The serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol-17beta, and progesterone were determined simultaneously with the concentrations of immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgA, C'3, alpha1-antitrypsin, inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor, alpha1x-antichymotrypsin, albumin, and lysozyme in cervical mucus during nine ovulatory cycles. Spinnbarkeit and ferning were also assessed, and the basal body temperature was measured and recorded during these cycles. The profiles were synchronized according to the LH peak. The midcycle period, characterized by the rapid increase and decline of estrogen and the beginning rise of progesterone, shows a prounced minimum of immunoglobulins, C'3, proteinase inhibitors, albumin, and lysozyme in cervical mucus, which is known to be most receptive to sperm penetration at this time. Although the variation of cervical mucus values is considerable during the early proliferative and the luteal phases, the midcycle values appear to be constantly low, showing slight differences among the profiles of the different parameters. The statistical evaluation and the assessment of the significance of parameters for ovulation detection and the assessment of the fertile period as well as the correlation of these parameters with basal body temperature will be the subject of the second communication of this series.
PIP: Methods and results of a study of 9 ovulatory cycles where luteinizing hormone, estradiol-17beta, and progesterone were determined simultaneously with the cervical mucus parameters are reported. Spinnbarkeit and ferning, and basal body temperature were also recorded. The midcycle period characterized by the rapid increase and decline of estrogen and the beginning rise of progesterone revealed a pronounced minimum of immunoglobulins, C'3-complement, proteinase inhibitors, albumin, and lysozyme in cervical mucus. The variation of cervical mucus values is considerable during the early proliferative and the luteal phases whereas the midcycle values appear to be constantly low, showing slight differences among the profiles of the different parameters.