title: Adrenal androgens and the menopausal transition.
abstract: The concept that adrenal androgen production gradually declines with age has changed after analysis of longitudinal data from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). It is now recognized that 4 adrenal androgens rise during the menopausal transition in most women. Ethnic and individual differences in sex steroids are more apparent in circulating adrenal steroids than in either estradiol or cyclic ovarian steroid hormone profiles, particularly during the early and late perimenopause. Thus, adrenal steroid production may play a larger role in the occurrence of symptoms and the potential for healthier aging than previously recognized.
authors.affiliation: Center for Population Health and the Environment, University of California at Davis, CA 95616, USA. bllasley@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Bill L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Lasley
authors.forename: Sybil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: McConnell
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D015114:Androstenediol / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D047648:Perimenopause / Q000097:blood*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D015114:Androstenediol