Serum gonadotropin levels in polycystic ovarian disease

The purpose of this study was to measure serum gonadotropin levels in two different groups of women. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) techniques were used to measure follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in women with normal menstrual cycles and in women with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD).

Twenty-three women with no known reproductive disorders and 26-30 day menstrual cycles served as the control group. Fourteen patients of Dr. Michael Doody, a reproductive endocrinologist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Tennessee Hospital, with PCOD served as tlie patient group. Five blood samples were collected from each of the control subjects beginning on day 4 of the menstrual period and every third day thereafter through day 16. Only one blood sample was collected from the PCOD patients. Sertun was separated from the blood and stored at -20 C until assaying was performed. All hormonal quantification was done in the same assay to eliminate inter-assay variations.

Results were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear regression. No significant difference was found in the levels of FSH and LH, as a function of time (days), for the control subjects. The mean hormone levels for the control subjects were pooled to obtain one FSH and one LH group mean. A statistically significant difference resulted when the two groups' FSH and LH means were compared. The patients had lower FSH, but higher LH values. As a result, the LH/FSH ratios between the two groups were also significantly different, being almost twice as large in the patients. A strong correlation between the two gonadotropins existed in the patient group, but only a moderate correlation was found in the control group.

The results show that patients with PCOD manifest low levels of FSH complete with high levels of LH. These findings support the working hypothesis that the women with PCOD would have lower FSH, but higher LH serum levels and that this would be reflected in a higher LH/FSH ratio. Knowledge about the gonadotropin profile helps the clinician diagnose and treat PCOD more effectively.