Androgen serum levels in women with premature ovarian failure compared to fertile and menopausal controls.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our study was to examine androgen serum levels and bone density in women with premature ovarian failure (POF) compared to healthy normal controls.


METHODS
Thirty-three women 19-35 years of age with idiopathic POF were compared to 33 well-matched women with normal ovarian function and 32 healthy postmenopausal (PMP) women concerning 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androstendione (A), testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), as well as bone density (BD).


RESULTS
Women with POF showed statistically significantly lower concentrations of 17-OHP, A, T (p < 0.001) and a reduced bone density (p < 0.001) compared to fertile controls. No differences were found between POF and PMP women concerning estradiol (E2), T, A and 17-OHP. Regarding DHEAS, no statistically significant differences were found between women with POF and fertile controls whereas PMP women proved to have significantly lower DHEAS concentrations than fertile controls. Women with POF had the highest IGF-1 serum concentrations and PMP women the lowest.


CONCLUSIONS
An important decrement of ovarian steroids and bone density was noticed in women with POF, while the time since menopause had no influence on androgen concentrations. The hormone concentrations in women with POF are similar to those observed in normal PMP women with the exception of DHEAS and IGF-1 levels.
Hartmann
B W
BW
Department of Special Gynecology, Allgemeines Krankenhaus, University of Vienna Medical School, Austria.
Kirchengast
S
S
Albrecht
A
A
Laml
T
T
Söregi
G
G
Huber
J C
JC
D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D015519:Bone Density; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis
D000728:Androgens; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I