Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder is Associated with the Longer Length from Clitoris to Urethra

Abstract

Background: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a common, recently recognized, psychiatric condition among reproductive women, reflecting abnormal responsivity to ovarian steroids. Moreover, the organizational effects of prenatal sex hormones during the embryonic environment that may determine individual sensitivity to fluctuation of sex hormones, have got attentions, but there have been considerably less of researches on this topic. The aim of this research was to investigate the possible role of prenatal androgen in the PMDD.Methods: Anogenital distance (AGD), the distance between a woman’s clitoris and her urethral meatus (CUMD), left and right 2D:4D ratios were measured in 77 subjects (25 patients with PMDD), as these anthropometric indicators are considered to indirectly reflect prenatal androgen exposures in utero. Results: Patients with PMDD had a longer CUMD than controls (25.03±4.73 vs 22.07 ± 4.30, P=0.008), while there were no significant difference between PMDD group and control group in the AGD and right and left 2D:4D ratios.Conclusion: Atypical high prenatal androgen exposure might predispose individuals to be susceptible to PMDD.

Clitoris to Urethral Meatus Distance, an Assumed Marker of Prenatal Androgen Exposure is not Correlated with the Obesity Compared to the Anogenital Distance

“…The 117 subjects are Han Chinese women who visited the gynecological or psychosomatic clinic of hospitals between June 2018 and December 2020, and agreed on participation after listening to the purpose of the study. Eligibility criteria were referred to the literature and our previous studies [22,28], briefly including age 18-45, regularly menstruating, nulliparous with no pregnancy lasting more than ten weeks, not currently receiving any treatments to control or influence the secretion of hormones, no history of injury to or surgery on the genital region, no history of congenital anatomical abnormalities in genital organs, and no history of an injury to the 2nd or 4th digit of both hands.…”

“…The AGD and CUMD were measured using a digital caliper (Carbon Fiber Composites Digital Caliper, Wuxi Kaibaoding Tool Limited Company, Jiangsu, China), the procedures were described in the literature and our previous studies [22,27,28]. The subjects were in the supine position, then changed to the lithotomy position in which the legs are spread apart to be accessed for measurements.…”

“…In order to improve accuracy, measurements were collected in triplicate by two independent professionals, the mean value of the six measurements of each distance was used. Measurement of Digit Ratio was same as described in the literature and our previous studies [28,30], namely that a digital camera was used to photograph both hands of subjects. The lengths of index and ring fingers of both hands were measured from the bottom crease of each digit to the finger tip, using tools in Adobe Photoshop [28,30].…”

“…Measurement of Digit Ratio was same as described in the literature and our previous studies [28,30], namely that a digital camera was used to photograph both hands of subjects. The lengths of index and ring fingers of both hands were measured from the bottom crease of each digit to the finger tip, using tools in Adobe Photoshop [28,30]. For each hand, the digit ratio (2D:4D) was subsequently calculated.…”