THE URINARY EXCRETION OF OESTROGENS, PREGNANEDIOL AND GONADOTROPHINS DURING THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE

Abstract

SUMMARY 1. The urinary excretion of oestrogens, pregnanediol and pituitary gonadotrophins has been studied throughout nine ovulatory menstrual cycles. 2. The pattern of hormone excretion was relatively constant from one individual to another, but the actual amounts excreted varied considerably in different individuals. 3. In none of the subjects studied did the mid-cycle peak in gonadotrophin precede the oestrogen peak. 4. The increase in urinary pregnanediol during the luteal phase occurred at the same time as or just before the rise in basal temperature and 1–4 days after the oestrogen peak. 5. There was no correlation between the amounts of oestrogens and pregnanediol excreted during the luteal phase of the cycle. 6. When gonadotrophin assays were conducted by the mouse uterus test and that depending on the prostate of the hypophysectomized rat, the results obtained agreed very closely at all stages of the cycle. 7. In one subject a marked rise in gonadotrophin output was observed as early as 9 days after a successful artificial insemination.