Table 7.

FSH concentrations (mU/L) at different altitude levels in the whole group of subjects and differences relative to PR.

	Mean ± s.d.	n	Differences relative to Pr
			Coefficient ± s.e.	P value	95% CI
PR	5.81 ± 5.95	21
BC1	4.77 ± 5.64	21	−1.10 ± 0.44	0.011	−1.96; −0.25
C2	4.33 ± 4.46	17	−2.10 ± 4.69	<0.001	−0.30; −1.19
C3	3.38 ± 2.10	8	−1.66 ± 0.62	0.007	−2.87; −0.45
BC2	6.00 ± 6.58	16	−0.66 ± 0.48	0.167	−1.59; 0.27
PO	6.03 ± 5.89	21	0.16 ± 4.37	0.712	−0.69; 1.01

Variation of FSH was not sex, SaO₂ or paO₂ dependent.

Altitudes: PR, Pre expedition = 550 m; BC1, Base Camp 1 = 4.844 m; C2, Camp2 = 6022 m; BC2, Base Camp 2 (after acclimatization) = 4.844 m; C3, Camp3 = 7050 m; PO, Post expedition = 550 m.