A Diagnostically Challenging Case of Hyperandrogenism in a Postmenopausal Woman

In this case report, a 55-year-old postmenopausal woman was diagnosed with ovarian hyperthecosis as the cause of her hyperandrogenism after detailed hormonal and imaging investigations, which was successfully treated with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, leading to symptom improvement and normalized testosterone levels.

This case study describes two postmenopausal women with severe androgen excess symptoms, diagnosed with ovarian hyperthecosis and stromal hyperplasia, emphasizing the challenges in differentiating these benign conditions from androgen-secreting tumors and the importance of surgical and histopathological evaluation for correct diagnosis and management.

This case report highlights the need for early diagnosis and treatment of ovarian hyperthecosis to enhance the quality of life and health outcomes for affected patients.

This article reviews existing knowledge on postmenopausal hyperandrogenism and highlights diagnostic challenges, reporting no new clinical results.

This case series observed that ovarian hyperthecosis can manifest with hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance in postmenopausal women, even when serum testosterone levels are below diagnostic thresholds, suggesting potential gaps in current diagnostic criteria.