Menstrual cycle irregularities are associated with testosterone levels in healthy premenopausal women

Abstract

High androgen levels have been associated with menstrual irregularities in clinical populations, but not in healthy women. We examined the association between testosterone and menstrual irregularities in a nonclinical population of 194 healthy premenopausal women, none of whom reported chronic health conditions. Women provided saliva samples for assay of salivary testosterone, and responded to questions about length of menstrual cycles, variability in menses, and retrospective history of menstrual irregularity. Results showed significant correlations between testosterone and menstrual irregularities, even when women with the most irregular cycles were excluded from analyses. This pattern was also apparent for a subgroup of 27 women using hormonal contraceptives. Based on our findings, it appears that even in healthy women reporting no health concerns, menstrual irregularities are associated with higher levels of circulating androgens.