Relationship between ovarian production of estrone, estradiol, testosterone, and androstenedione and the ovarian degree of stromal hyperplasia in postmenopausal women

Objective: To study the relationship between ovarian production of estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), and androstenedione (A) and the ovarian degree of stromal hyperplasia in postmenopausal women. Design: In 18 postmenopausal women, the ovarian vein hormone levels of E1, E2, T, and A were compared with the degree of ovarian stromal hyperplasia. The degree of stromal hyperplasia was assessed by histological analysis (group 1: atrophic ovaries, n = 8; group 2: slight stromal hyperplasia, n = 8; group 3: moderate or severe stromal hyperplasia, n = 2). Results: The ovarian levels of E1 and E2 did not correlate with the ovarian degree of stromal hyperplasia. The ovarian levels of A in group 3 were significantly higher than those in groups 1 and 2 (p <0.02 and p <0.01, respectively). The ovarian levels of T in group 3 were significantly higher than those in group 1 (p <0.01) but did not differ significantly from those in group 2. Conclusions: The amount of stromal hyperplasia in postmenopausal ovaries is correlated with the ovarian vein levels of A and T. Morphological characteristics of the postmenopausal ovary determine the local (pelvic) endocrine status and may play a role in the etiology of hormone-dependent diseases of the internal genitals. (Menopause 1998;5:207-210. (C) 1998, The North American Menopause Society.).