Abstract

Prior studies suggest androgen levels decline with age in women across the reproductive years. The aims of this study were to verify this, and report on traditional androgens as well as the more recently described 11ketoandrostenedione (11KA) and 11 ketotestosterone (11KT), measured by liquid chromatography, tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) by age, menstrual cycle stage and body mass index (BMI). The Grollo-Ruzenne Young Women’s Health Study recruited a population-representative sample of Australian women aged 18-39 years (1). 745 study participants provided serum samples for measurement of estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), androstenedione (A), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 11KA and 11KT by LC-MS/MS. After excluding 143 women who were pregnant, taking sex steroids/glucocorticosteroids, or reported a physician diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (including an ultrasound), and women >35 days from their last menstrual bleed, data for 602 women were available for analysis. Cyclical variations were seen for E1, E2, T and A with mid-cycle levels [median (range)] of 291 (13.2- 1909) pmol/L, 455 (5.5-3,583) pmol/L, 0.35 (0.09-1.01) nmol/L and 2.08 (0.63-7.89) nmol/L respectively. The median (range) levels of DHEA, 11KT and 11KA, which did not vary across the menstrual cycle, were 4.91 (0.08-23.51) nmol/L, 1.27 (0.03-7.61) nmol/L and 7.94 (0.07-31.67) nmol/L respectively. 105 women (17.4%) had DHT levels below the limit of detection (0.17 nmol/L). BMI was inversely associated with 11KA. Taking into account BMI, each of T, A, DHEA, 11KT and 11KA declined with age. The percent decrease in the median values between the youngest age group (18-25 years) and the oldest age group (35-39 years) was T 25%, A 31%, DHEA 36%, 11KT 14% and 11KA 29%. The median ratios were T:11KT 0.26, A:11KA 0.23, A:T 5.95 and 11KA:11KT 6.52 with no age variation. This study confirms findings from smaller studies, that both T and DHEA decline during the reproductive years. That 11KA and 11KT also decline with age in premenopausal women, but do not vary across the menstrual cycle, are novel findings. Importantly, this study provides reference values by menstrual cycle stage and by age for each of the sex steroids measured. REF 1. Skiba M et al. ANZ J Pub Health 2019 (in press). Unless otherwise noted, all abstracts presented at ENDO are embargoed until the date and time of presentation. For oral presentations, the abstracts are embargoed until the session begins. s presented at a news conference are embargoed until the date and time of the news conference. The Endocrine Society reserves the right to lift the embargo on specific abstracts that are selected for promotion prior to or during ENDO.

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