The 2024 guidelines on diagnosing and managing premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) have been released, marking a significant advancement in women’s health.
Developed by the Centre for Research Excellence in Women’s Health in Reproductive Life (CRE-WHiRL) at Monash University in collaboration with key international health organisations, the guidelines involve both global health experts and women with lived experience.
Simultaneously published in Climacteric and two other leading journals, the guidelines aim to address critical gaps in POI care, including delayed diagnosis, inconsistent management and patient dissatisfaction.
Key updates in the 2024 guidelines
The updated guidelines, developed in partnership with the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), the International Menopause Society and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, include 145 evidence-based recommendations.
Key highlights include:
- Faster diagnosis: A single elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level combined with irregular or absent periods for four months is now sufficient for diagnosis. Repeated FSH tests are now only needed when the diagnosis remains unclear.
- Comprehensive care: Healthcare professionals are encouraged to evaluate patient sexual wellbeing, fertility needs, psychological health and risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
- Personalised hormone therapy: Hormone therapy remains the cornerstone for symptom relief and chronic disease prevention should be initiated promptly and continued until the typical age of menopause unless contraindicated.
- New insights: The updated guidelines introduce new evidence on genetic causes, muscle health impacts, non-hormonal therapies, lifestyle interventions and complementary therapies.
“The new guidelines mean faster diagnosis of POI, conveyed in a sensitive manner and involving shared decision-making between healthcare professionals and women experiencing POI,” Associate Professor Amanda Vincent, Co-Chair of the guideline development group said.
“This provides healthcare professionals with the clear advice on best practice in POI care, based on the best evidence currently available.”
Additional tools and resources
The guidelines come with updated consumer resources, including the Ask Early Menopause App, which provides evidenced-based tools, a personal dashboard and a discussion forum.
Used by more than 9000 women worldwide, the app empowers women to better manage early menopause and engage in informed discussions with healthcare providers.
For healthcare professionals, a comprehensive toolkit is available that offers practical support to deliver best-practice care based on the latest evidence.
What is POI?
Affecting approximately 4% of women globally, POI is characterised by the loss of ovarian function before the age of 40 — occurring at an average age of 48-51 years in women globally.
POI can lead to infertility, psychological distress and increased risks of chronic conditions such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, dementia and cognitive decline.
