Endocrine Changes and Symptomatology After Oophorectomy in Premenopausal Women

Abstract

The symptomatic and endocrine changes following hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy have been studied in 100 patients, 1 to 31 years after surgery. The most frequent symptoms at the time of interview were depression (62 patients), insomnia (48 patients), loss of libido (46 patients) and dyspareunia (38 patients). Vasomotor symptoms were recorded in 28 patients. Although 94 patients claimed that hot flushes were the first symptomatic changes noticed, 60 had complete relief from these symptoms within 6 months of surgery; 34 patients had no symptoms and only 4 patients were taking oestrogen therapy at the time of interview. Plasma oestradiol and testosterone levels were 78 per cent and 27 per cent respectively below the mean values of day 1 to 10 of the menstrual cycle, similar to those found at comparable years after a normal menopause. The plasma FSH level was about 14 times and the plasma LH level about twice the respective preoperative value. Unlike after the normal menopause, these gonadotrophin levels did not show any decline with increasing age. There was no correlation between plasma hormone levels and the presence of vasomotor symptoms or depression.

Pharmacologically Induced Hypogonadism and Sexual Function in Healthy Young Women and Men

“…Second, the results of basal hormone studies are inconsistent, since men and women with low sex hormone levels do not uniformly report low levels of sexual function (Travison et al, 2006;Santoro et al, 1996;Burger et al, 1995Burger et al, , 1999Burger et al, , 2000Leiblum et al, 2006;Sternbach, 1998;Bachmann et al, 1985;Greendale et al, 1996;Davidson et al, 1983;Vermeulen, 2001). Finally, a substantial proportion of both men and women (30-50%) report no change in libido after medical or surgical castration despite obvious losses of reproductive endocrine function (Bagatell et al, 1994;Bremer, 1959;Dennerstein et al, 1977Dennerstein et al, , 2002Chakravarti et al, 1977;Tauber, 1940;Elit et al, 2001;Madalinska et al, 2005;Zussman et al, 1981).…”

Effect of Exemestane on Tamoxifen Pharmacokinetics in Postmenopausal Women Treated for Breast Cancer

“…In premenopausal women, surgical or medical castration with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists is effective in decreasing ovarian estrogen production. However, even in postmenopausal women, there remain endogenous nonovarian sites of estrogen synthesis that can continue to stimulate tumor growth (3). Selective estrogen receptor modulators such as tamoxifen or raloxifene compete with estrogens for binding to the receptor.…”

Phase I/II Pilot Study to Assess Toxicity and Efficacy of Chinese Herbs to Treat Hot Flashes and Menopausal Symptoms for Women With a History of Breast Cancer

“…In the United States, data from the longitudinal, Nurses' Health Study show that 75% of women experienced hot flashes for an average duration of 3.8 years between the peri-menopausal and post-menopausal period (Avis, 1997). Up to 90% of women who have undergone a bilateral oophorectomy experience a --Deleted: endure period of hot flashes (Feldman, 1985) (Chakravarti, 1977) indicatinga. more acute decline ......…”