title: Serum PSA levels are not affected by the menstrual cycle or the menopause, but are increased in subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prostatic specific antigen (PSA) is the most specific prostatic tumor marker in man. Recently, PSA has been detected in a variety of tissues and fluids in women, and its determination suggested as a marker of hyperandrogenism. However, precise information about the physiology of PSA in females is not available. The goal of this study was to assess serum concentrations of PSA in healthy pre-menopausal women (healthy pre-menopausal group), menopausal women (menopause group) and patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS group).
  
  
  METHODS
  PSA, androgens, LH, FSH, 17-beta-estradiol (E2), progesterone (Pg) were assessed in 40 post-menopausal women, 35 fertile controls and 35 women with PCOS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference in PSA concentrations could be demonstrated in different phases of the menstrual cycle in healthy pre-menopausal group and between pre- and post-menopausal groups. No correlations could be demonstrated between serum PSA levels and the following parameters: age, body mass index (BMI), LH, FSH, E2, testosterone (T), DHEAS, and SHBG, both in pre- and post-menopausal women. Significantly higher PSA levels (median=14 pg/ml) were found in the PCOS group compared to both pre-menopausal (median=5 pg/ml) and menopausal (median= 5 pg/ml) groups (p< 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  only minor fluctuations of serum PSA concentrations are observed in healthy pre- and post-menopausal women, while serum level is higher in PCOS, and therefore PSA can be considered a suitable marker of female hyperandrogenism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy. aburelli@tiscali.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burelli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cionini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benelli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Canale
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bencivelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nencetti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinchera
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pucci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen