Menopausal Transition Stage-specific Changes in Circulating Adrenal Androgens

Overview

Journal Menopause

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2012 Mar 15

PMID 22415570

Citations 14

Authors

Daniel S McConnell

Frank Z Stanczyk

MaryFran R Sowers

John F Randolph Jr

Bill L Lasley

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: It is now recognized that mean circulating dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) concentrations in most midlife women exhibit a positive inflection starting in early perimenopause, continuing through early postmenopause and returning to early perimenopausal levels by late postmenopause. This rise in mean DHEAS is accompanied by concomitant rises in testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosteone (DHEA), and androstenedione (Adione) and an equal rise in androstenediol (Adiol). These observations suggest that there is a specific relationship between the circulating levels of steroids emanating from the adrenal glands, declining ovarian function, and the stages of the menopausal transition. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the menopausal stage-specific change in circulating DHEAS is associated with concomitant changes in the circulating pattern of adrenal steroids and that some of these adrenal androgens could influence the circulating estrogen/androgen balance.

Methods: Stored annual serum samples (N = 120) were first selected to represent four longitudinal DHEAS profiles of individual women to assess and compare changes in the adrenal contribution to circulating steroids.

Results: Changes in mean circulating DHEAS levels in midlife women during the menopausal transition is associated with changes in mean circulating T, Adione, and Adiol. Mean Adione and T concentrations changed the least, whereas mean DHEAS and Adiol changed the most.

Conclusions: Changes in circulating steroid hormone emanating from the adrenal during the menopausal transition may be more important than the decline in ovarian function in terms of altering the estrogen/androgen balance.

Citing Articles

Dehydroepiandrosterone and Bone Health: Mechanisms and Insights.

Mohamad N, Razali N, Shamsuddin N Biomedicines. 2025; 12(12.

PMID: 39767687 PMC: 11673555. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12122780.

The association between abuse history in childhood and salivary rhythms of cortisol and DHEA in postmenopausal women.

Orta O, Huang T, Kubzansky L, Terry K, Coull B, Williams M Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2019; 112:104515.

PMID: 31784054 PMC: 6935398. DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.104515.

Symptoms of menopause - global prevalence, physiology and implications.

Monteleone P, Mascagni G, Giannini A, Genazzani A, Simoncini T Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2018; 14(4):199-215.

PMID: 29393299 DOI: 10.1038/nrendo.2017.180.

Changes in androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone, estradiol, and estrone over the menopausal transition.

Kim C, Harlow S, Zheng H, McConnell D, Randolph Jr J Womens Midlife Health. 2018; 3.

PMID: 29333273 PMC: 5761074. DOI: 10.1186/s40695-017-0028-4.

Naturally Occurring Changes in Estradiol Concentrations in the Menopause Transition Predict Morning Cortisol and Negative Mood in Perimenopausal Depression.

Gordon J, Eisenlohr-Moul T, Rubinow D, Schrubbe L, Girdler S Clin Psychol Sci. 2016; 4(5):919-935.

PMID: 27867758 PMC: 5113718. DOI: 10.1177/2167702616647924.

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