Hormone levels in the normal menstrual cycle.

Abstract

Hormone levels in the normal menstrual cycle were investigated during 6 cycles. 24-hour urine samples basal body temperatures and blood samples were obtained daily for comparison and measurements of uri nary and plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) urinary follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) urinary total estrogens plasma estrogens plasma progesterone and urinary pregnanediol. Urinary LH levels followed the usual biphasic pattern with an early follicular phase rise beginning before menstruation and lasting for 4 days. Urinary FSH also showed an early follicular phase rise and a midcycle peak coincident with urinary LH. Urinary estrogens showed the typical biphasic curve and plasma estrogens (estrone and estradiol) showed fluctuating levels in the follicular phase rising to a peak 1 day before the urinary LH and total urinary estrogen peaks. Progesterone in the follicular phase was less than .8 ng/ml and then rose to 14.7 ng/ml on Day 21 of the composite cycle. The 1st marked rise was seen 1 day after the urinary LH and total estrogen peak and 48 hours after the plasma LH and plasma estrogen peak.