Women who have undergone a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) experience a decline in what hormone?

Women who have undergone a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO), which involves the removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes, experience a significant decline in hormone levels, particularly circulating androgen levels. The ovaries are the primary source of steroid hormones, including androgens such as testosterone, which play a role in various bodily functions, including libido and bone health.

When the ovaries are removed, the production of androgens halts, leading to a decrease in circulating androgen levels. This can contribute to various symptoms associated with menopause, such as decreased libido and mood changes.

In contrast to circulating androgens, while estrogen and progesterone levels also drop following BSO, they are not the primary focus of this specific question. The impact on luteinizing hormone is not as directly relevant since BSO does not involve the pituitary gland, which regulates luteinizing hormone release in response to ovarian hormones.

Thus, the most accurate answer regarding the primary hormone affected by a BSO procedure is the decline in circulating androgen levels.