URINARY FSH AND LH EXCRETION FOLLOWING COMBINED TREATMENT WITH NORETHISTERONE ACETATE AND ETHINYL OESTRADIOL AND NORETHISTERONE ACETATE ONLY

Abstract

ABSTRACT The urinary excretions of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and pregnanediol were studied for five consecutive months in six young healthy females following combined treatment with norethisterone acetate and ethinyl oestradiol and norethisterone acetate alone. The following effects were observed: The »rebound effect« of gestagen-oestrogen therapy was confirmed and shown to be due to an increase in FSH and not LH secretion. The »rebound effect« was not demonstrated with gestagen therapy alone. Depression of FSH and LH excretion was shown during the cycles in which either a gestagen-oestrogen combination or gestagen alone was given. Loss of midcycle peaks of FSH and LH was also shown during treatment with the gestagen-oestrogen combination and gestagen alone. A loss of midcycle peaks of LH was also found in the untreated cycles following treatment. A close association of FSH midcycle peak and basal body temperature (BBT) shift was observed. The possibility of random spontaneous ovulation during treatment was inferred from the pregnanediol data. The interaction of FSH and LH is discussed in relation to superovulation. The single determination of gonadotrophin has been shown to be of little value clinically.