CONTEXT: Little is known about testosterone (T) levels and their determinants in women of late postmenopausal age. OBJECTIVE: We describe levels of total and free T and selected factors that influence these levels in a random sample of older women. DESIGN: Levels of serum total T and free T by microdialysis were measured using ultrasensitive assays in 347 community-dwelling women aged 65-98 yr enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Cross-sectional analyses were performed to define factors associated with total and free T levels. RESULTS: In adjusted models: 1) total T levels declined with age until 80, whereas free T levels did not vary by age; 2) women with bilateral oophorectomy had 23% lower total T and 16% lower free T levels than those with at least one intact ovary; 3) oral estrogen users had total and free T levels that were 47% lower than never users; 4) obese women had 47% higher total T and 20% higher free T levels, and overweight women had 24% higher total T and 14% higher free T levels, than normal weight women; and 5) free T levels were 51% higher in black women. Corticosteroid users had 75% lower total T and 43% lower free T levels than nonusers. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral oophorectomy, estrogen use, corticosteroid use, and low body mass index are independent risk factors for lower T levels in women aged 65 yr and over. Although highly prevalent in women of this age, the physiological significance of low T levels in late postmenopausal women requires further investigation.
CONTEXT: Little is known about testosterone (T) levels and their determinants in women of late postmenopausal age. OBJECTIVE: We describe levels of total and free T and selected factors that influence these levels in a random sample of older women. DESIGN: Levels of serum total T and free T by microdialysis were measured using ultrasensitive assays in 347 community-dwelling women aged 65-98 yr enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Cross-sectional analyses were performed to define factors associated with total and free T levels. RESULTS: In adjusted models: 1) total T levels declined with age until 80, whereas free T levels did not vary by age; 2) women with bilateral oophorectomy had 23% lower total T and 16% lower free T levels than those with at least one intact ovary; 3) oral estrogen users had total and free T levels that were 47% lower than never users; 4) obesewomen had 47% higher total T and 20% higher free T levels, and overweight women had 24% higher total T and 14% higher free T levels, than normal weight women; and 5) free T levels were 51% higher in black women. Corticosteroid users had 75% lower total T and 43% lower free T levels than nonusers. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral oophorectomy, estrogen use, corticosteroid use, and low body mass index are independent risk factors for lower T levels in women aged 65 yr and over. Although highly prevalent in women of this age, the physiological significance of low T levels in late postmenopausal women requires further investigation.
Authors: Vei Mah; Diana Marquez; Mohammad Alavi; Erin L Maresh; Li Zhang; Nam Yoon; Steve Horvath; Lora Bagryanova; Michael C Fishbein; David Chia; Richard Pietras; Lee Goodglick Journal: Lung Cancer Date: 2011-04-20 Impact factor: 5.705
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
Authors: Chevon M Rariy; Sarah J Ratcliffe; Rachel Weinstein; Shalender Bhasin; Marc R Blackman; Jane A Cauley; John Robbins; Joseph M Zmuda; Tamara B Harris; Anne R Cappola Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2011-02-02 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Rakibul M Islam; Robin J Bell; David J Handelsman; Penelope J Robinson; Rory Wolfe; Susan R Davis Journal: Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) Date: 2021-01-02 Impact factor: 3.478
Authors: Angela Davio; Helen Woolcock; Aya T Nanba; Juilee Rege; Patrick O'Day; Jianwei Ren; Lili Zhao; Hiroki Ebina; Richard Auchus; William E Rainey; Adina F Turcu Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2020-08-01 Impact factor: 5.958