title: Androgens in women before and after the menopause and post bilateral oophorectomy: clinical effects and indications for testosterone therapy.
abstract: In postmenopausal women, the ovaries produce significant amounts of androgens for many years after the menopause. Bilateral oophorectomy markedly reduces circulating testosterone (T) in both pre- and postmenopausal women. Oral estrogen therapy in postmenopausal women increases sex hormone-binding globulin and decreases T bioavailablity. Circulating androgens decrease with increasing age. The occurrence of an androgen deficiency syndrome associated with loss of libido and sense of well-being is disputed, but in several randomized controlled trials, transdermal T patches produced a significant improvement in hypoactive sexual desire disorder in postmenopausal women who had bilateral oophorectomy and in some women who had a natural menopause. T therapy is legitimate and is clinically indicated in such women. T therapy may have other benefits in postmenopausal women including an increase in lean body mass and bone mineral density. T therapy should become an integral part of hormone therapy in selected postmenopausal women in the future.
authors: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Western Cape 7925, South Africa. profdad@eject.co.za
authors: Dennis A
authors: DA
authors: Davey
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000728:Androgens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D010052:Ovariectomy; D047648:Perimenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone