Not Only Estradiol but Also Testosterone Levels Depend on Menstrual Cycle Phases (original) (raw)
Related papers
2019
The role of testosterone in females has not been fully elucidated. Studies usually involved postmenopausal women. Literature data on age-related changes of testosterone levels are contradictory. The application of sex hormones and their combination in medical practice increases the importance of study of the menstrual cycle fluctuations in testosterone, populational variability of testosterone and estradiol levels and their ratio in healthy females to prevent the excessive doses of sex steroids and provide the using of optimal their doses in different phases of menstrual cycle during treatment. The objective of our research was to evaluate testosterone and estradiol levels, their interrelation and their ratio in different stages of menstrual cycle in young healthy women. Twenty-two young Ukrainian females aged 18 to 22 years were enrolled in this study. Testosterone and estradiol levels in blood serum were determined by Estradiol ELISA and Testosterone ELISA kits (Italy). Both estra...
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2000
The aims of this study were to describe, in relation to date of final menses, the average androgen levels of women in the years before and after this date, and to determine the extent to which these average levels were dependent on age and body mass index (BMI) and the degree of tracking in residual androgen levels, or the extent to which individuals above (below) the mean for their age or time relative to final menstrual period (FMP) and BMI remain above (below) the mean as time progresses. Serial levels of serum sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), testosterone (T), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) were measured annually in 172 women from the Melbourne Women’s Midlife Health Project who experienced a natural menopause during 7 yr of follow-up. Fasting blood samples were drawn between days 4–8 if women were still menstruating or after 3 months of amenorrhea. The free androgen index (FAI) was calculated as the ratio of T to SHBG 3 100. Means of the log-transformed androgen levels were analyzed as a double logistic function of time relative to FMP as well as age and BMI, and correlations between repeated androgen levels were measured. Mean SHBG levels decreased by 43% from 4 yr before to 2 yr after the FMP. The time of most change was 2 yr before FMP [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.8 –3.2]. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 2000; 85(8):2832-2838.
The Role of Testosterone in Menopause Management: A Review of Literature
Fertility & Reproduction
Background: Despite the lack of approved testosterone formulations for women in most countries, testosterone therapy is still being offered to women worldwide. Aging and loss of ovarian or adrenal function, among others, can lower testosterone levels in women. However, international guidelines currently do not routinely recommend androgen replacement therapy due to lack of long-term safety data. Evidence on its benefits and risks still remains uncertain. Objectives: The aim of this literature review is to present current studies and guidelines that examined the effects of testosterone therapy for postmenopausal women, including its role on cognition and mood; breast and endometrial cancer risks; musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and genitourinary health; and sexual function. Methodology: A review of literature was done using PubMed, EMBASE, Science Direct, OVID, and Google scholar, with the following key words: androgen, testosterone, menopause, and hypoactive sexual desire dysfuncti...
Steroids, 2011
Measuring serum androgen levels in women has been challenging due to limitations in method accuracy, precision sensitivity and specificity at low hormone levels. The clinical significance of changes in sex steroids across the menstrual cycle and lifespan has remained controversial, in part due to these limitations. We used validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS) assays to determine testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) along with estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1) levels across the menstrual cycle of 31 healthy premenopausal females and in 19 postmenopausal females. Samples were obtained in ovulatory women in the early follicular phase (EFP), midcycle and mid luteal phase (MLP). Overall, the levels of T, DHT, E2 and E1 in premenopausal women measured by LCMS/MS were lower overall than previously reported with immunoassays. In premenopausal women, serum T, Free T, E2, E1 and SHBG levels peaked at midcycle and remained higher in the MLP, whereas DHT did not change. In postmenopausal women, T, free T, SHBG and DHT were significantly lower than in premenopausal women, concomitant with declines in E2 and E1. These data support the hypothesis that the changes in T and DHT that occur across the cycle may reflect changes in SHBG and estrogen, whereas in menopause, androgen levels decrease. LC-MS/MS may provide more accurate and precise measurement of sex steroid hormones than prior immunoassay methods and can be useful to assess the clinical significance of changes in T, DHT, E2 and E1 levels in females.
Testosterone Reference Ranges in Normally Cycling Healthy Premenopausal Women
The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2011
At present, there are no well-accepted reference ranges for serum testosterone concentrations in women. The aim of this study was to determine the reference ranges for serum testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in premenopausal women with normal menstrual cycles. We measured serum total, free, and bioavailable testosterone and SHBG concentrations in 161 healthy, normally cycling women (18-49 years). Morning blood samples were collected during follicular, mid-cycle, and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle and analyzed using validated methods. Mean, median, and weighted average hormone levels across menstrual cycle phases as well as percentiles for a typical 30-year-old woman were determined. Age-related serum levels of total, free, and bioavailable testosterone and SHBG levels in normally cycling premenopausal women. Serum testosterone concentrations exhibited an age-related decline, whereas SHBG remained relatively stable across studied age ranges. Reference ranges for total, free, and bioavailable testosterone and SHBG were established using 5th and 95th percentiles. The estimated 5th and 95th percentiles for a 30-year-old woman were: testosterone, 15-46 ng/dL (520-1595 pmol/L); free testosterone, 1.2-6.4 pg/mL (4.16-22.2 pmol/L); calculated free testosterone, 1.3-5.6 pg/mL (4.5-19.4 pmol/L); bioavailable testosterone, 1.12-7.62 ng/dL (38.8-264.21 pmol/L); and SHBG 18-86 nmol/L. The variations of hormones and SHBG across menstrual cycle were consistent with previous literature. Reference ranges for free, total, and bioavailable testosterone and SHBG were established in premenopausal women using validated immunoassays and an adequate number of subjects consistent with recommendations by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. The increase in testosterone in the mid-cycle period is relatively small compared with the overall variability, so these reference ranges can be applied irrespective of the day in the menstrual cycle the sample has been taken.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2019
Context There is a lack of understanding of what is normal in terms of sex steroid levels in older women. Objective To determine whether sex steroid levels vary with age in and establish reference ranges for women >70 years of age. Design and Setting Cross-sectional, community-based study. Participants Included 6392 women ≥70 years of age. Main Outcome Measures Sex steroids measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. A reference group, to establish sex steroid age-specific reference ranges, excluded women using systemic or topical sex steroid, antiandrogen or glucocorticoid therapy, or an antiglycemic agent. Results The reference group of 5326 women had a mean age of 75.1 (±4.2) years, range of 70 to 94.7 years. Median values (range) were 181.2 pmol/L (3.7 to 5768.9) for estrone (E1), 0.38 nmol/L (0.035 to 8.56) for testosterone (T), 2.60 nmol/L (0.07 to 46.85) for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and 41.6 nmol/L (2.4 to 176.6) for SHBG. Estradiol and DHT were below...
Maturitas, 2011
Objectives: This study was designed to measure the beneficial effects of continuous testosterone therapy, delivered by subcutaneous implant, in the relief of somatic, psychological and urogenital symptoms in both pre-and post-menopausal patients, utilizing the validated Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL), Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). Study design: 300 pre-and post-menopausal women with symptoms of relative androgen deficiency, were asked to self-administer the 11-item MRS, at baseline and 3 months after their first insertion of the subcutaneous testosterone implant. Baseline hormone measurements, menopausal status and BMI, were assessed to determine correlation with symptoms and clinical outcome. Main outcome measurements: Changes related to therapy were determined. Total MRS scores as well as psychological, somatic and urogenital subscale scores were compared prior to therapy and following testosterone implant therapy. Results: Pre-menopausal and post-menopausal females reported similar hormone deficiency symptoms. Both groups demonstrated similar improvement in total score, as well as psychological, somatic and urogenital subscale scores with testosterone therapy. Better effect was noted in women with more severe complaints. Higher doses of testosterone correlated with greater improvement in symptoms. Conclusion: Continuous testosterone alone, delivered by subcutaneous implant, was effective for the relief of hormone deficiency symptoms in both pre-and post-menopausal patients. The validated, HRQOL questionnaire, Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), proved a valuable tool in the measurement of the beneficial effects of testosterone therapy in both cohorts.
Journal of Steroid Biochemistry, 1982
A mathematical model for the calculation of free and protein bound concentrations of testosterone and estradiol in plasma is presented. The method is based on the knowledge of the total concentrations of all steroids competing for the same binding site on testosterone-estradiol-binding globulin (TeBG). the concentration of albumin. the binding capacity of TeBG. and the association constants of the steroids to the two binding proteins. For the calculations we have determined the totai concentrations of testosterone and estradiol. TeBG binding capacity. albumin concentration and the association constants for the binding of testosterone. estradio) and %dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to TeBG and albumin at 37% Physiological concentrations of some androgen metabolites reported in the literature were also included in the calculations_ namely: DHT, S-androstene-3~.t 7j?-dioi (Ae) and So-androstane-3~,17~-dioi (Aa). The binding constants for Ae and Aa to TeBG and albumin were also from the literature. Mean values of testosterone were calculated for 11 normal men and expressed as percentages of total: 2.0:; was unbound. 53-W;, bound to albumin and 43-457; bound to TeBG. For I6 normal women of a fertile age the corresponding values were 1.5'5,. 36-374, and 62");. For estradiol they were 2.4", 68-709, and 28-300, in the men and 2.c,.,. SZJ?, and 45-46", in the women. Variations in the concentrations of DHT. Ae and Aa did not influence the free concentrations of testosterone and estradiol to any significant extent. It was furthermore concluded that the androgen metabolites could be omitted from the calculations without affecting the calculated concentrations.