Pituitary responses to LRH in the postpartum periods

Pituitary responses to luteinizing-hormone-releasing-hormone (LRH) in the postpartum periods were studied. Following a subcutaneous injection of 100 mug of synthetic LRH to postpartum subjects, no statistically significant changes in the levels of LH and FSH could be demonstrated in five subjects on postpartum day 1 or 3 and the three subjects on postpartum day 8. A normal elevation of LH and FSH following LRH was demonstrated in one subject 36 days post partum. The findings are in agreement with previous studies demonstrating a persistence of pituitary suppression during the early postpartum period. No correlation could be drawn between the pituitary responses to LRH and the plasma levels of estradiol-17 beta and progesterone.