Evaluation of Progesterone and Testosterone in Surgical Menopause

Background and objectives: Natural menopause is a physiological process which occurs around the age of 45 – 55 years. Surgical menopause is not physiological, occurs through an operative procedure which leads to sudden hormonal imbalances. Both the groups whether natural or surgical menopause experience hot flushes and mood swings, but this happens gradually in natural menopause and suddenly in surgical menopause. These symptoms may be correlated to the sudden hormonal imbalances. Aim: To study and compare hormonal levels of progesterone and testosterone in surgical and natural menopause. Material and Methods: The present study is case control study consisting of 50 women belongs to surgical menopausal group and 50 women belong to natural menopausal group. The hormonal parameters such as Progesterone and Testosterone were measured by Solid Phase Competitive Chemilumniscence Enzyme Immunoassay. Student's t-test was used to compare mean serum concentrations of Progesterone. Mann-Whitney U Rank Test was used to compare mean testosterone values. Results: The mean level of progesterone hormone in case group was found to be 0.71±0.57 while that in control group was 2.074±0.42. Mann- Whitney U Rank Test was used to compare mean testosterone values which showed significant difference between both the groups of surgical and natural menopause. Conclusion: In natural menopause the hormonal imbalance occurs gradually over a period of time but in surgical menopause the hormonal levels change abruptly. These sudden changes in the hormonal level may be responsible for severe hot flushes, headaches, mood swings and atherosclerosis.