News | New POI Guideline Supports Earlier Detection of Declining Ovarian Function
[Monash University, December 9, 2024] — A new guideline for the diagnosis and management of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), jointly developed by Monash University's Centre of Research Excellence in Women's Health in Reproductive Life (CRE-WHiRL) and international women's health organizations, has been published simultaneously in three leading international journals. It reflects current global research and feedback from women with lived experience and healthcare experts, aiming to improve the precision and efficiency of care.
POI is loss of ovarian function before age 40, well before the average global menopause age of 48-51. It affects about 4% of women worldwide and is associated with infertility, psychological distress, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, mortality, dementia, and cognitive impairment. Hormone therapy may mitigate these effects, but global POI care still faces delayed diagnosis, disparities, and patient dissatisfaction.
Key Changes in the 2024 Guideline
This is the first comprehensive update to POI management guidance since 2015. The 2024 guideline was developed by an international CRE-WHiRL team led by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), International Menopause Society, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI). It contains 145 recommendations covering symptoms, diagnosis, causes, consequences, and treatment, using current evidence graded by strength.
A major update is the diagnostic criterion: diagnosis requires at least four months of irregular or absent periods plus one elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) result. FSH only needs to be repeated if the diagnosis remains uncertain. The guideline also emphasizes sensitive communication at diagnosis and shared decision-making between patients and healthcare professionals.
Personalized Treatment and Comprehensive Care
Clinical management requires a comprehensive assessment covering symptoms, sexual health, fertility goals, mental health, cardiovascular and osteoporosis risks, and comorbidities. According to guideline co-chair and Monash CRE-WHiRL Associate Professor Amanda Vincent, individualized hormone therapy is important for symptom relief and chronic-disease prevention and, unless contraindicated, should begin early and continue until the usual age of menopause.
Associate Professor Vincent said, “This updated guideline gives healthcare professionals clear guidance based on the best available evidence to help them provide optimal care for people with POI.”
New Support Tools and Resources
New resources accompany the guideline, including an updated Ask Early Menopause App and a toolkit for healthcare professionals. The app has attracted more than 9,000 users worldwide and offers evidence-based resources, a personal dashboard, and a discussion platform to help women manage early menopause.
Healthcare professionals can also use the updated POI Guideline Toolkit to help patients understand symptoms, management strategies, and treatments, supporting faster diagnosis and evidence-based care.
Conclusion
The new guideline marks an important advance in global POI care. Simplified diagnostic criteria and updated treatment strategies may help women identify and manage POI earlier, improve quality of life, and reduce long-term health risks.
News | New POI Guideline Supports Earlier Detection of Declining Ovarian Function
News | New POI Guideline Supports Earlier Detection of Declining Ovarian Function
[Monash University, December 9, 2024] — A new guideline for the diagnosis and management of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), jointly developed by Monash University's Centre of Research Excellence in Women's Health in Reproductive Life (CRE-WHiRL) and international women's health organizations, has been published simultaneously in three leading international journals. It reflects current global research and feedback from women with lived experience and healthcare experts, aiming to improve the precision and efficiency of care.
POI is loss of ovarian function before age 40, well before the average global menopause age of 48-51. It affects about 4% of women worldwide and is associated with infertility, psychological distress, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, mortality, dementia, and cognitive impairment. Hormone therapy may mitigate these effects, but global POI care still faces delayed diagnosis, disparities, and patient dissatisfaction.
Key Changes in the 2024 Guideline
This is the first comprehensive update to POI management guidance since 2015. The 2024 guideline was developed by an international CRE-WHiRL team led by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), International Menopause Society, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI). It contains 145 recommendations covering symptoms, diagnosis, causes, consequences, and treatment, using current evidence graded by strength.
A major update is the diagnostic criterion: diagnosis requires at least four months of irregular or absent periods plus one elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) result. FSH only needs to be repeated if the diagnosis remains uncertain. The guideline also emphasizes sensitive communication at diagnosis and shared decision-making between patients and healthcare professionals.
Personalized Treatment and Comprehensive Care
Clinical management requires a comprehensive assessment covering symptoms, sexual health, fertility goals, mental health, cardiovascular and osteoporosis risks, and comorbidities. According to guideline co-chair and Monash CRE-WHiRL Associate Professor Amanda Vincent, individualized hormone therapy is important for symptom relief and chronic-disease prevention and, unless contraindicated, should begin early and continue until the usual age of menopause.
Associate Professor Vincent said, “This updated guideline gives healthcare professionals clear guidance based on the best available evidence to help them provide optimal care for people with POI.”
New Support Tools and Resources
New resources accompany the guideline, including an updated Ask Early Menopause App and a toolkit for healthcare professionals. The app has attracted more than 9,000 users worldwide and offers evidence-based resources, a personal dashboard, and a discussion platform to help women manage early menopause.
Healthcare professionals can also use the updated POI Guideline Toolkit to help patients understand symptoms, management strategies, and treatments, supporting faster diagnosis and evidence-based care.
Conclusion
The new guideline marks an important advance in global POI care. Simplified diagnostic criteria and updated treatment strategies may help women identify and manage POI earlier, improve quality of life, and reduce long-term health risks.
Source:
Collected online