Methods based upon the principles of radioimmunoassay have been developed and evaluated for the measurement of oestrone-3-glucuronide, LH and pregnanediol-3alpha-glucuronide in samples of unextracted urine. The procedures have been applied to daily urine (early morning fraction and combined 24 hour collections) from 6 women throughout one complete menstrual cycle and to serial samples from an additional 14 women who only collected early morning specimens. The results showed that there were characteristic, well-defined changes in the concentration of all 3 metabolites in both samples of urine and from all subjects. In addition, there was a reasonable correlation between the concentration of all 3 compounds in samples of early morning urine and the corresponding rates of excretion per 24 hours. These findings suggest that the procedures may be of value for monitoring ovarian function over long periods of time, without the problems of stress and inconvenience to the patient. Furthermore, the ratio of values for oestrone-3-glucuronide to pregnanediol-3alpha-glucuronide may be used to indicate the start and finish of the fertile period.
PIP: This study aims to develop alternative methods of monitoring ovarian function over long periods of time. Methods based on the principles of radioimmunoassay were developed and evaluated for measurement of estrone-3-glucuronide, LH and pregnanediol-3alpha-glucuronide in samples of unextracted urine. The methods were applied to daily urine samples (early morning fraction and combined 24-hour collection) from 6 women throughout one complete menstrual cycle and to serial samples from an additional 14 women who only collected early morning specimens. The results show that measurement of estrone glucuronide and pregnanediol glucuronide in samples of early morning urine may be used to monitor follicular development and luteal function in women who are well-motivated to collect urine according to a defined schedule. LH values in the same sample may also be used to predict or detect ovulation. Mean values of the glucuronides are higher in the early morning urine samples. Corresponding values for LH are similar in both urine fractions. The project ultimately aims to develop simple kits which women themselves can use to detect their fertile period.