Urinary reproductive hormone level differences between African American and Caucasian women of reproductive age

Abstract

Objective: To compare urinary levels of reproductive hormones in African American and Caucasian women.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Ten United States Air Force (USAF) bases.

Patient(s): African American (n = 33) and Caucasian (n = 65) women of reproductive age from a larger study of USAF women (n = 170).

Intervention(s): None.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Urinary endocrine end points: follicular luteinizing hormone (LH), preovulatory LH, level of LH surge peak, early follicular follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), follicular LH:FSH ratio, midluteal FSH, FSH rise before menses, early follicular estrone 3-glucuronide (E₁3G), midfollicular E₁3G, periovulatory E₁3G peak, midluteal E₁3G, early follicular pregnanediol 3-glucuronide (Pd3G), follicular Pd3G, rate of periovulatory Pd3G increase, E₁3G:Pd3G on the day of luteal transition, slope of E₁3G:Pd3G, and midluteal Pd3G.

Result(s): Relative to Caucasians, African American women had significantly lower follicular phase LH:FSH ratios (mean ± SD: 0.7 ± 0.4 vs. 1.0 ± 0.6), lower follicular phase Pd3G levels (1.0 ± 0.5 vs. 1.2 ± 0.8 μg/mg creatinine), and lower rates of periovulatory Pd3G increase (0.5 ± 0.7 vs. 1.0 ± 1.2 μg/mg creatinine).

Conclusion(s): Findings of this analysis should be considered preliminary evidence of racial differences in hormone levels. Future studies are needed to determine whether these differences have clinical significance.