Symptoms in peri- and postmenopausal women in relation to testosterone concentrations: data from The Women's Health in the Lund Area (WHILA) study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate possible associations between androgen concentrations in perimenopausal women and symptoms that may be associated with low androgen concentrations in the blood.


METHODS
All women born in the period 1935-1945 and living in a defined geographic area in Sweden (n = 10 766) were invited to a screening program that included physical and laboratory examinations and a questionnaire. Three groups were identified: premenopausal women, women on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and postmenopausal women without HRT. Concentrations of testosterone, androstendione, sex hormone binding globulin and estradiol were measured. Waist-hip ratio, body mass index and free testosterone index (FTI) were calculated.


RESULTS
A total of 6908 women participated. The women on HRT had lower testosterone and FTI and were less satisfied with mood and energy (p < 0.05). Women with hot flushes had higher testosterone and FTI and women reporting coldness had lower concentrations (p < 0.05). Sexual well-being was not correlated to testosterone or FTI (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Lower testosterone concentrations were associated with lower quality of life in perimenopausal women but not to sexual well-being. There must be factors other than decrements in sex hormones that contribute to the emergence of some perimenopausal symptoms.
Gotmar
A
A
Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Hospital Linkoping.
Hammar
M
M
Fredrikson
M
M
Samsioe
G
G
Nerbrand
C
C
Lidfeldt
J
J
Spetz
A-C
AC
D000339:Affect; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D047648:Perimenopause; D017698:Postmenopause; D011788:Quality of Life; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012890:Sleep; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013546:Sweating; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol