URINARY FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE CHORIONIC GONADOTROPHIN AND OESTROGENS DURING HUMAN PREGNANCY

ABSTRACT Concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) were measured in randomly voided urine of 50 women during pregnancy by double antibody radioimmunoassay. Daily 24 h urine specimens were also collected once a week from 4 pregnant women from the early period of pregnancy up to delivery. In the 4 women, pregnancy was induced by the treatment with ovulatory agents. Urinary total oestrogens excretion as well as the FSH and HCG excretions were determined in the 24 h specimens. In the randomly voided urine, the concentration of FSH showed a tendency to increase progressively until term. The concentration of HCG was highest at weeks 9–12. Similar patterns of both the urinary FSH and HCG excretions were found in the serially collected 24 h specimens. However, continuous fluctuation in the FSH excretion was observed in two of the four cases followed throughout pregnancy. The urinary excretions of total oestrogens in 24 h specimens showed a relatively steady rise from week 16 and reached a peak before the onset of delivery. The excretion of total oestrogens as well as HCG showed a rapid fall after delivery.