Fertility and Sterility
Volume 84, Issue 6 , Pages 1689-1692 , December 2005

Anatomical evidence for in utero androgen exposure in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

  • Fleur R. Cattrall, M.B.B.S.

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Fleur R. Cattrall, M.B.B.S, Monash University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash Medical Centre, 246 Clayton Rd, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia (FAX: 61-3-9376-3015).
  • ,
  • Beverley J. Vollenhoven, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.
  • ,
  • Gareth C. Weston, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.

Received 14 January 2005 ,Revised 26 May 2005 ,Accepted 26 May 2005.

References 

  1. Ecker A . Some remarks about a varying character in the hands of humans . Arch Anthropol . 1875;8:68–74
  2. Manning JT , Scutt D , Wilson J , Lewis-Jones DI . The ratio of 2nd to 4th digit length (a predictor of sperm numbers and concentrations of testosterone, luteinizing hormone oestrogen) . Hum Reprod . 1998;13:3000–3004
  3. Brown WM , Hines M , Fane BA , Breedlove SM . Masculinized finger length patterns in human males and females with congenital adrenal hyperplasia . Horm Behav . 2002;42:380–386
  4. Norman RJ . Hyperandrogenaemia and the ovary . Mol Cell Endocrinol . 2002;191:113–119
  5. Abbott DH , Dumesic DA , Franks S . Developmental origin of polycystic ovary syndrome—a hypothesis . J Endocrinol . 2002;174:1–5
  6. Garn SM , Burdi AR , Babler WJ , Stinson S . Early prenatal attainment of adult metacarpal-phalangeal rank and proportions . Am J Phys Anthropol . 1975;43:327–332
  7. Lutchmaya S , Baron-Cohen S , Raggatt P , Knickmeyer R , Manning J . 2nd to 4th digit ratios, fetal testosterone and estradiol . Early Hum Dev . 2004;77:23–28
  8. Manning JT , Bundred PE , Flanagan BF . The ratio of 2nd to 4th digit length (a proxy for transactivation activity of the androgen receptor gene?) . Med Hypotheses . 2002;59:334–336
  9. Jamison CS , Jamison PL , Meier RJ . Effect of prenatal testosterone administration on palmar dermatoglyphic intercore ridge counts of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) . Am J Phys Anthropol . 1994;94:409–419
  10. Roney JR , Whitham JC , Leoni M , Bellem A , Wielebnowski N , Maestripieri D . Relative digit lengths and testosterone levels in Guinea baboons . Horm Behav . 2004;45:285–290
  11. Barnes R , Rosenfield R , Ehrmann D , Cara J , Cuttler L , Levitsky L , et al.   Ovarian hyperandrogenism as a result of congenital adrenal virilizing disorders (evidence for perinatal masculinization of neuroendocrine function in women) . J Clin Endocrinology and Metabolism . 1994;79:1328–1333
  12. Williams TJ , Pepitone ME , Scott E , Christensen BM , Cooke AD , et al.   Finger-length ratios and sexual orientation . Nature . 2000;404:455
  13. Agrawal R , Sharma S , Bekir J , Conway G , Bailey J , Balen A , et al.   Prevalence of polycystic ovaries and polycystic ovary syndrome in lesbian women compared with heterosexual women . Fertil Steril . 2004;82:1352–1357
  14. Hall LS , Love CT . Finger-length ratios in female monozygotic twins discordant for sexual orientation . Arch Sex Behav . 2003;32:23–28
  15. Crosignani PG , Nicolosi AE . Polycystic ovarian disease (heritability and heterogeneity) . Hum Reprod Update . 2001;7:3–7
  16. Jahanfar S , Eden JA , Warren P , Seppala M , Nguyen TV . A twin study of polycystic ovary syndrome . Fertil Steril . 1995;63:478–485
  17. Dumesic DA , Abbott DH , Eisner JR , Goy RW . Prenatal exposure of female rhesus monkeys to testosterone propionate increases serum luteinizing hormone levels in adulthood . Fertil Steril . 1997;67:155–163
  18. Strauss JF , Wood JR , Christenson LK , McAllister JM . Strategies to elucidate the mechanism of excessive theca cell androgen production in PCOS . Mol Cell Endocrinol . 2002;186:183–188
  19. Goodman FR . Limb malformation and the human HOX genes . Am J Med Genet . 2002;112:256–265
  20. Manning J , Callow M , Bundred PE . Finger and toe ratios in humans and mice (implications for the aetiology of diseases influenced by HOX genes) . Med Hypotheses . 2003;60:340–343
  21. Zawadski JK , Dunaif A . Diagnostic criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome; towards a rational approach . In:  Dunaif A ,  Givens JR ,  Haseltine F editor. Polycystic ovary syndrome . Boston: Blackwell Scientific; 1992;p. 377–384
  22. The Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-sponsored PCOS consensus workshop group . Revised 2003 consensus on diagnostic criteria and long-term health risks related to polycystic ovary syndrome . Fertil Steril . 2004;81:19–25
  23. Buck J , Williams R , Hughes I , Acerini C . In-utero androgen exposure and 2nd to 4th digit length ratio, comparisons between healthy controls and females with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia . Hum Reprod . 2003;18:976–979
  24. Kimura D , Carson MW . Dermatoglyphic asymmetry (relation to sex handedness and cognitive pattern) . Person Individ Diff . 1995;19:471–478

PII: S0015-0282(05)02955-9

doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.05.061

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 84, Issue 6 , Pages 1689-1692 , December 2005