Premature ovarian failure: frequency and risk factors among XXXX attending a network of menopause clinics in Italy.

@entity1 @entity7793 @entity2670
OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and causes of preterm @entity2670 (menopause before 40 years of age) and @entity7793 (menopause between 40 and 45 years). DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: Menopause clinics in Italy. POPULATION: @entity1 attending menopause clinics in Italy. METHODS: Between 1997 and 1999 we conducted a large cross sectional study on the characteristics of @entity1 around menopause attending a network of first-level outpatient menopause clinics in Italy for general counselling about menopause or treatment of menopausal symptoms. Eligible for the study were all @entity1 aged 45-75 years consecutively observed for the first time at the participating centres on randomly selected days during the study period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Factors associated with preterm @entity2670 . RESULTS: Out of 15,253 @entity1 aged 55 years or more with spontaneous menopause who entered the study, 269 (1.8%) reported preterm @entity2670 , and 1085 (7.1%) reported spontaneous menopause at age 40-45 years. The risk of preterm @entity2670 and of @entity7793 was higher in @entity1 reporting lifelong irregular menstrual cycles: in comparison with @entity1 reporting menopause at age > or =45 years, the OR (irregular vs regular menstrual cycles) of preterm @entity2670 was 1.3 (95% CI 1.0-1.7) and of @entity7793 of 1.2 (95% CI 1.0-1.5). Parous @entity1 reported less frequently preterm @entity2670 (chi(2) trend P < 0.05) and @entity7793 (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7-1.0). No significant association emerged between risk of preterm @entity2670 or menopause at age 40 to <45 and education, age at menarche, oral contraceptive use and smoking habits. CONCLUSION: Nulliparity and lifelong irregular menstrual cycles are associated with an increased risk of preterm @entity2670 .
