Objective To investigate the relationships between tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α)gene-1 031,-238,-308 polymorphisms with premature ovarian failure in Chinese women. Methods Two hundred with premature ovarian failure and two hundred healthy control women were compared in the study. TNF-a-1 031, -238, -308 gene polymorphisms were assayed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP).All statistical analyses were calculated with SPSS for Windows 16.0. Results There were no significant differences in allele or genotype frequency of TNF-a-238 and TNF-a-1 031 between women with premature ovarian failure and control group(P>0.05). The homozygous GG genotype for the SNP-308G/A was significantly higher in patients with premature ovarian failure than in healthy controls(90% vs 82.5%, P<0.05). The allele frequency of the TNF-α-308G was significantly higher in patients with premature ovarian failure patients than in healthy controls(P<0.05). Conclusion The data suggested that the TNF-a-308 gene polymorphisms was associated with premature ovarian failure.