Ovarian function after therapy for Hodgkin's disease.

ABSTRACT

Ovarian function has been evaluated in 10 women in fertile age, free of disease, who underwent therapy for Hodgkin's disease. Women were divided into groups according to their age at the time of the diagnosis and therapy used. In the group of 6 women treated with chemotherapy alone or associated with sovradiaphragmatic roentgentherapy, 4 (66%) are regularly menstruating and 2 (33%) have become amenorrheic; while among the 4 women treated with TNI or inverted Y, 3 (75%) have become amenorrheic and 1 (25%) is regularly menstruating. 7 women were younger than 30 at the time of the diagnosis 5 (72%) are regularly menstruating and 2 (28%) have become amenorrheic; while in the group older than 30 at the time of the diagnosis all 3 (100%) have become amenorrheic. These results show that, at present, it is not possible to predict the preservation or the renewal of the ovarian function after therapy for Hodgkin's disease; only taking in account all elements such as age, ovarian function prior to therapy and kind of treatment is it possible to propose a prognostic hypothesis.