Androgens and poor responders: are we ready to take the plunge into clinical therapy?
OBJECTIVE
To review and summarize data from the scientific literature on the use of androgens to improve ovarian function.


METHODS
Review of pertinent literature.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Women exposed to androgens.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Critical review of the literature.


RESULTS
The artificial increase of intra-ovarian androgen concentrations constitutes an attractive concept for improving the deficient ovarian function of poor responders. Data from studies conducted in animals treated with high-dose androgens, together with observations made in hyperandrogenic women or female-to-male transsexuals receiving virilizing androgen doses, indicate that androgens may increase follicle responsiveness to FSH and/or the number of growing follicles in the ovary. Yet, definite clinical demonstration of such a concept still is not available.


CONCLUSIONS
Current clinical approaches aiming at increasing androgen availability in the ovary showed conflicting results. Therefore, additional studies using proper strategies to achieving higher intra-ovarian androgen concentrations for longer intervals are required to define the clinical efficiency of androgens in poor responders.
Center of Reproductive Medicine and Biology, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, University Paris-Sud, and INSERM, U782, Clamart. renato.fanchin@abc.aphp.fr
Renato
R
Fanchin
Nelly
N
Frydman
Marc
M
Even
Ana Luisa
AL
Berwanger da Silva
Michaël
M
Grynberg
Jean-Marc
JM
Ayoubi
D000728:Androgens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007246:Infertility / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D057829:Gender-Affirming Procedures; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014770:Virilism / Q000503:physiopathology
D000728:Androgens; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female