Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a clinical syndrome characterized by ovarian function decline in women under 40 years of age, manifesting as menstrual disorders (e.g., amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea) accompanied by elevated gonadotropin levels and reduced estrogen levels. After allo-HSCT, many females suffer POI due to conditioning regimens, pre-transplant chemotherapy, age at allo-HSCT and post-transplant complications, and only a very small number of these patients recover ovarian function [4],It is a well-documented fact that POI-induced symptoms and subsequent infertility are prevalent concerns for long-term survivors and their partners following allo-HSCT. These issues have been shown to have a detrimental effect on the quality of life (QoL) of those affected[11]. Therefore, exploring the risk factors leading to POI after HSCT can help clinicians assess patients' ovarian function before transplantation and predict the extent of treatment-related damage to ovarian function, thereby providing guidance on fertility preservation.
Age-stratified analyses demonstrated that the incidence of POI was significantly lower in patients aged <10 years than in the other three age groups (Pearson correlation coefficient r=0.379, P=0.003), whereas no significant intergroup differences were observed in POI incidence among patients aged 10–20, 21–30, and 31–39 years. Additionally, the probability of POI was substantially higher in patients who received a busulfan (Bu)-based conditioning regimen (93.18%) than in those treated with Bu-free conditioning regimens (20.00%, P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis identified two factors that exerted a significant and independent influence on the durability of ovarian function following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT): age at allo-HSCT and conditioning regimen. Consistent with prior relevant studies, age at the time of allo-HSCT is critical for post-transplant ovarian function. In the present study, only 1 out of 6 patients aged <10 years at allo-HSCT developed POI, whereas the remaining 5 patients (aged ≥10 years at allo-HSCT) maintained more regular menstrual cycles and normal sex hormone profiles. Prepubertal girls (<10 years old) have a higher likelihood of avoiding POI, in contrast to the irreversible nature of ovarian function impairment observed in adults. In a study of 35 girls who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation during childhood and adolescence, Jadoul et al. reported that an age of ≤10 years at transplantation was significantly and independently associated with a higher rate of clinically confirmed persistent ovarian function at the time of evaluation [12]. Notably, the present study not only validated the findings of these aforementioned studies but also identified that a younger age at allo-HSCT acts as a significant protective factor, particularly among patients who received a busulfan (Bu)-based conditioning regimen. Stratifying patients based on the presence or absence of Bu in the conditioning regimen, our results showed that among patients who received a Bu-based conditioning regimen, the vast majority of those aged >10 years developed irreversible premature ovarian failure (97.56%), whereas 66.67% (2/3) of those who received a Bu-based conditioning regimen before the age of 10 years experienced spontaneous menarche. Subgroup analyses further revealed that in the Bu-containing group, the incidence of POI in the <10-year age group was significantly different from that in the other three age groups (10–20, 21–30, and 31–39 years); however, no such difference was observed in the Bu-free group. Importantly, it should be emphasized that while a younger age confers protective effects against POI following allo-HSCT, this protective range does not extend to adolescence.
Our data demonstrate that all female patients aged 10–20 years who received a busulfan (Bu)-based conditioning regimen developed POI following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) (100%). Consistent with this, results from a multicenter study by Chabut et al. — involving 178 female patients who were <18 years old at diagnosis — showed that over 80% of patients who underwent HSCT at ≥10.9 years of age developed POI, and the risk of POI was significantly higher in patients who received HSCT during adolescence than in those who underwent transplantation in childhood[13]. Rather than benefiting from the protective effect of young age, peripubertal patients at the time of allo-HSCT experienced a more pronounced impact of allo-HSCT on ovarian function, as this period represents a critical stage in reproductive system development. This protective effect on prepubertal ovaries may be attributed to the higher number of non-growing follicles (NGFs) present in young girls. Sudies have demonstrated a strong negative correlation between age and the number of NGFs (a marker of ovarian reserve) [14] [15] [16]. Older females have a diminished pool of primordial follicles, rendering them more vulnerable to the damaging effects of chemotherapeutic agents. Consequently, younger patients who receive a Bu-based conditioning regimen have a lower incidence of POI.
Indeed, alkylating agents are responsible for the highest age-adjusted odds ratio of ovarian failure rates[15]. Of the alkylating agents, BU is the most gonadotoxic[17], while the BU-based conditioning regimens is also another important risk factor for premature ovarian Insufficiency in addition to age[18] [19]. Borgman et al. conducted a retrospective study involving seven centres in Europe and demonstrated that median LH and median FSH values were significantly higher in the group of female participants treated with BU compared to those who were not treated with BU. Receiving BU treatment (OR 47.4; 95% CI 5.4 ~ 418.1) significantly increased the risk of infertility [20]. In a study of 55 post-transplant female subjects, Su et al. found that the probability of POI was significantly higher in patients who received a BU-based conditioning regimen (96%) than in those who received other regimens (53.3%; P < 0.001)[21]. In contrast, only 3 patients out of all 54 patients in our statistics who received a BU-based conditioning regimen are currently considered no POI, receiving a BU-based conditioning regimen leads to a significantly increased risk of ovarian decline and premature menopause in female patients (93.18%, p<0.001).
However, in patients with aplastic anemia (AA) — who are at higher risk of poor graft function (PGF) — busulfan (BU) is frequently incorporated into the conditioning regimen in clinical practice to reduce the incidence of PGF[22] [23]. Given the long-term impacts of BU on reproductive function, we need to rethink whether the inclusion of BU in the conditioning regimen remains necessary for young female patients. Further clinical data are required to address this question.
Notably, a 29-year-old patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) received a myeloablative conditioning (MAC) regimen before transplantation. Without any pre-transplant fertility preservation measures, this patient achieved natural conception and successful delivery in the 4th year after allo-HSCT. In previous studies, most cases reporting post-allo-HSCT pregnancy involved patients under 20 years of age at transplantation, and the majority of these patients received a reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen. In contrast, few spontaneous pregnancies have been documented in patients over 20 years of age with hematologic malignancies who received the MAC regimen. This case further suggests that although most post-pubertal female patients treated with the MAC regimen develop amenorrhea or even infertility, a subset of patients still retain ovarian function to varying degrees [24]. Additionally, several studies have demonstrated that higher estrogen (E2) levels may predict ovarian function recovery [25].
We also investigated post-transplant menopausal symptoms in 54 patients using a questionnaire with the Kupperman Scale; symptoms were categorised as absent, mild, moderate, or severe according to standard criteria, and detailed data are presented in Table 3. The results demonstrated a significant association between Kupperman score grades, age at transplantation, and the occurrence of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD)—a finding that differs from those reported by Su et al [21]. Specifically, four patients were assessed to have severe menopausal symptoms, including but not limited to severe insomnia and sensory disturbances; additionally, a total of 7 patients reported vaginal stenosis or atrophic vaginitis, which can be diagnosed as genital cGVHD based on clinical signs [4].
Regarding interventions for POI-related symptoms, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been widely shown to effectively alleviate multiple symptoms of gonadal failure [26] [27]. The International Menopause Society (IMS) states that women with POI should be offered hormone therapy (HT) until the average age of natural menopause (approximately 51 years), unless contraindicated[28]. Our questionnaire survey revealed that only 11 of the 43 patients who had developed POI (25.58%, 11/43) received HRT after allo-HSCT. This low rate, to some extent, reflects the extremely insufficient current awareness of ovarian function protection among patients in China.
Of all gynecological complications associated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), sexual dysfunction and infertility are the most prevalent long-term issues among female survivors [6]. Most of the patients who have undergone the MAC pre-treatment programme and who want to have children of their own need assisted reproduction techniques (ART) [29]. Among the enrolled patients, only one had undergone OTC as a fertility preservation intervention before allo-HSCT; this patient subsequently regained regular menstrual cycles and normal sex hormone levels, and successfully achieved natural conception—with no signs of disease recurrence to date. Overall, the current post-allo-HSCT pregnancy rate remains low. Therefore, it is of paramount importance for hematologists to inform female patients (particularly young women) in need of allo-HSCT about infertility risks associated with treatment, and to offer appropriate fertility preservation options.
A limitation of this study is the small sample size due to its single-institution design. Prospective multicenter studies are warranted to mitigate potential bias and enroll a more representative patient population. Subsequently, we aim to further elucidate the impact of allo-HSCT on ovarian function by enrolling larger cohorts and incorporating long-term follow-up data.