Circulating Androgen Levels Before and After Oophorectomy in Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women

This study investigated the impact of oophorectomy on serum androgen and estrogen levels in 14 premenopausal and 10 postmenopausal women. Measurements taken before and 2 weeks after surgery showed significant decreases in total and free testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) in both groups. Premenopausal women also experienced significant drops in dihydrotestosterone (DHT), while other hormone levels like DHEAS, androstenedione (A), and SHBG decreased but not significantly. Postmenopausal women showed little change in these other compounds. The significant reduction in serum T in postmenopausal women post-oophorectomy suggested that postmenopausal ovaries continued to produce testosterone.