Pregnancy: 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 havesuggested an increase in androgens in early pregnancy. In thisstudy we have compared the concentration of serum androgens,testosterone and androstenedione in early pregnancy, startingwithin the cycle of conception. We have taken the opportunityto study women with premature ovarian failure where pregnancydevelops in the virtual absence of ovarian functions. This studydemonstrates that the concentration of testosterone (0.29 ±0.04 ng/ml) and androstenedione (1.770 ± 0.136 ng/ml)in these subjects is as low as, if not lower than, non-pregnantwomen (0.39 ± 0.02 and 2.170 ± 0.025 ng/ml), significantlyincreased in normal pregnancies (1.190 ± 0.118 and 3.920± 0.297 ng/ml; P < 0.05) and even further increasedin human menopausal gonadotrophin-treated cycles (1.990 ±0.230 and 8.19 ± 0.72 ng/ml; P < 0.05). These studiesdemonstrate that the ovary is a contributor to the circulatingconcentrations of testosterone and androstenedione startingwithin the cycle of conception.