IDENTIFICATION OF GENETIC DETERMINANTS IN EARLY MENOPAUSE

Early menopause and POF are pathologies affecting 7% and 1 - 2% of women world-wide respectively. Women with early menopause may encounter a lot of health problems, including osteoporosis and an increased risk of cardiac diseases. Despite the fact that there is certainly a strong genetic contribution to POF, only few causative genes were found. This study is focused on the identification of the genetic causes of early menopause through the study of a population in which the prevalence of this pathology is higher if compared to the general population (a great advantage of this study). Innovative laboratory techniques and analytical methods will be used. A better understanding of the genetic causes of menopause can lead to an early identification of at risk women, to the development of preventive protocols and a better planning of these women's reproductive life.