Premium
Effects of gonadal androgens and oestrogens on adrenal androgen levels
Author(s) -
Polderman Kees H.,
Gooren Louis J. G.,
Veen Eduard A.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1995.tb02611.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , testosterone (patch) , androgen , cyproterone acetate , cyproterone , hormone
Summary OBJECTIVE The physiological role of adrenal androgens In humans remains unclear. Furthermore, there are few data on the relation between sex steroids and adrenal androgen production. We have assessed the effects of sex steroid hormone administration on adrenal androgen levels, by studying a large group of transsexual patients. DESIGN A non‐randomized intervention. SETTING A university teaching hospital. PATIENTS Thirty‐one male‐to‐female and 22 female‐to‐male transsexual patients. MEASUREMENTS Plasma levels of adrenal androgens were measured in a group of male‐to‐female and female‐to‐male transsexual patients both before and during cross‐gender hormone treatment. This treatment involves administration of testosterone esters to women and of ethlnyloestradiol and cyproterone acetate to men. RESULTS High dose sex steroid administration had marked effects on adrenal androgens levels, which decreased by 27–48% in males treated with ethinyloestradiol and increased by 23–70% in females treated with testosterone. CONCLUSION We conclude that administration of high doses of testosterone and oestradiol exert opposing effects on adrenal androgen production.