Skip to Main Content
 
print media

Home | About | Magazine | Specialists | Forum | Professionals | Sitemap | Shop | Contact

Menopause news




Androgen decline after oophorectomy - no effect on sexuality or psychological well-being.

April 2005




A study reported in Fertility and Sterility, April 2005, showed that hormonal changes after oophorectomy had no significant effect on sexual or psychological well-being 1 year post-operative. 323 women having elective hysterectomy (217 having hysterectomy and 106 hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) were followed up for 1 year. Oestrogen replacement therapy was recommended to all women in the hysterectomy and BSO group.

Although there were expected differences in sex steroid levels, sexuality as measured by McCoy's female Sex Questionnaire, was unchanged in the hysterectomy and BSO group and gave decreased scores in the hysterectomy group. Psychological well-being was improved in both groups. There was no correlation between changes in androgen levels and changes in sexuality or psychological well-being. It was concluded that the hormonal changes that follow oophorectomy and hysterectomy do not influence sexuality or psychological well-being 1 year postoperative.


Comment: Much interest has been shown in the role of testosterone replacement following oophorectomy and opinion is divided as to whether or not testosterone should be recommended, and if so as to which is the preferred route and dose. This report questions the necessity for testosterone replacement in women after oophorectomy. As with the use of HRT, treatment should be individualised and for some women, testosterone replacement may be beneficial but by no means should it be routinely recommended.

Fertility and Sterility, 2005; 83: 1021-1028.

< Go Back

<< News Index

For your information...

Menopause + Premature Menopause + Menopause Symptoms + Bleeding Problems + Vaginal Problems + Bladder Matters Menopause and HRT after Hysterectomy Treatments + Diet, Lifestyle & Exercise + Menopause at Work Hormone Replacement Therapy + HRT Preparations + Prescribable non-HRT Testosterone Alternative Therapies + Alternative Techniques Decision Tree Contraception + Osteoporosis + Heart Disease + A to Z of menopause and medical conditions Magazine Shop More +