Androgen Levels lowest in women with Oophorectomy
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism published a report recently about androgen levels in a large survey of women.
The cross-section was otherwise healthy women aged 18-75. Some were pre-menopausal, some post-menopausal and some had surgically induced menopause.
"We report that serum androgen levels decline steeply in the early reproductive years and do not vary because a consequence of natural menopause and that the postmenopausal ovary appears to be an ongoing site of testosterone production. These significant variations in androgens with age must be taken into account when normal ranges are reported and in studies of the role of androgens in women."
What this seems to indicate to me is that ovaries are important to the female endocrine system and function far beyond the fertile years. What these androgens do, precicely, is not completely understood, but I'd guess that we need them.
There was further news as well that serum testosterone levels apparently have little correlation with women's libido. Though the report concedes that testosterone may still be integral to sex drive, the levels detected in the blood may have little to do with it.
This may put a lot of this research back to square one and should alert women that there is certainly no pill or patch at this time that can take the place of ovaries.
Posted by Elizabeth M. on July 7, 2005 06:42 PM
