Obstructive Sleep Apnea Due to Endogenous Testosterone Production in a Woman
March 1998
in “
Mayo Clinic Proceedings
”
TLDR Removing a testosterone-producing tumor cured a woman's sleep apnea and other symptoms.
The document detailed a case of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in a 70-year-old woman, attributed to endogenous testosterone production from a benign ovarian tumor. The patient showed OSA symptoms and virilization signs, such as increased facial hair and male pattern baldness. Post-tumor removal, her testosterone levels and OSA symptoms normalized, indicating testosterone's role in OSA. This case suggested that male hormones might contribute to OSA in women, a condition more prevalent in men. Despite the resolution of OSA and excessive libido, temporal balding and voice deepening persisted, reinforcing the influence of testosterone on OSA development.