title: Decreasing serum levels of sex hormone-binding globulin around the menopause and temporary relation to changing levels of ovarian steroids, as demonstrated in a longitudinal study.
abstract: Blood samples collected longitudinally in 17 women over a period of 3 years, starting 11/2 years before the menopause, were assessed for sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), 17 beta-estradiol (E2), progesterone, and total testosterone. A slight (7.2%) decrease in mean SHBG from 4.25 +/- 1.67 (standard deviation) mg/l to 3.95 +/- 1.61 mg/l was observed within the 6-month period encompassing the menopause. More specifically, the decrease appeared to commence at the menopause and to become clearly significant (P = 0.01) some 2 to 6 months later. During the subsequent year, a further decrease to 3.64 +/- 1.42 mg/l was observed, amounting to a total decrease in mean SHBG by 14.4% (P less than 0.001). Of the hormones, only E2 exhibited a marked decrease (P less than 0.01) within this same 6-month period. The changes in SHBG during the 6-month transition period from premenopause to postmenopause correlated significantly (P = 0.013) only with those of E2. It is concluded that decreasing E2 levels appear to play a significant role in the downward modulation of SHBG levels commencing at the menopause.
authors.affiliation: University of Lund, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gershagen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doeberl
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeppsson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rannevik
mesh_terms: D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol