Evidence for diminished midcycle ovarian androgen production in older reproductive aged women.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that reproductive aging is associated with menstrual cycle-related decreases in androgen secretion.


METHODS
Comparison of cross-sectional data.


METHODS
University teaching hospital.


METHODS
Two groups of seven women were studied; midreproductive aged (19 to 37 years old) and older reproductive aged (43 to 47 years old). All patients were cycling regularly and had normal PRL and TSH.


METHODS
Patients underwent blood sampling during selected days of the menstrual cycle.


METHODS
After establishing the date of the midcycle surge, specimens were measured on selected days for androstenedione (A), total T, free T, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) using commercially available reagents.


RESULTS
Sex hormone-binding concentrations did not vary across the menstrual cycle and did not differ between older and younger women. Total T did not differ significantly at any cycle stage between older and younger women. However, the midcycle rise in free T and A seen in younger women was consistently and significantly absent in the older women.


CONCLUSIONS
In the absence of significant changes in SHBG associated with older reproductive age, the finding of diminished concentrations of both free T and A suggests that these hormones are produced in lesser quantity at midcycle in older women. Because the changes we noted depended on menstrual cycle stage, our findings suggest that an ovarian and not adrenal process is involved.
Mushayandebvu
T
T
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, USA.
Castracane
V D
VD
Gimpel
T
T
Adel
T
T
Santoro
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000728:Androgens; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione