Androgen Modulation in Ovarian Function and Assisted Reproductive Techniques
Summary
Androgens, traditionally viewed as male‐pattern hormones, exert crucial influence upon ovarian physiology by enhancing early follicular recruitment, granulosa cell proliferation and follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor expression. Binding to androgen receptors in preantral and small antral follicles, testosterone and its precursors modulate both genomic and non‐genomic pathways to optimise steroidogenesis and oocyte maturation. In the context of assisted reproductive techniques, exogenous androgen supplementation—most commonly via dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) or testosterone pretreatment—has been pursued to improve outcomes in women with diminished ovarian reserve or poor ovarian response. Mechanistic studies reveal that androgen priming reshapes the follicular microenvironment, increasing intra‐follicular growth factors, altering cytokine profiles and potentially reducing embryo aneuploidy. Integration of androgen priming with tailored gonadotropin regimens has shown promise in enhancing oocyte yield, embryo quality and live birth rates. As reproductive ageing and ovarian insufficiency become more prevalent, androgen modulation represents a pivotal strategy for personalised fertility care, bridging basic endocrinology with clinical protocols to address the global challenge of subfertility.
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Androgen Modulation in Ovarian Function and Assisted Reproductive Techniques publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in androgen modulation in ovarian function and assisted reproductive techniques across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Androgens: Steroid hormones involved in early follicular growth and steroidogenesis within the ovary.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA): An endogenous androgen precursor commonly used to enhance ovarian response prior to stimulation.
Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR): A reduction in both the quantity and quality of oocytes, often assessed by hormone markers and antral follicle count.
Poor ovarian response (POR): Suboptimal oocyte retrieval during controlled ovarian stimulation, despite high‐dose gonadotropin protocols.
Antral follicle count (AFC): Sonographic measurement of small preovulatory follicles; a key predictor of ovarian reserve.
Assisted reproductive techniques (ART): Clinical interventions—such as in vitro fertilisation—to facilitate conception in subfertile couples.
References
- Therapeutic management in women with a diminished ovarian reserve: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Fertility and Sterility (2024).
- TEAS, DHEA, CoQ10, and GH for poor ovarian response undergoing IVF-ET: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology (2023).
- Efficacy of dehydroepiandrosterone priming in women with poor ovarian response undergoing IVF/ICSI: a meta-analysis. Frontiers in Endocrinology (2023).
- Dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation and the impact of follicular fluid metabolome and cytokinome profiles in poor ovarian responders. Journal of Ovarian Research (2023).
- Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) reduces embryo aneuploidy: direct evidence from preimplantation genetic screening (PGS). Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology (2010).
- The role of androgens in follicle maturation and ovulation induction: friend or foe of infertility treatment?. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology (2011).
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