31-39 years (n = 36); early menopause: 40-45 years (n = 61)]. The mean age of menstrual disturbances onset and that of diagnosis in all POI and early menopause patients were 28.7 years (28.7 +/- 7.7) versus 42.1 years (42.1 +/- 1.5) and 33.8 years (33.8 +/- 7.2) versus 43.3 years (43.3 +/- 1.4), respectively. POI patients and women with early menopause were diagnosed, respectively, five years and approximately four to six months later than the age of menstrual disturbances onset. Moreover, FSH2 (second confirmatory FSH measurement at 4-to-6-weeks interval) was greater in all POI patients than in early menopause women (55.4 +/- 33.9 vs. 32.4 +/- 19.4; p < .05) whereas mean age of menarche was greater in early menopause women than in POI patients (13 +/- 1.3 vs. 12 +/- 2.2; p < .05). Furthermore, FSH2 was increased in all POI and decreased in early menopause patients.