Maternal testosterone and fetal growth restriction


Eur J Endocrinol. 2006 Aug;155(2):365-70.

Maternal testosterone levels during pregnancy are associated with offspring
size at birth.Carlsen SM, Jacobsen G, Romundstad P.
Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of
Science and Technology, N-7489 Trondheim, Norway

OBJECTIVE: Animal studies have indicated that maternal androgen levels
influence the intrauterine environment and development of the offspring.
Human data are missing. We therefore investigated the possible association
between maternal androgens and offspring size at birth in humans. DESIGN: A
random sample of parous Caucasian women (n = 147) was followed
prospectively through pregnancy. METHODS: Maternal serum levels of
dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), androstenedione, testosterone and
sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were measured at gestational weeks 17
and 33. The main outcome measures were weight and length at birth.
Associations between maternal androgen levels and offspring birth weight
and length were investigated using multiple linear regression modeling
adjusted for potential confounding by maternal height, pre-pregnancy body
mass index, smoking, parity, offspring gender and gestational age at birth.
RESULTS: Elevated maternal testosterone levels at week 17 and 33 were both
associated with lower birth weights and lengths. Accordingly, at week 17,
an increase in maternal testosterone levels from the 25th to the 75th
percentile was associated with a decrease in birth weight by 160 g (95%
confidence interval (CI); 29-290 g), while at week 33 that estimate was 115
g (95% CI; 21-207 g). No similar associations were observed for DHEAS,
androstenedione or SHBG. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated maternal testosterone levels
during human pregnancy are associated with growth restriction in utero. Our
results support animal studies, which have indicated that maternal androgen
levels influence intrauterine offspring environment and development.


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