Changes in androgen profile over the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive phases in physically active females.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Concentrations of female sex hormones fluctuate during the menstrual cycle (MC), while hormonal contraceptives (HC) generally suppress hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis function resulting in lower concentrations of endogenous estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4). Little attention has been paid to changes in androgen concentrations during MC and HC phases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate changes in androgen concentrations over the MC and HC phases.

Methods

The study was a cross-sectional analysis across MC and HC phases using four time points. E2, P4, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), total testosterone (tT), free testosterone (fT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (

SUBMITTER: Salmi VM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12918223 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature