Age-Specific Reference Ranges for Serum Testosterone and Androstenedione Concentrations in Women Measured by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: RIA-based sex hormone measurements offer only limited precision and specificity in the low concentration range of women. Therefore, we aimed to establish age-specific reference ranges for serum sex hormone concentrations in women using mass spectrometry and quantile regression. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from 985 women aged 20-80 yr, recruited for the prospective Study of Health in Pomerania, were included in the analyses. Quantile regressions models were performed to calculate the age-specific 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles for sex hormone concentrations in women. Serum total testosterone (TT) and androstenedione (AD) concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Measured concentrations of SHBG and TT were used to calculate free testosterone (free T). TT, AD, and free T concentrations showed a distinct age-related decline across 10-yr age groups (one way ANOVA P < 0.001). Sex hormone reference ranges for TT, AD, and free T were determined across each single year of age and for 10-yr age groups. Reference ranges over the whole age range of 20-80 yr were 0.35-1.97 nmol/liter for TT, 0.89-4.56 nmol/liter for AD, and 0.0025-0.0253 nmol/liter for free T. Separate reference ranges were provided for pre- and postmenopausal women as well as after inclusion of women using oral contraceptives or hormone therapy (n = 1357). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to establish age-specific reference ranges for liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-measured TT and AD and calculated free T concentrations based on quantile regression analyses, accurately accounting for the observed low concentration range and the strong age dependency of these sex hormones in women.
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Testosterone concentrations decline during the reproductive years.
“Testosterone concentrations decline during the reproductive years 3,4 (Level IIB).”
From Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women (2019) · cites this paper as [4]
In both men and women, ageing leads to decreases in C19 steroid production.
“In both men and women, ageing leads to decreases in C19 steroid production (Damgaard-Olesen et al., 2016, Haring et al., 2012, Trabert et al., 2016).”
From Intracrine androgen biosynthesis, metabolism and action revisited (2018) · cites this paper as Haring et al., 2012
Free T concentrations usually range around 1-2% of total T and are also age-dependent in women and men.
“Free T concentrations usually range around 1–2% of total T and are also age-dependent in women (Haring et al., 2012) and men (Camacho et al., 2013, Damgaard-Olesen et al., 2016).”
From Intracrine androgen biosynthesis, metabolism and action revisited (2018) · cites this paper as Haring et al., 2012
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References 43 · Cited by 185
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Koenker R 2005 Quantile regression. New York: Cambridge Uni- versity Press
- Authors
- Haring, R., Hannemann, A., John, U., Radke, D., Nauck, M., Wallaschofski, H., Owen, L., Adaway, J., Keevil, B. G., & Brabant, G.
- Affiliations
- Universitätsmedizin Greifswald (DE)
- Universität Greifswald (DE)
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Haring, Robin
- ORCID
- Venue
- The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
- Publisher
- The Endocrine Society
- Published
- 2012-02
- Volume
- 97
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 408-415
- ISSN
- 0021-972X (ISSN-L)
- 1945-7197
- OpenAlex
- W2071471986
- Cited by
- 185
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 10.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (ZZ9603)
- Universität Greifswald
- Ministry of Cultural Affairs
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Clinical Laboratory Practices and Quality Control
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Ovarian function and disorders
- Keywords
- age-specific reference ranges, serum testosterone, androstenedione, free testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, women, menopause, oral contraceptives, hormone therapy, age-related decline, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Androstenedione, Chromatography, Liquid, Diagnostic Techniques, Endocrine, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Osmolar Concentration, Reference Values, Sensitivity and Specificity, Testosterone, Age Distribution, Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Young Adult
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