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

Abstract

Otherwise healthy surgically menopausal women who had been recieving 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 recieved 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.