Abstract
Extract: Daily urinary excretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in one premenarchial and four postmenarchial girls was determined over a 3-month collection period. Samples were collected overnight and a 24-hr excretion was extrapolated. Gonadotropins were acetone-precipitated and assessed by using the Second International Reference Preparation of Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (2nd IRP-HMG).
Excretion of LH and FSH in the premenarchial girl followed no constant pattern, but average levels were comparable to postmenarchial and adult levels for FSH and early postmenarchial levels for LH. During the 3-month observation period, two simultaneous spikes of LH to 55 international units (IU)/24 hr and FSH to 60 IU/24 hr, occurring 6 days apart, were observed. These were of the magnitude of low normal adult midcyclc peak values.
In all postmenarchial girls, simultaneous midcycle surges of FSII to as high as 70 IU/24 hr and LH to 43–155 IU/24 hr were observed in all cycles. During the earliest postmenarchial cycles, peak levels were less than those observed during cycles of girls who were postmenarchial for a longer period of time. Some characteristics of adult cycles, such as follicular phase FSH elevations and higher follicular than luteal phase levels of both gonadotropins, were observed during cycles occurring only 1–4 months after menarche. Other characteristics of adult cycles, such as late luteal phase FSH rises, were seen only in the girl who was 3 years postmenarchial.
Speculation: Premenarchial and early postmenarchial girls have gonadotropin surges similar to adult midcycle ovulatory peaks. They presage evolution of the adult gonadotropin pattern in the subsequent postmenarchial years.
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Hayes, A., Johanson, A. Excretion of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) in Urine by Pubertal Girls. Pediatr Res 6, 18–25 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197201000-00003
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197201000-00003
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