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.