[Recovery of ovarian function during postpartum period]

To determine the effect of serum prolactin (PRL) on the recovery of ovarian function in the postpartum period, FSH, PRL, estradiol (E2), and 17 alpha-OH-progesterone (17-P) levels were measured in postpartum women and the levels were compared with those in patients treated with bromocriptine. In addition, hMG was given for two days on the 10th and 30th postpartum days to the mothers treated with/without bromocriptine. On the 10th day, FSH levels tended to increase and the E2 and 17-P levels were significantly increased by bromocriptine treatment and these levels are compatible to those on the 30th day in the control group. Although no apparent change in E2 and 17-P levels was observed before and after hMG administration in the control, a significant increase in E2 on the 30th day and in 17-P on the 10th and 30th day was observed when the patients were treated with bromocriptine. These results suggest that high concentrations of PRL in the postpartum period suppressed the ovarian function not only due to the low gonadotropin secretion but also to the poor ovarian response to gonadotropin. 17-P seems to be preceded by estradiol secretion in the recovery of ovarian function during the postpartum period.