title: Effect of testosterone therapy on the female voice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This prospective study was designed to investigate the effect of testosterone, delivered by subcutaneous implants, on the female voice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten women who had opted for testosterone therapy were recruited for voice analysis. Voices were recorded prior to treatment and at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months while on testosterone therapy. Acoustic samples were collected with subjects reading a sentence, reading a paragraph, and participating in a conversation. Significant changes in the voice over time were investigated using a repeated-measures analysis of variance with the fundamental frequency (F0) as a response variable. Demographic variables associated with characteristics of the voice were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in average F0 related to smoking history, menopausal status, weight, or body mass index. There was no difference in average fundamental speaking frequency (sentence, paragraph, conversation) between the pre-treatment group and any post-treatment group at 3 and 12 months. There was an increase in sentence speech F0 at 6 months. Two of three patients with lower than expected F0 at baseline improved on testosterone therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therapeutic levels of testosterone, delivered by subcutaneous implant, had no adverse affect on the female voice including lowering or deepening of the voice.
authors: a Millennium Wellness Center, Dayton and Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine , Department of Surgery , Dayton , Ohio , USA ;
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Glaser
authors: b York Data Analysis , Seattle , WA , USA ;
authors: A
authors: A
authors: York
authors: c 1st Department of Ob-Gyn , Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece and National Institutes of Health, NICHD , Bethesda , MD , USA.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Dimitrakakis
mesh_terms: D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014831:Voice / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Testosterone; aging; fundamental frequency; implant; menopause; voice; women