DETERMINATION OF PH OF VAGINAL SECRETION AS AN INDEX OF OVARIAN ACTIVITY IN HYPOOVARIAN STATES

Abstract

RECENTLY, the writer has pointed out a change of pH of vaginal secretion, from the usual acid toward an alkaline phase, in human castrates, menopause and hypoovarian groups, and its restoration, until the usual acid pH was attained, after the administration of adequate dosage of estrogens. Determination of the pH of the vaginal secretion was employed as a guide in treatment (1). The extent of the change of pH of the secretion was intimately associated with estrogen deficiency. Conversely, the degree of ovarian activity was ascertained. Thus, determination of the hydrogen ion concentration of the vaginal sample furnished an index of ovarian activity and served as an objective method of observation in the administration of estrogens. The pH determinations were correlated with the cytology of vaginal secretion by the smear method of Papanicolaou and Shorr (2), and examinations of biopsy specimens of the vaginal wall (3). A better evaluation of the test of pH was obtained from these combined studies