Subgroup analysis for assay type was statistically significant for spontaneous POI only .
Sensitivity analyses of high- quality studies did not change the results , and result ed in a substantial decrease in heterogeneity in spontaneous POI studies .
The current meta- analysis demonstrates that total testosterone concentrations are decreased in women with spontaneous POI or iatrogenic menopause .
BACKGROUND Increasing age and post-menopausal status are associated with decreasing and rogen concentrations in females .
Women with premature loss of ovarian function , such as primary ovarian insufficiency ( POI ) or iatrogenic menopause may be at increased risk for diminished testosterone levels at a relatively young age .
Differentiation between a hypo and rogenic or normo and rogenic state in women with premature loss of ovarian function is problematic due to trueness and precision problems using various testosterone assays .
The current meta- analysis was conducted to evaluate current literature reporting serum total testosterone concentrations under these conditions , including stratification for various testosterone assays .
Testosterone deficiency in young women with 46,XX spontaneous premature ovarian failure.
OBJECTIVE To determine whether women with 46,XX spontaneous premature ovarian failure have lower serum free-T levels than do control women . DESIGN Cross-sectional . SETTING National Institutes of Health Clinical Research Center . PATIENT(S ) Women with 46,XX spontaneous premature ovarian failure ( n = 130 ) . INTERVENTION(S ) Evaluation while off any estrogen therapy and then again after receiving a st and ardized hormone regimen .  Regularly menstruating control women ( n = 65 ) were sample d during the midfollicular phase . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S ) Serum total T by RIA  after extraction and column chromatography , free T by equilibrium dialysis , and sex hormone-binding globulin by immunoradiometric assay . RESULT ( S ) While off estrogen therapy patients had a median serum free-T concentration that was statistically significantly lower than controls ( 2.2 vs. 3.3 pg/mL ) . This dropped significantly lower to 1.9 pg/mL while the patients were on physiologic transdermal E(2 ) therapy . This is despite the fact that sex hormone-binding globulin levels did not change . While on E(2 ) therapy , 13 % of women ( 95 % confidence interval , 7.9%-20.3 % ) had serum free-T levels below the lower limit of normal ( < 1.1 pg/mL ) . CONCLUSION ( S ) As a group , young women with 46,XX spontaneous premature ovarian failure have reduced circulating free-T levels , both during an interval off of estrogen therapy and while on physiologic transdermal E(2 ) therapy
Subgroup analysis for assay type was statistically significant for spontaneous POI only .
Sensitivity analyses of high- quality studies did not change the results , and result ed in a substantial decrease in heterogeneity in spontaneous POI studies .
The current meta- analysis demonstrates that total testosterone concentrations are decreased in women with spontaneous POI or iatrogenic menopause .
BACKGROUND Increasing age and post-menopausal status are associated with decreasing and rogen concentrations in females .
Women with premature loss of ovarian function , such as primary ovarian insufficiency ( POI ) or iatrogenic menopause may be at increased risk for diminished testosterone levels at a relatively young age .
Differentiation between a hypo and rogenic or normo and rogenic state in women with premature loss of ovarian function is problematic due to trueness and precision problems using various testosterone assays .
The current meta- analysis was conducted to evaluate current literature reporting serum total testosterone concentrations under these conditions , including stratification for various testosterone assays .