title: High androgen levels protect against hypothyroidism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypothyroidism is a common disorder, appearing mainly in women although less frequently found in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The objective was to test the hypothesis that hyperandrogenism might protect against hypothyroidism.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data from three prospective follow-up studies (up to 21 years) and one register study were compared: women with PCOS (Rotterdam criteria), n = 25, women with Turner syndrome, n = 217, a random population sample of women, n = 315, and men, n = 95 (the WHO MONICA study). Findings were to be verified or rejected in all females, n = 553 716, from the same region. The proportion of hypothyroidism was calculated and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO) in serum were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hypothyroidism at >50 years of age was found in 8% of women with PCOS, 4% in men (PCOS vs. men; ns), 43% of women with Turner syndrome, irrespective of karyotype (p < 0.001 vs. PCOS), and in 17% of postmenopausal women in the population (p < 0.01 vs. PCOS). Elevated TPO were similar in PCOS and women and men in the population but higher in Turner syndrome. Hypothyroidism increased with age in all groups except PCOS women and men. In the register study, hypothyroidism was less common in women with PCOS >25 years (5.5%) than in women without PCOS (6.8%) from the same region (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypothyroidism was less frequently seen in women with PCOS and in men compared with women in the general population and among women with Turner syndrome. This was not explained by altered autoimmunity or the Y-chromosome. Androgens seem to protect against hypothyroidism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dahlgren
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Inger
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bryman
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Skane University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Berntorp
authors.affiliation: Section for Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trimpou
authors.affiliation: Institution of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilhelmsen
authors.affiliation: Section for Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Landin-Wilhelmsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase
keywords: Androgens; Turner syndrome; hypothyroidism; polycystic ovary syndrome