Serum androgens in infertile women with ovulatory dysfunction

In the infertility work-up of 98 couples, ovulatory disturbances were detected in 28 women on the basis of low progesterone values and endometrial biopsy. Of these, six were anovulatory, eight oligo-ovulatory and 14 had luteal deficiency. Their androgen status was studied by determination of androstenedione (A), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S), testosterone (T), free testosterone (free T) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). The mean level of free T was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) in anovulatory women when compared with ovulatory ones. No differences were found in the mean levels of total T, SHBG and DHEA-S between anovulatory, oligo-ovulatory, luteal deficient and ovulatory infertile women. The results show that in infertile women determination of androgen levels, and especially free T, is indicated in the absence of clinical signs of hyperandrogenism.