Hypoandrogenism in association with diminished functional ovarian reserve

STUDY QUESTION Is diminished functional ovarian reserve (DFOR) associated with low androgen levels? SUMMARY ANSWER Low androgen levels are associated with DFOR at all ages. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Androgen supplementation via dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been reported to improve functional ovarian reserve (FOR); pregnancy rates in IVF cycles are associated with how well DHEA converts to testosterone (T); and androgen effects through the androgen receptor have been demonstrated in mice to beneficially affect early stages of follicle maturation. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION In a controlled cohort study we investigated consecutive women presenting to our center with two forms of DFOR, premature ovarian aging/occult primary ovarian insufficiency (POA/OPOI) and physiologic diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). As controls for POA/OPOI patients, infertile women with normal age-specific FOR were recruited. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTINGS, METHODS The study involved 140 women with POA/OPOI, defined as age 40 years. Forty-nine control patients