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Higher free testosterone in the third trimester was associated with lower abdominal circumference at birth in boys:

Camilla V B Palm1,2, Anja F Dreyer1,2, Henriette Boye3,4

  • 1Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.

BJOG : an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
|July 14, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Higher maternal free testosterone (FT) levels were linked to smaller birth size in baby boys, including reduced birth weight, length, and abdominal circumference. Girls showed no such susceptibility to maternal testosterone exposure.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Endocrinology
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Pediatric Endocrinology

Background:

  • Maternal hormones significantly influence fetal development.
  • Testosterone, a key androgen, plays a role in sexual differentiation and growth.
  • Understanding the impact of maternal testosterone on offspring anthropometrics is crucial for prenatal health assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal testosterone levels during pregnancy and various birth anthropometrics in offspring.
  • To determine if these associations differ based on offspring sex.
  • To explore the relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and offspring birth anthropometrics.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based prospective cohort study involving 1486 mother-child dyads from the Odense Child Cohort.
  • Maternal blood samples were collected between gestational weeks 27-30.
  • Free testosterone (FT) and total testosterone (TT) were measured, and associations with birth weight, length, and circumferences were analyzed using multiple linear regression, stratified by offspring sex and adjusted for confounders.

Main Results:

  • In male infants, higher maternal FT was significantly associated with lower birth weight, shorter birth length, and smaller abdominal circumference.
  • Higher maternal TT was associated with smaller abdominal circumference in male infants.
  • No significant associations were found between maternal FT or TT levels and anthropometric measures in female infants.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated maternal free testosterone during pregnancy is associated with reduced anthropometric measurements in male newborns.
  • Female infants do not appear to be susceptible to the effects of maternal testosterone levels on birth anthropometrics.
  • These findings highlight a potential sex-specific impact of maternal androgen exposure on fetal growth.
Abstract

Keywords:
endocrinologyepidemiologyfetal medicinefetal physiologymedical disorders in pregnancyneonatalpaediatricsperinatalpolycystic ovary syndromereproductive science

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