Androgen parameters in hirsute women: correlations with body mass index and age.

The recent work was designed for studying the effects of body mass index (BMI) and age on serum hormone values in hirsute women of reproductive years with nontumorous hyperandrogenism. Two hundred patients were studied in the follicular phase of the cycle. The serum levels of testosterone (T), androstenedione (A), or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) were not associated with BMI, whereas the T/sex hormone-binding globulin (T/SHBG) ratio was significantly correlated with BMI independently of the effect of age. All serum androgens were significantly negatively correlated with age, and the serum levels were significantly lower in women older than 41 years when compared with women aged 25 years or less. After correcting for the effect of BMI, there was also a negative correlation between the T/SHBG ratio and age. The correlations between serum androgen parameters were calculated. We conclude that already in reproductive years, the age of the patient has modulating effects on serum androgens, and it should be taken into account when studying the hormone profile of hirsute women.