title: Sonographic markers of ovarian morphology, but not hirsutism indices, predict serum total testosterone in women with regular menstrual cycles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether sonographic markers of ovarian morphology or male pattern hair growth scores predict androgen levels in women with regular or irregular menstrual cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical research unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six women of reproductive age (18-39 years) were evaluated for male-pattern hair growth (using a modified Ferriman-Gallwey scoring system), ovarian morphology (by transvaginal ultrasonography), and total serum testosterone (T) (by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Regional and total modified Ferriman-Gallwey scores, number of follicles per follicle size category, follicle number per ovary, ovarian volume, ovarian area, stromal to ovarian area ratio, stromal echogenicity index, total testosterone (total T), and menstrual cycle length.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither regional nor total modified Ferriman-Gallwey scores correlated with total T concentrations in women with regular or irregular menstrual cycles, as judged by the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator technique. By contrast, a sonographic marker (follicle number per ovary 6-9 mm) significantly predicted total T concentrations in women with regular menstrual cycles but not in women with irregular menstrual cycles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sonographic markers of ovarian morphology, but not hirsutism scores, predicted total T levels. However, the predictive value of ovarian morphology for total T differed by menstrual cycle status. That sonographic markers did not predict androgen levels in a diverse cohort of women with cycle irregularity suggests the potential for distinct variations in ovarian morphology for androgenic and nonandrogenic types of cycle irregularity. Overall, our findings support that an assessment of ovarian morphology may be helpful in reflecting total T levels.
authors.affiliation: Human Metabolic Research Unit, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vanden Brink
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
authors.forename: Amy D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.affiliation: Human Metabolic Research Unit, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
authors.forename: Brittany Y
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Jarrett
authors.affiliation: Human Metabolic Research Unit, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
authors.forename: Annie W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Human Metabolic Research Unit, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soler
authors.affiliation: Human Metabolic Research Unit, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
authors.forename: Siân
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Best
authors.affiliation: Human Metabolic Research Unit, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
authors.forename: Erica L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.affiliation: Human Metabolic Research Unit, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
authors.forename: Andrew K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Peppin
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hoeger
authors.affiliation: Human Metabolic Research Unit, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. Electronic address: MEL245@cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Marla E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lujan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood*; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010053:Ovary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Hirsutism; oligoamenorrhea; ovaries; testosterone; ultrasonography