Testosterone deficiency in young women with 46,XX spontaneous premature ovarian failure.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether women with 46,XX spontaneous premature ovarian failure have lower serum free-T levels than do control women.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
National Institutes of Health Clinical Research Center.


METHODS
Women with 46,XX spontaneous premature ovarian failure (n = 130).


METHODS
Evaluation while off any estrogen therapy and then again after receiving a standardized hormone regimen. Regularly menstruating control women (n = 65) were sampled during the midfollicular phase.


METHODS
Serum total T by RIA after extraction and column chromatography, free T by equilibrium dialysis, and sex hormone-binding globulin by immunoradiometric assay.


RESULTS
While off estrogen therapy patients had a median serum free-T concentration that was statistically significantly lower than controls (2.2 vs. 3.3 pg/mL). This dropped significantly lower to 1.9 pg/mL while the patients were on physiologic transdermal E(2) therapy. This is despite the fact that sex hormone-binding globulin levels did not change. While on E(2) therapy, 13% of women (95% confidence interval, 7.9%-20.3%) had serum free-T levels below the lower limit of normal (<1.1 pg/mL).


CONCLUSIONS
As a group, young women with 46,XX spontaneous premature ovarian failure have reduced circulating free-T levels, both during an interval off of estrogen therapy and while on physiologic transdermal E(2) therapy.
Kalantaridou
Sophia N
SN
Section on Women's Health Research, Developmental Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Calis
Karim A
KA
Vanderhoof
Vien H
VH
Bakalov
Vladimir K
VK
Corrigan
Emily C
EC
Troendle
James F
JF
Nelson
Lawrence M
LM
D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X / Q000235:genetics*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006060:Gonadal Dysgenesis, Mixed / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics
D013739:Testosterone