Marital Status and Serum Level of Testosterone: In Relation to Serum Level of Cortisol

Babak Rezanezhad*, Rasmus Borgquist and Saad Elzanaty

Purpose: To explore the association between marital status and testosterone, and cortisol serum levels in 119 healthy men aged 45 to 60 years representing the general population. 

Material and Methods: Data on men’s age, waist circumference, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, and marital status were collected. Serum levels of LH, testosterone, and cortisol were also measured. Two groups were identified according to marital status: paired (married, living together, and living apart) and unpaired men (divorced or separated). 

Results: The participants had a mean age of 55 (± 4.0 years). Testosterone level was significantly lower in paired as compared to unpaired men (14 nmol/L vs. 19 nmol/L, p = 0.01). The opposite trend was found regarding cortisol levels (350 nmol/L vs. 293 nmol/L, p = 0.01). No significant differences between the two groups were found regarding men’s age, body mass index, waist circumference, and LH level (p > 0.05). Using a multivariate regression analysis test adjusted for men’s age, body mass index, waist circumference, smoking, and alcohol consumption; a significant negative association between marital status and testosterone level (β = -04.00; 95% CI = -7.00, -1.00; p = 0.01), and a significant positive association between marital status and cortisol level (β = 47.00; 95% CI = 6.00, 89.00; p = 0.03) were found. 

Conclusions: Paired men were associated with lower testosterone levels. These findings might be partially explained by the concomitant higher cortisol level found in this group of men. 

Keywords:

Published on: Sep 10, 2024 Pages: 18-22

Full Text PDF Full Text HTML DOI: 10.17352/aur.000052
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