Chronic Cigarette Smoking Alters Circulating Sex Hormones and Neuroactive Steroids in Premenopausal Women

Abstract

Chronic cigarette smoking augments serum androgens and their 5 alpha/beta-reduced metabolites (including GABAergic substances) but suppresses the levels of estradiol in the LP and SHBG and may induce hyperandrogenism in female smokers. The female smokers had pronouncedly increased serum progestogens but paradoxically suppressed levels of their GABA-ergic metabolites.

Further investigation is needed concerning these effects.

Keywords

• Smoking
• Menstrual cycle
• Luteal phase
• Follicular phase
• Sex hormones
• Neuroactive steroids
• in-vitro fertilization
• postmenopausal women
• free testosterone
• menstrual-cycle
• serum
• ovarian
• smokers
• 17-alpha-hydroxypregnenolone
• nonsmokers
• reactivity