Serum levels of testosterone, dehydroupiandrosterone sulfate, luteinizing hormone and follicular stimulus hormones in offspring of women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Faezeh Tadayyonfar,1,* Saeedeh ziaei,2

1. Tarbiat Modares University
2. Tarbiat Modares University

Abstract

Introduction

Polycystic ovary syndrome(pcos) is one of the most common endocrine diseases among women during their fertility years . its prevalence is reported 5-10% in different studies. currently , the underlying reason of the disease is not fully understood. but many studies have shown that the polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with genetic and environmental factors. for instance, intrauterine life may affect the metabolic and endocrine function of a child born from a pcos mother as an environmental factor which is independent of genetic inheritance and gender. the aim of this study was to evaluate serum levels of hormones produced by endocrine glands such as ovary, adrenal, pituitary and testicles in offspring of pcos women.

Methods

This is a systematic review article. after searching in databases like proquest ، scopus, science direct , pubmed and google scholar with key words such as (androgen, ovarian function, polycystic ovary syndrome), ten full-text papers published in 2008-2012 were found. all of them were case-control type studies. in mentioned studies, serum lh, fsh, and estradiol levels were determined by electrochemiluminescence (roche,basel,switzerland). serum testosterone (diagnostic system laboratories, webster, tx), androstenedione (diagnostic system laboratories), 17-ohp (diagnostic products corp., los angeles, ca), and dheas (diagnostic products corp. la, usa) were assessed by ria and prolactin was assessed by elisa (diagnostic system laboratories). in post-menarche girls the study was conducted in specific days-during the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle (days 3–7), while there was no time limitation for this measurements in the rest of the individuals. at last, data were collected and findings were summarized.

Results

According to the studies on children (girls and boys from pcos mothers) in the neonatal period, the mean free testosterone level in the case group was significantly higher than the control group. and more specifically in boys, the levels of gonadotropin and sex steroids were similar between the case and control groups in the three stages: infancy, childhood, and adolescents. however, in girls , the levels of umbilical cord blood androstenidium and estradiol were significantly lower than that of the control group during their infancy , but there was no difference between the groups in terms of 17-hydroxyprogesterone and other androgens. in pre-puberty period of the case group, only the base level of dheas was significantly higher than the control group. in adolescence, the basal levels of lh, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone and lh to fsh in the case group were higher than in the control group.

Conclusion

Although the results of this review study suggest that children from pcos women are exposed at great risk of metabolic disorders and fertility in the next years of their lives , further studies are needed to confirm the clinical impact of these findings.

Keywords

Polycystic ovary syndrome , ovarian function , androgen