Urinary FSH and LH Excretion During the Normal Menstrual Cycle

Abstract

The urinary excretion of FSH and LH, as assayed by the ovarian weight augmentation and ovarian ascorbic acid depletion methods and compared with NIHFSH and LH ovine pituitary standards, was measured throughout 11 menstrual cycles in 5 normal female subjects. Daily vaginal smears were taken as an index of estrogen activity, and basal body temperatures were taken as an index of progesterone effect. There was a consistent pattern of FSH and LH excretion in all cycles studied. The excretion of FSH was highest during the menses and reached a low point at mid-cycle. Significant urinary LH activity was present only at mid-cycle. The greatest effect of estrogen on the vaginal smear occurred around mid-cycle and all subjects showed a rise in basal body temperature after the peak excretion of LH activity. The ratio of urinary FSH to LH activity varied significantly during the cycle.