title: Serum androgen levels in patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization cycles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate androgen behavior during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for in vitro fertilization (IVF).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  An IVF unit of an academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood was drawn three times during the COH cycle from 17 consecutive patients undergoing the long gonadotropin-releasing hormone-analog protocol: the day on which adequate suppression was obtained (Day-S); the day of or prior to administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (Day-hCG); and (3) the day of ovum pick-up (Day-OPU).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant increase in serum sex steroid levels during gonadotropin treatment. After hCG administration, there was a significant increase in levels of serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and ovarian androgens (total and free testosterone and androstenedione), with no significant change in adrenal androgen (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate). Significant correlations were observed between plasma estradiol (E(2)) and androgen levels during COH and until hCG administration, but not after hCG administration. The E(2)/testosterone ratio increased significantly during COH and until hCG administration, and then decreased significantly. The number of oocytes retrieved correlated significantly with serum 17-OHP, E(2) and E(2)/testosterone ratio. The number of gonadotropin ampoules used correlated inversely only with serum E(2) levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients undergoing COH for IVF, androgen levels increase in response to gonadotropin, and then again after hCG administration. Although the E(2)/testosterone ratio correlates with the number of oocytes retrieved, androgen levels do not.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel. raoulo@barzi.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Raoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orvieto
authors.forename: Vered
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yulzari-Roll
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Marca
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ashkenazi
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fisch
mesh_terms: D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone