URINARY EXCRETION OF TESTOSTERONE AND EPITESTOSTERONE IN HIRSUTISM

Abstract

ABSTRACT The urinary excretion of testosterone and epi testosterone has been studied in 11 normal and 31 hirsute subjects. The mean testosterone excretion (μg/24 hours) in normal males was 67.3 (range 36.8–133.2), in normal females 11.2 (range 4.5–16.0), in hirsute females with regular menses 20.7 (range 2.5-82.5), in hirsute females with irregular menses 34.6 (range 17.1-92.8), and in hirsute females with virilization 56.7 (range 26.8–98.5). The mean epi testosterone excretion (μg/24 hours) in normal males was 28.1 (range 18.5–47.4), in normal females 8.0 (range 5.9–10.9), in hirsute females with regular menses 15.6 (range 5.1–34.7), in hirsute females with irregular menses 23.0 (range 9.9–37.8) and in hirsute females with virilization 26.7 (range 12.0–45.9). In most cases of hirsutism there was a raised urinary excretion of testosterone and epi testosterone, the exception being a small number of hirsute women with regular menses. Epi testosterone excretion unlike that of testosterone showed no correlation with virilization