Ovaries, androgens and the menopause: Practical applications

The ovaries are a major site of production of circulating androgens during the postmenopausal years. This includes the production of testosterone. Bil ateral oophorectomy can lead to a reduction in circulating testosterone lev els of nearly fifty percent. Several experimental conditions have confirmed that the postmenopausal ovarian androgen production is regulated through g onadotropins and that exogenous hormones can modulate this androgen product ion. The function of the postmenopausal ovaries must be considered in light of these data. This body of information introduces an important considerat ion in the debate over elective oophorectomy at the time of unrelated gynec ologic surgery.