TESTOSTERONE AND ANDROSTENEDIONE IN PREMATURE OVARIAN FAILURE PREGNANCIES - EVIDENCE FOR AN OVARIAN SOURCE OF ANDROGENS IN EARLY-PREGNANCY

Numerous anecdotal reports but few scientific approaches have suggeste d an increase in androgens in early pregnancy, In this study we have c ompared the concentration of serum androgens, testosterone and androst enedione in early pregnancy, starting within the cycle of conception. We have taken the opportunity to study women with premature ovarian fa ilure where pregnancy develops in the virtual absence of ovarian funct ions, This study demonstrates that the concentration of testosterone ( 0.29 +/- 0.04 ng/ml) and androstenedione (1.770 +/- 0.136 ng/ml) in th ese subjects is as low as, if not lower than, non-pregnant women (0.39 +/- 0.02 and 2.170 +/- 0.025 ng/ml), significantly increased in norma l pregnancies (1.190 +/- 0.118 and 3.920 +/- 0,297 ng/ml; P < 0.05) an d even further increased in human menopausal gonadotrophin-treated cyc les (1.990 +/- 0.230 and 8.19 +/- 0.72 ng/ml; P ( 0.05), These studies demonstrate that the ovary is a contributor to the circulating concen trations of testosterone and androstenedione starting within the cycle of conception.