Gender in Endocrine Diseases: Role of Sex Gonadal Hormones

Abstract

Gender- and sex- related differences represent a new frontier towards patient-tailored medicine, taking into account that theoretically every medical specialty can be influenced by both of them. Sex hormones define the differences between males and females, and the different endocrine environment promoted by estrogens, progesterone, testosterone, and their precursors might influence both human physiology and pathophysiology. With the term Gender we refer, instead, to behaviors, roles, expectations, and activities carried out by the individual in society. In other words, “gender” refers to a sociocultural sphere of the individual, whereas “sex” only defines the biological sex. In the last decade, increasing attention has been paid to understand the influence that gender can have on both the human physiology and pathogenesis of diseases. Even the clinical response to therapy may be influenced by sex hormones and gender, but further research is needed to investigate and clarify how they can affect the human pathophysiology. The path to a tailored medicine in which every patient is able to receive early diagnosis, risk assessments, and optimal treatments cannot exclude the importance of gender. In this review, we have focused our attention on the involvement of sex hormones and gender on different endocrine diseases.

Progesterone Actions During Central Nervous System Development

“…Although this hormone is mainly synthesized in the ovaries and placenta, it is also produced by the adrenal cortex as well as the central nervous system (CNS) of both male and female mammals (Gutai et al, 1977; Mensah-Nyagan et al, 1999; Tuckey, 2005). In addition, females of several species present higher progesterone levels in their circulating plasma than males (Tuckey, 2005; Lauretta et al, 2018). However, the fact that both males and females synthesize this hormone indicates that its functions are not limited to the female reproductive physiology.…”

Spectrum of endocrine disorders as seen in a tertiary health facility in Sagamu, Southwest Nigeria

“…Endocrine consultations at our center showed female preponderance. This is a reflection of disease pattern of endocrine disorders which showed predilection for female sex driven mainly by prevalence of DM and autoimmunity of thyroid disorders 7…”

IL-9 and IL-10 Single-Nucleotide Variants and Serum Levels in Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Caucasian Population

“…Even if these results did not survive Bonferroni's correction, differences between male and female groups were observed as in previous studies [14,32,33]. Potentially different inflammation processes in men and women should be studied, considering the hormone role on molecular mechanisms in inflammation and response to inflammation, which may lead to opposite disease outcomes [59].…”