Table 2.
Mean (SD) age-adjusted serum hormone concentrations over the menstrual cycle by anthropometric, reproductive, and lifestyle characteristics.
| Characteristic | n | Androstenedione ng/mL | Testosterone ng/dL | Progesterone ng/mL | Estrone pg/mL | Estradiol pg/mL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifestyle and Demographic | ||||||
| Age (Years) | ||||||
| 24–31 | 61 | 1.2 (0.05) | 35.0 (1.8) | 1.1 (0.9) | 90.4 (10.5) | 147 (24) |
| 31–39 | 174 | 0.9 (0.05) | 29.8 (1.9) | 2.3 (1.1) | 94.5 (14.1) | 165 (32) |
| 39–45 | 79 | 0.7 (0.06) | 25.3 (2.0) | 2.4 (1.0) | 90.0 (11.6) | 151 (26) |
| p | <0.01 | <0.01 | 0.36 | 0.89 | 0.69 | |
| Education | ||||||
| High School | 110 | 1.2 (0.06) | 35.7 (2.2) | 2.1 (1.2) | 105 (16) | 178 (35) |
| College | 204 | 1.1 (0.05) | 33.6 (1.6) | 1.0 (0.8) | 84.3 (9.1) | 131 (21) |
| p | 0.22 | 0.20 | 0.13 | 0.02 | 0.02 | |
| House Type | ||||||
| Ger | 103 | 1.1 (0.07) | 35.0 (2.3) | 2.5 (1.3) | 97.1 (16.2) | 164 (37) |
| Apartment/House | 211 | 1.1 (0.05) | 34.1 (1.7) | 1.1 (0.8) | 91.5 (9.5) | 146 (22) |
| p | 0.53 | 0.62 | 0.08 | 0.56 | 0.42 | |
| Previously lived as Nomad | ||||||
| No | 41 | 1.1 (0.06) | 34.4 (2.0) | 1.5 (1.2) | 95.1 (14.8) | 156 (34) |
| Yes | 273 | 1.1 (0.07) | 34.6 (2.3) | 0.4 (1.1) | 78.6 (12.8) | 118 (29) |
| p | 0.44 | 0.92 | 0.29 | 0.20 | 0.19 | |
| Physical Activity Level | ||||||
| Low | 52 | 1.1 (0.08) | 34.4 (2.6) | 0.5 (1.4) | 84.2 (17.3) | 134 (39) |
| Moderate | 77 | 1.1 (0.07) | 34.7 (2.4) | 2.0 (1.1) | 98.9 (13.9) | 160 (31) |
| Vigorous | 184 | 1.1 (0.06) | 34.3 (2.1) | 1.6 (1.0) | 94.7 (12.0) | 156 (27) |
| p | 0.99 | 0.98 | 0.38 | 0.56 | 0.66 | |
| Smoking | ||||||
| No | 260 | 1.1 (0.06) | 34.2 (2.1) | 1.4 (1.0) | 93.5 (11.8) | 151 (27) |
| Yes | 54 | 1.1 (0.08) | 35.2 (2.6) | 1.8 (1.4) | 91.6 (17.9) | 157 (41) |
| p | 0.97 | 0.64 | 0.71 | 0.87 | 0.81 | |
| Alcohol | ||||||
| No | 244 | 1.2 (0.07) | 38.3 (2.5) | 1.3 (1.3) | 104 (17) | 160 (39) |
| Yes | 70 | 1.1 (0.05) | 33.4 (1.8) | 1.5 (0.9) | 90.9 (10.5) | 150 (24) |
| p | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.87 | 0.22 | 0.68 | |
| Anthropometrics | ||||||
| Weight (kg) | ||||||
| 36–55 | 81 | 1.1 (0.05) | 31.2 (1.9) | 2.0 (0.9) | 87.8 (10.6) | 153 (24) |
| 55–70 | 159 | 1.2 (0.06) | 35.6 (2.1) | 1.8 (1.2) | 98.3 (15.5) | 163 (35) |
| 70+ | 74 | 1.1 (0.06) | 35.5 (1.9) | 0.4 (0.9) | 90.4 (11.0) | 132 (25) |
| p | 0.18 | 0.05 | 0.23 | 0.56 | 0.45 | |
| Height (cm) | ||||||
| 139–153 | 75 | 1.2 (0.06) | 35.3 (1.9) | 1.6 (0.9) | 91.4 (10.8) | 148 (25) |
| 153–161 | 161 | 1.1 (0.06) | 32.6 (2.1) | 0.6 (1.2) | 91.7 (15.5) | 149 (35) |
| 161+ | 78 | 1.2 (0.06) | 36.3 (1.9) | 2.4 (0.9) | 95.9 (10.9) | 157 (25) |
| p | 0.06 | 0.11 | 0.12 | 0.92 | 0.94 | |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | ||||||
| 16–22 | 48 | 1.1 (0.05) | 31.1 (1.8) | 2.4 (0.9) | 91.0 (10.6) | 153 (24) |
| 22–28 | 218 | 1.1 (0.06) | 34.7 (2.1) | 1.3 (1.2) | 85.7 (15.5) | 138 (35) |
| 28+ | 48 | 1.2 (0.06) | 38.4 (1.9) | 0.8 (0.9) | 107 (11) | 171 (25) |
| p | 0.26 | <0.01 | 0.25 | 0.16 | 0.40 | |
| Waist circumference (cm) | ||||||
| 57–73 | 74 | 1.1 (0.05) | 31.2 (1.8) | 2.5 (0.9) | 89.7 (10.6) | 160 (24) |
| 73–89 | 161 | 1.1 (0.06) | 34.6 (2.1) | 1.3 (1.2) | 95.5 (15.5) | 159 (35) |
| 89+ | 79 | 1.2 (0.06) | 38.1 (2.0) | 0.7 (0.9) | 92.6 (11.4) | 131 (26) |
| p | 0.15 | 0.01 | 0.19 | 0.86 | 0.53 | |
| Waist/Height Ratio (cm/cm) | ||||||
| 0.35–0.47 | 85 | 1.1 (0.05) | 32.5 (1.9) | 1.8 (0.9) | 88.7 (10.6) | 151 (24) |
| 0.47–0.56 | 148 | 1.1 (0.06) | 34.1 (2.1) | 1.5 (1.2) | 88.6 (15.5) | 144 (35) |
| 0.56+ | 81 | 1.2 (0.06) | 38.5 (1.9) | 1.0 (0.9) | 107 (11) | 166 (25) |
| p | 0.51 | 0.02 | 0.71 | 0.22 | 0.67 | |
| Weight at 18 (kg) | ||||||
| 37–48 | 56 | 1.1 (0.05) | 33.8 (1.8) | 0.9 (0.9) | 89.4 (10.4) | 139 (24) |
| 48–60 | 164 | 1.1 (0.06) | 34.8 (2.1) | 1.8 (1.2) | 95.7 (15.1) | 159 (34) |
| 60+ | 93 | 1.0 (0.06) | 34.0 (2.1) | 0.8 (1.0) | 88.4 (12.0) | 142 (27) |
| p | 0.33 | 0.85 | 0.46 | 0.75 | 0.64 | |
| BMI at 18 (kg/m2) | ||||||
| <20 | 48 | 1.2 (0.06) | 34.9 (1.9) | 1.5 (0.9) | 94.9 (10.8) | 151 (24) |
| 20–24 | 218 | 1.1 (0.06) | 34.0 (2.1) | 1.5 (1.2) | 89.4 (15.2) | 144 (35) |
| 24+ | 48 | 1.1 (0.06) | 35.9 (2.0) | 1.3 (0.9) | 104 (11) | 179 (25) |
| p | 0.41 | 0.62 | 0.98 | 0.43 | 0.38 | |
| Reproductive | ||||||
| Age at menarche (years) | ||||||
| 11–14 | 58 | 1.1 (0.05) | 33.4 (1.6) | 1.1 (0.8) | 88.9 (15.4) | 144 (21) |
| 14–16 | 155 | 1.2 (0.06) | 35.5 (2.2) | 1.8 (1.2) | 97.1 (15.4) | 159 (35) |
| 16–18 | 101 | 1.1 (0.08) | 35.0 (2.8) | 1.3 (1.3) | 93.7 (15.8) | 140 (36) |
| p | 0.26 | 0.43 | 0.61 | 0.68 | 0.72 | |
| Parity (number of live births) | ||||||
| 1 | 36 | 1.2 (0.06) | 35.0 (2.1) | 1.3 (1.2) | 92.4 (15.5) | 148 (35) |
| 1+ | 278 | 1.1 (0.06) | 33.6 (1.9) | 1.6 (0.9) | 94.4 (10.9) | 157 (25) |
| p | 0.12 | 0.48 | 0.78 | 0.85 | 0.72 | |
| Average months breastfed per child (months) | ||||||
| <9.5 | 78 | 1.1 (0.06) | 35.2 (1.9) | 2.0 (0.9) | 99.3 (10.8) | 167 (24) |
| 9.5–24 | 136 | 1.1 (0.06) | 34.5 (2.2) | 1.3 (1.2) | 98.9 (15.8) | 165 (36) |
| 24–72 | 100 | 1.1 (0.06) | 33.8 (1.9) | 1.2 (0.9) | 84.8 (10.8) | 131 (25) |
| p | 0.94 | 0.82 | 0.67 | 0.37 | 0.32 |