Testosterone, Blood Pressure, and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

High levels of bioavailable testosterone were associated with elevated blood pressure in PCOS.

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) exhibit a number of metabolic and hemodynamic features that place them at high risk for cardiovascular events. The degree of hyperandrogenism in PCOS varies, but this condition may play a role in the development of hypertension. To investigate the relation between serum testosterone and blood pressure levels in PCOS, researchers in Taiwan studied 151 young women (mean age, 24 ± 5) meeting at least two of the Rotterdam Consensus criteria for PCOS: clinical hyperandrogenism, hyperandrogenemia, or both; oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea; and polycystic ovaries.

BP was positively correlated with waist circumference and BMI but not with total cholesterol, estradiol, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, lute…

Reviewing Author

Marian C. Limacher, MD