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Updated: May 21, 2026

An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause

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Management of postmenopausal virilization.

Macarena Alpañés¹, José M González-Casbas, Juan Sánchez

¹University of Alcalá and Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, E-28034 Madrid, Spain.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism

|June 7, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Postmenopausal virilization, often due to ovarian hyperthecosis, requires careful diagnosis. Selective venous sampling is crucial for identifying the androgen excess source, guiding surgical treatment for hyperandrogenism.

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Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Gynecology

Background:

Hyperandrogenism in postmenopausal women can manifest as mild hirsutism or frank virilization.
Virilization suggests a specific source of androgen excess, potentially an androgen-secreting tumor or benign condition.

Observation:

A 68-year-old postmenopausal woman presented with progressive hirsutism and frontal balding over 8 years, accompanied by hyperandrogenemia.
Initial imaging revealed a right adrenal nodule but normal ovaries; however, selective venous sampling indicated an ovarian source of androgen excess.

Findings:

The patient was diagnosed with bilateral ovarian hyperthecosis after surgery.
Post-surgical normalization of androgen levels confirmed the ovarian origin of hyperandrogenism.

Implications:

Diagnosing postmenopausal hyperandrogenism is challenging, as imaging can be misleading.
Combined adrenal and ovarian venous sampling is essential for pinpointing the androgen source.
Distinguishing benign from malignant causes of virilization relies on detailed clinical history and diagnostic procedures.