Circulating androgen levels before and after oophorectomy in premenopausal and postmenopausal women

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of oophorectomy on baseline serum levels of androgens and estrogens in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Methods: Fourteen premenopausal and 10 postmenopausal women underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy for benign disease of the uterus. Serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), androstenedione (A), testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol-17β-glucuronide (3α-diol G), estrone (E₁), estradiol (E₂), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were measured by highly specific immunoassays prior to surgery and 2 weeks afterward. Free T and free E₂ were calculated. Differences were determined between preoperative (preop) and postoperative (postop) samples, and between premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Results: In premenopausal women, postop levels of total and free T, DHT, and total and free E₂ decreased significantly from preop. Postop levels of DHEAS, A, 3α-diol G, and SHBG were decreased, but not significantly different from preop. In postmenopausal women, postop levels of total and free T and total and free E₂ decreased significantly from preop, but there was little change in the other compounds. Significant differences in the mean change from baseline between premenopausal and postmenopausal women were observed only for E₁ and total and free E₂.

Conclusion: The significant decrease in serum T in postmenopausal women following oophorectomy adds to the evidence that the postmenopausal ovary continues to produce T.

摘要

目的：本研究旨在确定卵巢切除术对绝经前和绝经后妇女血清中雄激素和雌激素基线水平的影响。

方法：14名绝经前和10名绝经后妇女因子宫良性病变行全子宫切除术和双侧卵巢切除术。术前及术后2周采用高特异性免疫分析方法检测血清中硫酸脱氢表雄酮(DHEAS)、雄烯二酮(A)、睾酮(T)、双氢睾酮(DHT)、5a-雄甾烷- 3a、17β-二醇-17β葡聚糖苷(3a-diol G)、雌酮(E1)、雌二醇(E2)、性激素结合球蛋白(SHBG)水平。计算出术前(preop)和术后(postop)样本以及绝经前和绝经后妇女游离T和游离E2之间的差异。

结果：绝经前妇女、术后总的及游离T、DHT、总的及游离E2水平较术前明显下降。术后组DHEAS、A、3a-diol G、SHBG水平下降, 但与术前组无显著差异。在绝经后妇女, 术后总、游离T、总、游离E2水平较术前明显降低, 其他化合物变化不大。绝经前和绝经后妇女仅在E1、总E2和游离E2基线平均变化中观察到显著差异。

结论：绝经后妇女在卵巢切除术后血清T的显著下降进一步证明绝经后卵巢继续产生T。

Keywords:

• Oophorectomy
• androgens
• ovary
• testosterone
• estrogens
• postmenopause

Acknowledgements

Author Dr D.R. Mishell Jr (now deceased) was instrumental in the design of the study and involved in the interpretation of the data.

Conflict of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Nil.