Relation between the luteinizing hormone peak, the nadir of the basal body temperature and the cervical mucus score

Abstract

The results of a cervical mucus scoring system and of basal body temperature (BBT) chart interpretation were compared with those of a short-incubation radioimmunoassay for luteinizing hormone (LH) in 198 ovulatory menstrual cycles. The timing of the maximal cervical mucus score was similar to that of the LH peak in all but 7% of assessable cycles. In contrast, the timing of the nadir of the BBT differed widely from that of the LH peak in 45% of cycles with interpretable charts. These findings suggest that cervical mucus scoring might be useful for identifying the time of ovulation where LH assays are unavailable or where speed and economy are at a premium.

Normal variation in the length of the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle: identification of the short luteal phase

“…for the Determination of the Fertile Period 1983) was 13.5 (SD 2.8) days and in the present study (using the LH peak as a marker) the luteal phase was found to last 14.13 days (SD 1.41 days). It is difficult to compare these observations since the time of the LH peak correlates with the day of maximum cervical mucus in only 44% of subjects (Templeton et al 1982). However, the relationship between the LH peak and ovulation has been defined (WHO Task Force on Methods for the Determination of the Fertile Period 1980).…”

European postcoital tests: opinions and practice

“…These data are known to be rather unreliable for predicting optimal conditions of the cervical mucus (Nulsen et al 1987). More reliable methods, such as follicle measurement by ultrasound and urinary LH or serum oestradiol determinations (Templeton et al 1982; Vermesh et al 1987; Hamilton et al 1986), are used by only 37% of the responding gynaecologists.…”

Estrogen Receptor β: Mine Is Longer Than Yours?a

“…Together with the menstrual calenders, these measurements provide a comprehensive and complete evaluation of the menstrual cycle that could not be obtained by other means. Clearly, a direct quantification of ovarian steroid excretion patterns, as done in this study (1) and the two previous studies (2, 3), provides a more direct and objective evaluation of both follicular and luteal phase ovarian hormone production than do BBT shift patterns (7)(8)(9)(10)(11). While BBT shifts may be somewhat accurate in identifying abnormal luteal phases, it is not clear that BBT clearly identifies the relative normality of the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle (7)(8)(9)(10)(11).…”

“…Clearly, a direct quantification of ovarian steroid excretion patterns, as done in this study (1) and the two previous studies (2, 3), provides a more direct and objective evaluation of both follicular and luteal phase ovarian hormone production than do BBT shift patterns (7)(8)(9)(10)(11). While BBT shifts may be somewhat accurate in identifying abnormal luteal phases, it is not clear that BBT clearly identifies the relative normality of the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle (7)(8)(9)(10)(11). In fact, BBT is limited to detecting only luteal phase hormone changes and provides little, if any, information regarding absolute hormone production in the follicular phase or the luteal phase (7-11).…”

“…Thus, in studies in which ovarian hormones are evaluated only by BBT, it would be very difficult to rule out concomitant abnormalities in the follicular phase. In addition, the use of BBT for documenting ovulation and luteal phase function has been criticized elsewhere (7)(8)(9)(10)(11).…”