Ovarian hyperstimulation after a short course of an oral contraceptive in a patient with premature ovarian failure.

OBJECTIVE

To report a patient with premature ovarian failure who, after discontinuing a short course of therapy with an oral contraceptive, demonstrated clinical and biochemical evidence of ovarian hyperstimulation.

DESIGN

Case report.

SETTING

Reproductive Center at a university hospital.

PATIENT(S): 31-year-old woman with premature ovarian failure.

INTERVENTION(S): Triggered ovulation using recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Follicle sizes documented by transvaginal ultrasound and corresponding serum estradiol levels.

RESULT(S): Hyperstimulated ovaries, documented by pelvic ultrasound, demonstrated lead follicles of 16, 22, 27, and 46 mm in average diameters. The serum estradiol level was 979 pg/mL with a serum progesterone of 0.87 ng/mL. Five days after triggered ovulation with recombinant hCG, serum progesterone levels rose to 13.8 ng/mL.

CONCLUSION(S): Ovarian hyperstimulation may occur after brief gonadotropin suppression in women with premature ovarian failure.