OBJECTIVE: Compare levels of androgens and bone mineral density (BMD) of ovariectomized (OVX) and non-ovariectomized (NOVX) postmenopausal women. Forty women, 20 OVX and 20 NOVX, (53.9 ± 4 years) were selected. METHODS: Total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), androstenedione (AN), dehidroepiandrostenedione (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEA-S) were measured. BMD was measured in 14 OVX and 16 NOVX. RESULTS: No differences between groups with regard to age, body mass index (BMI) and time since menopause were found. Mean levels of TT and FT were two-fold higher in NOVX group (60.91 versus 30.17 ng/dL, p = 0.0001; 1.00 versus 0.48 pg/mL, p = 0.003). BMD was not different between groups. Inverse correlations were found between BMI and TT (r = -0.3; p = 0.05); time since menopause and AN (r = -0.35; p = 0.02) and time since menopause and DHEA (r = -0.3; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Bilateral ovariectomy leads to a more severe androgen deficiency than natural menopause in postmenopausal women and did not compromise bone mass.
Androgens; menopause; bone mass; ovariectomy
