Should androgen levels be measured in hirsute women with normal menstrual cycles?
In a study of 129 consecutively referred hirsute women, 40% had regular menstrual cycles. About one half of such individuals had elevated levels of one or more androgens (DHEAS, testosterone or free testosterone index), whereas a higher proportion (69%) of hirsute women with oligo-amenorrhea were abnormal. Mean androgen levels in regularly cycling hirsute women were higher than in controls, but lower than or equal to those in oligo-amenorrheic hirsutism. Thus, menstrual status does not predict androgen status in hirsute women.
Mehta
A
A
Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Matwijiw
I
I
Taylor
P J
PJ
Salamon
E A
EA
Kredentser
J V
JV
Faiman
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate