[Comparison of the pituitary-gonadal functions in men and women].

Changes in the levels of several plasma hormones were studied endocrinologically in healthy men and women. A marked decrease in estradiol at age 50 followed by a gradual decline with increasing age was observed in women. Much higher estradiol levels were found in women before age 50. Progesterone levels were quite low after age 40 in both sexes. Testosterone levels were significantly higher in men than in women. In men, however, the levels showed a tendency to decrease after age 75 and those in women demonstrated a significant decrease after age 50. A gradual increase in FSH after age 45 and LH after 60 was found in men, while a striking increase in both was noticed in women at age 50. Higher prolactin levels were observed in men after age 65, but there was no difference according to sex. No changes in the levels of TSH either with increasing age or according to sex were observed. Although similar degrees of pituitary responsiveness to LH.RH test over adult to senile periods were revealed, a somewhat delayed response was seen in men after age 60.