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.
Keywords: Ovary; androgens; estrogens; menopause.