[Radioimmunologic studies on serum gonadotropic hormones during oral contraception]

In 10 women serum FSH- and LH-concentrations (radioimmunoassay) were measured daily throughout a complete cycle. 2 patients exhibited untreated biphasic menstrual cycles. 2 women were under the treatment of a combined estrogen - progestagen preparation, 1 woman was taking a sequential preparation, and 5 patients were treated with a weekly dose of a recently developed depot - estrogen (ethinylestradiolsulfonate). While the untreated women showed typical serum FSH-and LH-patterns characteristic of the biphasic menstrual cycle, patients on combined therapy were found to have a continuous low FSH- and LH-level except in the postmenstrual phase of the cycle, in which the values were slightly elevated. Serum-FSH-concentration in the woman on the sequential preparation remained constant throughout the treatment peroid, while serum LH-pattern showed multiple peaks. In the same manner, serum LH-patterns in women on the weekly depot- estrogen regimen were characterized by nearly regularly appearing LH-peaks, which seemed to be correlated with the estrogen intake. The cause and clinical significance of these findings are discussed.