| Abstract: | At the University of Southern California School of Medicine, the reproductive hormones follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone, and estradiol were measured in serum samples obtained daily from a group of women throughout a normal menstrual cycle. Competitive binding techniques were used for the analysis of aliquots from the 10 women, aged 20-28, whose hormonal levels were studied. The results were generally in agreement with those of previous investigators, whose separate researches were less extensive than the research described here. FSH showed an early follicular phase rise, a late follicular phase decline, and a midcycle peak occurring on the day of the LH peak or on the day before and followed by a luteal phase decline. LH showed a slight progressive rise in the follicular phase, a midcycle peak, and a slight fall in the luteal phase. Estradiol also reached a midcycle peak. After the midcycle peaks, a rise progesterone. Progesterone and estradiol fell a few days before menstruation. |
