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Cited by 125Doping in SportsSexual Differentiation and DisordersHormonal and reproductive studies

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 32 of the 32 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Serum Androgen Levels in Elite Female Athletes

Bermon, Stéphane, Garnier, Pierre Yves, Hirschberg, Angelica Lindén, Robinson, Neil, Giraud, Sylvain, Nicoli, Raul, Baume, Norbert, Saugy, Martial, Fénichel, Patrick, Bruce, Stephen J., Henry, Hugues, Dollé, Gabriel, Ritzen, Martin·2014·The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
DOI 10.1210/jc.2014-1391
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Abstract

Objective: Prior to the implementation of the blood steroidal module of the Athlete Biological Passport, we measured the serum androgen levels among a large population of high-level female athletes as well as the prevalence of biochemical hyperandrogenism and some disorders of sex development (DSD). Methods and Results: In 849 elite female athletes, serum T, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, androstenedione, SHBG, and gonadotrophins were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry high resolution or immunoassay. Free T was calculated. The sampling hour, age, and type of athletic event only had a small influence on T concentration, whereas ethnicity had not. Among the 85.5% that did not use oral contraceptives, 168 of 717 athletes were oligo- or amenorrhoic. The oral contraceptive users showed the lowest serum androgen and gonadotrophin and the highest SHBG concentrations. After having removed five doped athletes and five DSD women from our population, median T and free T values were close to those reported in sedentary young women. The 99th percentile for T concentration was calculated at 3.08 nmol/L, which is below the 10 nmol/L threshold used for competition eligibility of hyperandrogenic women with normal androgen sensitivity. Prevalence of hyperandrogenic 46 XY DSD in our athletic population is approximately 7 per 1000, which is 140 times higher than expected in the general population. Conclusion: This is the first study to establish normative serum androgens values in elite female athletes, while taking into account the possible influence of menstrual status, oral contraceptive use, type of athletic event, and ethnicity. These findings should help to develop the blood steroidal module of the Athlete Biological Passport and to refine more evidence-based fair policies and recommendations concerning hyperandrogenism in female athletes.

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Metadata

Authors
Bermon, S., Garnier, P. Y., Hirschberg, A. L., Robinson, N., Giraud, S., Nicoli, R., Baume, N., Saugy, M., Fénichel, P., Bruce, S. J., Henry, H., Dollé, G., & Ritzen, M.
Affiliations
  • Laboratoire Motricité Humaine Éducation Sport Santé (FR)
  • International Association of Athletics Federations Medical and Anti-Doping Department and Commission (S.B., P.Y.G., M.S., G.D.), 98000 Monaco
  • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CH)
  • Inserm (FR)
  • Karolinska University Hospital (SE)
Corresponding author
Bermon, Stéphane
ORCID
Venue
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Publisher
The Endocrine Society
Published
2014-11-01
Volume
99
Issue
11
Pages
4328-4335
ISSN
  • 0021-972X (ISSN-L)
  • 1945-7197
DOI
10.1210/jc.2014-1391
OpenAlex
W2113140165
Cited by
125
References
32
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 1
FWCI
32.59
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • IRIS (submittedVersion)
  • SERVAL (Université de Lausanne) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • World Anti-Doping Agency
  • Korea Institute of Science and Technology
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Doping in Sports
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
Keywords
serum androgens, female athletes, hyperandrogenism, 46,XX disorders of sex development, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, sex hormone-binding globulin, gonadotropins, oral contraceptives, amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, Athlete Biological Passport, doping detection, reference values
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Androstenedione, Female, Humans, Menstrual Cycle, Middle Aged, Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin, Testosterone, Prevalence, Hyperandrogenism, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate, Young Adult, Athletes

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