Changes in Androstenedione, Dehydroepiandrosterone, Testosterone, Estradiol, and Estrone over the Menopausal Transition

Background: Previous reports have noted that dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) increases prior to the final menstrual period (FMP) and remains stable beyond the FMP. How DHEAS concentrations correspond with other sex hormones across the menopausal transition (MT) including androstenedione (A4), testosterone (T), estrone (E1), and estradiol (E2) is not known. Our objective was to examine how DHEAS, A4, T, E1, and E2 changed across the MT by White vs. African-American (AA) race/ethnicity.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal observational analysis of a subgroup of women from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation observed over 4 visits prior to and 4 visits after the FMP ( = 110 women over 9 years for 990 observations). The main outcome measures were DHEAS, A4, T, E1, and E2.

Results: Compared to the decline in E2 concentrations, androgen concentrations declined minimally over the MT. T (β 9.180, p < 0.0001) and E1 (β 11.365, p < 0.0001) were higher in Whites than in AAs, while elevations in DHEAS (β 28.80, = 0.061) and A4 (β 0.2556, = 0.052) were borderline. Log-transformed E2 was similar between Whites and AAs (β 0.0764, = 0.272). Body mass index (BMI) was not significantly associated with concentrations of androgens or E1 over time.

Conclusion: This report suggests that the declines in E2 during the 4 years before and after the FMP are accompanied by minimal changes in DHEAS, A4, T, and E1. There are modest differences between Whites and AAs and minimal differences by BMI.