A STUDY OF THE USE OF INTERMITTENT SERUM LUTEINIZING HORMONE, PROGESTERONE AND OESTRADIOL MEASUREMENTS FOR THE DETECTION OF OVULATION

Summary

The value of luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone (P) and oestradiol (E₂) in serum as an index of ovulation and corpus luteum function was studied in blood samples collected at infrequent intervals during the menstrual cycle from 19 healthy Thai women. A serum P level of more than 3 ng/ml was detectable in 70 to 80 per cent samples obtained between days 20 and 25 and a P peak and/or E₂ peak (> 150 pg/ml) were found at this time in 85 to 94 per cent of the cycles. In not more than 26 per cent of the cycles was an LH peak (>150 ng/ml–LER–907) detected when all results were considered. A significant P and/or E₂ peak on day 22 or 23 occurred in more than 78 per cent of 25 to 33 day cycles, whereas, the P and/or E₂ peak was detectable in only 50 per cent of the cycles lasting less than 25 or more than 33 days. The postovulatory serum P levels were the ones most consistently raised in patients studied over several consecutive cycles.