André T Guay1. 1. Center For Sexual Function, Lahey Clinic Northshore, Peabody, Massachusetts 01960, USA. andre.t.guay@lahey.org
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To appreciate the problems in obtaining and interpreting androgen levels in women. DESIGN: Review of the literature to compare various laboratories and methods of analysis of serum androgens. PATIENT(S): Normal control populations culled from the literature to compare with patients previously reported on by us; data from our laboratory quality control compared with data from the literature. RESULT(S): Investigators and laboratories disagree as to the best methods of measuring testosterone (T) levels in women. Measuring DHEAS levels is much less controversial. CONCLUSION(S): Serum T levels should be measured in the morning hours and during the middle third of the menstrual cycle in premenopausal women. DHEAS levels may be measured at any time. Androgens decrease with age, but age-related levels are not accurate because current control populations have never been screened for sexual dysfunction. Such control populations need to be obtained.
OBJECTIVE: To appreciate the problems in obtaining and interpreting androgen levels in women. DESIGN: Review of the literature to compare various laboratories and methods of analysis of serum androgens. PATIENT(S): Normal control populations culled from the literature to compare with patients previously reported on by us; data from our laboratory quality control compared with data from the literature. RESULT(S): Investigators and laboratories disagree as to the best methods of measuring testosterone (T) levels in women. Measuring DHEAS levels is much less controversial. CONCLUSION(S): Serum T levels should be measured in the morning hours and during the middle third of the menstrual cycle in premenopausal women. DHEAS levels may be measured at any time. Androgens decrease with age, but age-related levels are not accurate because current control populations have never been screened for sexual dysfunction. Such control populations need to be obtained.
Authors: Micol S Rothman; Nichole E Carlson; Mei Xu; Christina Wang; Ronald Swerdloff; Paul Lee; Victor H H Goh; E Chester Ridgway; Margaret E Wierman Journal: Steroids Date: 2010-11-09 Impact factor: 2.668