[Premature ovarian failure]

The incidence of premature ovarian failure is highly variable according to the familial context and the clinical symptomatology leading to diagnosis. Different etiologic mechanisms have been identified. Currently, the proportion of idiopathic premature ovarian failure tends to decrease owing to the better recognition of genetic and immunological anomalies. Initially this pathology was considered irreversible. However, for the past twenty years, stigmas of a resumption of ovarian function have been noted regularly. The optimisation of treatments therefore relays on a precise knowledge of pathophysiologic mechanisms underly the symptomatology.