Affective changes with estrogen and androgen replacement therapy in surgically menopausal women

Otherwise healthy surgically menopausal women who had been receiving either an intramuscular estrogen-androgen (E-A) combined preparation or estrogen alone (E) long-term had more positive moods than an untreated control group (CON) coincident with their higher levels of circulating estradiol (E2). Women who received both E2 and testosterone (T) felt more composed, elated, and energetic than those who were given E alone. These findings confirm that mood covaries with circulating estradiol levels in generally healthy, nondepressed women. Possible mechanisms of action of the sex steroids on affect are discussed.