Pituitary‐gonadal hormones and adrenal androgens in non‐cirrhotic female alcoholics after cessation of alcohol intake

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Abstract
To investigate the sex hormone profiles associated wtih chronic alcoholism in women we examined 16 non-cirrhotic alcohol abusers (aged 18-46 years). They were admitted for the treatment of alcoholism (duration of 2-16 yrs) to a social hospital for 6 weeks. Their mean daily alcohol consumption was 170 g. Blood samples for serum LH, FSH, prolactin (PRL), oestrone (E1), oestradiol (E2), progesterone (P), 17-.alpha.-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione (A) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) were drawn three times a week during the hospital stay. Similar blood samples were taken from 10 control women during one menstrual cycle. The cycles were anovulatory in two patients and in none of controls. Serum LH and FSH levels were similar in alcoholic and control women but serum concentrations of PRL were increased 2-4-fold in alcoholic women. In the patients serum, concentrations of E1 and E2 tended to be lower during the follicular and midcycle phases, as did those of P and 17-OHP during the luteal phase. Compared with the controls, serum levels of A were increased 2-3-fold in the patients. A parallel difference between the two groups was seen in serum DHEA concentrations. We conclude that until liver injury, even heavy alcohol drinking has only minor effects on the secretion of gonadotrophins and ovarian steroids. Hypersecretion of PRL and adrenal androgens may well be an initiating mechanism for sexual dysfunction of female alcoholics.