Resistant ovary syndrome and fertility

The authors report two cases of women with resistant ovary syndrome who were hospitalized because affected by secondary amenorrhoea. The development, in these women, of secondary sexual characteristics was normal. Neither x-ray of the sella turcica nor examination of the visual fields revealedany abnormalities. They had a normal female karyotype (46/XX). The plasmatic gonadotrophin levels, especially of FSH, were markedly raised. Administration of GnRH elicited strong responses in FSH and LH, corresponding to what is normally seen in post-menopausal women. The concentration of 17 beta-estradiol in the serum was low. The prolactin levels were normal. The patients were subjected to laparoscopy with ovarian biopsy. The ovaries were small but without morphological abnormalities. The hystological picture, similar in both ovaries, showed a cortical zone of normal appearance with an ordinary number of primordial follicles. Both patients received therapy by estrogens (epimestrol). After a period from three to seven months they showed normal ovulatory menstrual cycles. Now one of these women is pregnant.