Physiological versus standard sex steroid replacement in young women with premature ovarian failure: effects on bone mass acquisition and turnover.

Background: The aim of this exploratory study was to establish whether we could improve skeletal health with a physiological regimen of SSR in young women with premature ovarian failure (POF).

Patients And Methods: In an open-label randomized controlled crossover trial, 34 women with POF were randomized to 4-week cycles of pSSR (transdermal oestradiol, 100 μg daily for week 1, 150 μg for weeks 2-4; vaginal progesterone, 200 mg twice daily for weeks 3-4) or standard hormone replacement treatment (sHRT) (oral ethinyloestradiol 30 μg and 1·5 mg norethisterone daily for weeks 1-3, week 4 'pill-free') for 12 months. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by DEXA at study entry and after each 12-month treatment period.