Adrenal Androgens and the Menopausal Transition

Overview

Journal Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2011 Oct 4

PMID 21961714

Citations 12

Authors

Bill L Lasley

Sybil Crawford

Daniel S McConnell

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The concept that adrenal androgen production gradually declines with age has changed after analysis of longitudinal data from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). It is now recognized that 4 adrenal androgens rise during the menopausal transition in most women. Ethnic and individual differences in sex steroids are more apparent in circulating adrenal steroids than in either estradiol or cyclic ovarian steroid hormone profiles, particularly during the early and late perimenopause. Thus, adrenal steroid production may play a larger role in the occurrence of symptoms and the potential for healthier aging than previously recognized.

Citing Articles

DREAM On, DREAM Off: A Review of the Estrogen Paradox in Luminal A Breast Cancers.

Hugh J, Haddon L, Githaka J Biomedicines. 2024; 12(6).

PMID: 38927507 PMC: 11201522. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061300.

PPI-Induced Changes in Plasma Metabolite Levels Influence Total Hip Bone Mineral Density in a UK Cohort.

Zhang X, Adebayo A, Wang D, Raza Y, Tomlinson M, Dooley H J Bone Miner Res. 2022; 38(2):326-334.

PMID: 36458982 PMC: 10108201. DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.4754.

Sex steroids and sex steroid-binding globulin levels amongst middle-aged and elderly men and women from general population.

Aribas E, Roeters van Lennep J, de Rijke Y, Laven J, Ikram M, Peeters R Eur J Clin Invest. 2022; 52(12):e13866.

PMID: 36038500 PMC: 9787498. DOI: 10.1111/eci.13866.

Growth Hormone/Insulin Growth Factor Axis in Sex Steroid Associated Disorders and Related Cancers.

Bleach R, Sherlock M, OReilly M, McIlroy M Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021; 9:630503.

PMID: 33816477 PMC: 8012538. DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.630503.

Is menopause still evolving? Evidence from a longitudinal study of multiethnic populations and its relevance to women's health.

Chan S, Gomes A, Singh R BMC Womens Health. 2020; 20(1):74.

PMID: 32307019 PMC: 7168978. DOI: 10.1186/s12905-020-00932-8.

References

Longcope C, Franz C, Morello C, Baker R, JOHNSTON Jr C . Steroid and gonadotropin levels in women during the peri-menopausal years. Maturitas. 1986; 8(3):189-96. DOI: 10.1016/0378-5122(86)90025-3. View

Traish A, Huang Y, Min K, Kim N, Munarriz R, Goldstein I . Binding characteristics of [3H]delta(5)-androstene-3beta,17beta-diol to a nuclear protein in the rabbit vagina. Steroids. 2004; 69(1):71-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2003.10.006. View

Adams J . Estrogenic effects of 5-androstene-3 beta, 17 beta-diol at physiological concentrations and its possible implication in the etiology of breast cancer. Endocrinology. 1983; 112(2):486-91. DOI: 10.1210/endo-112-2-486. View

Santoro N, Brown J, Adel T, Skurnick J . Characterization of reproductive hormonal dynamics in the perimenopause. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1996; 81(4):1495-501. DOI: 10.1210/jcem.81.4.8636357. View

Janssen I, Powell L, Crawford S, Lasley B, Sutton-Tyrrell K . Menopause and the metabolic syndrome: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Arch Intern Med. 2008; 168(14):1568-75. PMC: 2894539. DOI: 10.1001/archinte.168.14.1568. View

Labrie F, Archer D, Bouchard C, Fortier M, Cusan L, Gomez J . Intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (Prasterone), a physiological and highly efficient treatment of vaginal atrophy. Menopause. 2009; 16(5):907-22. DOI: 10.1097/gme.0b013e31819e8e2d. View

Mamas L, Mamas E . Premature ovarian failure and dehydroepiandrosterone. Fertil Steril. 2008; 91(2):644-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.11.055. View

Davis S, Shah S, McKenzie D, Kulkarni J, Davison S, Bell R . Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels are associated with more favorable cognitive function in women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007; 93(3):801-8. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2007-2128. View

Torrens J, Sutton-Tyrrell K, Zhao X, Matthews K, Brockwell S, Sowers M . Relative androgen excess during the menopausal transition predicts incident metabolic syndrome in midlife women: study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Menopause. 2008; 16(2):257-64. PMC: 2950016. DOI: 10.1097/gme.0b013e318185e249. View

10.

Randolph Jr J, Sowers M, Gold E, Mohr B, Luborsky J, Santoro N . Reproductive hormones in the early menopausal transition: relationship to ethnicity, body size, and menopausal status. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003; 88(4):1516-22. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2002-020777. View

11.

Poortman J, Prenen J, Schwarz F, Thijssen J . Interaction of delta-5-androstene-3beta, 17beta-diol with estradiol and dihydrotestosterone receptors in human myometrial and mammary cancer tissue. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1975; 40(3):373-9. DOI: 10.1210/jcem-40-3-373. View

12.

Skurnick J, Weiss G, Goldsmith L, Santoro N, Crawford S . Longitudinal changes in hypothalamic and ovarian function in perimenopausal women with anovulatory cycles: relationship with vasomotor symptoms. Fertil Steril. 2008; 91(4):1127-34. DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.01.031. View

13.

Santoro N, Torrens J, Crawford S, Allsworth J, Finkelstein J, Gold E . Correlates of circulating androgens in mid-life women: the study of women's health across the nation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005; 90(8):4836-45. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2004-2063. View

14.

. Research on the menopause in the 1990s. Report of a WHO Scientific Group. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 1996; 866:1-107. View

15.

Sowers M, Jannausch M, Randolph J, McConnell D, Little R, Lasley B . Androgens are associated with hemostatic and inflammatory factors among women at the mid-life. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005; 90(11):6064-71. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2005-0765. View

16.

Santoro N, Lasley B, McConnell D, Allsworth J, Crawford S, Gold E . Body size and ethnicity are associated with menstrual cycle alterations in women in the early menopausal transition: The Study of Women's Health across the Nation (SWAN) Daily Hormone Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004; 89(6):2622-31. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2003-031578. View

17.

Labrie F, Martel C, Balser J . Wide distribution of the serum dehydroepiandrosterone and sex steroid levels in postmenopausal women: role of the ovary?. Menopause. 2010; 18(1):30-43. DOI: 10.1097/gme.0b013e3181e195a6. View

18.

Lasley B, Santoro N, Randolf J, Gold E, Crawford S, Weiss G . The relationship of circulating dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone, and estradiol to stages of the menopausal transition and ethnicity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002; 87(8):3760-7. DOI: 10.1210/jcem.87.8.8741. View

19.

Crawford S, Santoro N, Laughlin G, Sowers M, McConnell D, Sutton-Tyrrell K . Circulating dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations during the menopausal transition. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009; 94(8):2945-51. PMC: 2730879. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2009-0386. View

20.

Labrie F, Cusan L, Gomez J, Martel C, Berube R, Belanger P . Changes in serum DHEA and eleven of its metabolites during 12-month percutaneous administration of DHEA. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2008; 110(1-2):1-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2008.02.003. View