Autoimmune premature ovarian failure with polyendocrinopathy and spontaneous recovery of ovarian follicular activity.

Premature ovarian failure accounts for 10% of cases of secondary amenorrhea, and in most cases its cause remains unknown. One mechanism by which it occurs is autoimmune destruction. A 21-year-old patient is described in whom autoimmune ovarian failure occurred in association with Addison's disease and primary hypothyroidism. Although premature ovarian failure is generally considered irreversible, the patient subsequently resumed spontaneous ovarian follicular activity.