How long is the ovary relevant for synthesis of steroids after menopause?

Abstract

This study aimed to determine whether the ovaries synthesize estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), and androstenedione (A) after menopause. The first group (30 patients) underwent surgical menopause (SM) – their ovaries were removed due to a benign condition around the time of menopause. The second group (30 patients) consisted of patients with natural menopause (NM). The E2 median level was 10.0 pg/ml (CI ± 2.18) and 9.5 pg/ml (CI ± 1.63) in the NM and SM groups (p = .69), respectively. The median level of total T was 0.12 ng/ml (CI ± 0.01) and 0.11 ng/ml (CI ± 0.03) in NM and SM, respectively (p = .96). The median level of A was 783.85 pg/ml (CI ± 154.39) and 883.48 pg/dl (CI ± 201.03) in NM and SM, respectively (p = .57). The FAI (free androgen index) was 1.06 (CI ± 0.24) and 1.35 (CI ± 0.68) for NM and SM, respectively (p = .98). We concluded that 5–10 years after menopause the ovaries are no longer relevant for sex steroid synthesis.

Chinese abstract

本研究旨在确定绝经后的卵巢是否仍在合成雌二醇(E2)、睾酮(T)和雄烯二酮(A)。第一组(30名患者)接受了手术绝经(SM) -在绝经前后, 因良性病变行卵巢切除。第二组(30例)由自然绝经(NM)患者组成。在自然绝经（NM）和手术绝经（SM）的组别中, 类固醇（E2）平均水平(p = 0.69)分别为10.0 pg/ml(CI ±2.18)和9.5 pg/ml(CI ±1.63), 总睾酮（T）平均水平(p = 0.96)分别为0.12 ng/ml(CI ±0.01)和0.11 ng/ml(CI ±0.03), 雄烯二酮（A）平均水平(p = 0.57)分别为是783.85 pg/ml(CI ±154.39)和154.39 pg/dl(CI ±201.03)。游离雄激素水平（FAI）(p1⁄4.98)分别为1.06(CI ±0.24)和1.35(CI ±0.68)。由此我们得出结论, 绝经5 - 10年后, 卵巢将不再会与性甾体激素合成相关。

Keywords:

• Ovary
• menopause
• estrogens
• androgens

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.