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Seasonal variation of salivary testosterone in men, normally cycling women, and women using hormonal contraceptives.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Stanton, SJ; Mullette-Gillman, OA; Huettel, SA
Published in: Physiology & behavior
October 2011

Humans' endogenous testosterone concentrations vary over a number of temporal scales, with little known about variation longer than monthly cycles. Past studies of seasonal or circannual variation have principally used male participants and have produced inconsistent results. Thus, little is known about how testosterone concentrations fluctuate throughout the year, whether such variation differs between men and women, and whether there are influences of hormonal contraceptive use. The present study collected saliva samples from a large sample (N=718) of men and women, each collected at one time point within a relatively uniform distribution over a full calendar year. Both men and normally-cycling women displayed seasonal variation in salivary testosterone concentrations, such that testosterone concentrations are maximal in the fall and minimal in the summer. Notably, normally-cycling women had testosterone concentrations that were over 100% greater at their maximum in fall compared to their minimum in summer. Women using hormonal contraceptives not only had consistently lower endogenous testosterone concentrations, but also showed a flatter seasonal testosterone profile. The implications for studies of psychology and human behavioral endocrinology are discussed.

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Published In

Physiology & behavior

DOI

EISSN

1873-507X

ISSN

0031-9384

Publication Date

October 2011

Volume

104

Issue

5

Start / End Page

804 / 808

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Testosterone
  • Seasons
  • Saliva
  • Radioimmunoassay
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal
 

Citation

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Stanton, S. J., Mullette-Gillman, O. A., & Huettel, S. A. (2011). Seasonal variation of salivary testosterone in men, normally cycling women, and women using hormonal contraceptives. Physiology & Behavior, 104(5), 804–808. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.07.009
Stanton, Steven J., O’Dhaniel A. Mullette-Gillman, and Scott A. Huettel. “Seasonal variation of salivary testosterone in men, normally cycling women, and women using hormonal contraceptives.Physiology & Behavior 104, no. 5 (October 2011): 804–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.07.009.
Stanton SJ, Mullette-Gillman OA, Huettel SA. Seasonal variation of salivary testosterone in men, normally cycling women, and women using hormonal contraceptives. Physiology & behavior. 2011 Oct;104(5):804–8.
Stanton, Steven J., et al. “Seasonal variation of salivary testosterone in men, normally cycling women, and women using hormonal contraceptives.Physiology & Behavior, vol. 104, no. 5, Oct. 2011, pp. 804–08. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.07.009.
Stanton SJ, Mullette-Gillman OA, Huettel SA. Seasonal variation of salivary testosterone in men, normally cycling women, and women using hormonal contraceptives. Physiology & behavior. 2011 Oct;104(5):804–808.
Journal cover image

Published In

Physiology & behavior

DOI

EISSN

1873-507X

ISSN

0031-9384

Publication Date

October 2011

Volume

104

Issue

5

Start / End Page

804 / 808

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Testosterone
  • Seasons
  • Saliva
  • Radioimmunoassay
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal