Objective Animal models have suggested that anogenital distance (AGD) at birth reflects androgen levels during in utero development and predicts adult AGD. A recent study showed an association between perineal length and androgen levels in men, suggesting that serum testosterone levels in adulthood will depend on factors involved during the fetal period. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between AGD measures and reproductive hormone levels in women.Design Cross-sectional study conducted between February and November 2011.Setting University-affiliated fertility clinics.Population 100 young college students.Methods Physical and gynaecological examinations were conducted on university students. All participants provided a blood sample for determination of reproductive hormones and completed an epidemiological questionnaire on lifestyles and gynaecological history. We used multiple linear regression analysis to examine the associations between perineal length measurements [anus-fourchette (AGD AF ) and anus-clitoris (AGD AC )] and reproductive hormone levels.Main outcome measures Anogenital distance measurements and reproductive hormone levels.Results In the multiple linear regression analyses, AGD AF was positively associated with serum testosterone levels. Serum testosterone increased 0.06 ng/ml (95%CI 0.01, 0.10; P = 0.02) for each 1-cm increase in AGD AF . None of the measurements was associated with other reproductive hormones.Conclusions Anogenital distance may predict normal reproductive development in women, and may be a new tool of potential clinical interest to evaluate ovarian function. Our results suggest that serum testosterone levels in adulthood may depend on factors operating in the prenatal period.Keywords Androgens, anogenital distance, prenatal exposure, women.Please cite this paper as: Mira-Escolano MP, Mendiola J, M ınguez-Alarc on L, Melgarejo M, Cutillas-Tol ın A, Roca M, L opez-Esp ın JJ, Noguera-Velasco JA, Torres-Cantero AM. Longer anogenital distance is associated with higher testosterone levels in women: a cross-sectional study.

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SUMMARYExperimental studies have shown that anogenital distance (AGD) at birth reflects androgen concentrations during prenatal development and predicts adult AGD. In male rodents, shortened AGD is associated with compromised reproductive function. The aim of this study was to examine associations between AGD measures and semen quality in male partners of subfertile couples. All men were attending an infertility service and provided a semen sample and completed epidemiological questionnaires on lifestyle and general health. Two variants of AGD [from the anus to the posterior base of the scrotum (AGDAS) and to the cephalad insertion of the penis (AGDAP)] were assessed in 91 men. Semen parameters (semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm counts, motility, and morphology) were determined following WHO guidelines. Associations between AGD measures and semen quality were tested using multiple regression analyses controlling for appropriate covariates. Significant positive associations between AGDAS measures and sperm concentration, total sperm count, and total sperm motile count were detected (p-values < 0.05). This study represents the first analysis of AGD in potential infertile European men showing an association between perineal length and semen parameters. However, it is still uncertain the utility to clinical practice, therefore further studies are warranted to confirm and extent these findings.

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A cross-sectional study was conducted on a 20-74-year-old population in an urban white-Hispanic population in Paraguay to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and associated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. In total 1606 subjects completed the study (response rate 80.3%; 1094 women, 512 men). The overall prevalences were: DM 6.5%, IGT 11.3%, hypertension 17.1%, and obesity 31.6% with more obesity in women (35.7% vs 22.8%, p < 0.05). Age-standardized prevalences were: DM 6.5%, IGT 13.5% in females and DM 5.5%, IGT 7.2% in males. DM and IGT subjects had two or more CV risk factors significantly more often than the normal population. In conclusion, DM, IGT, hypertension, and obesity are common in this South American Hispanic urban population, particularly in women. Public health measures, such as lifestyle education, are required to decrease these noncommunicable diseases.

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