The effect of conception on the concentration of urinary oestrone-3-glucuronide, LH/hCG and pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide

Abstract

The concentrations of oestrone-3-glucuronide, LH/hCG and pregnanediol-3\g=a\-glucuronide have been measured in daily samples of early morning urine from 6 women throughout the normal ovarian cycle and from 5 subjects, who conceived during the period of study. In addition, the ratio of oestrone to pregnanediol glucuronide was calculate as an additional index of ovarian function.The results showed that the ratio during the follicular phase of the cycle was similar in both groups of women. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the groups in either the duration or intensity of the LH peak. Seven days later, however, the women who conceived excreted significantly higher amounts of oestrone\x=req-\ 3-glucuronide (P<0.05) and 12 days after the LH peak the values for pregnanediol-3\g=a\-glucuronide and LH/hCG were also elevated (P<0.05). A defined increment, in the concentration of hCG (3 times the mean basal level) occurred 11 to 15 days after the peak of LH and appeared 3 to 5 days after the increased excretion of the steroid glucuronides.There is still a need for the development of simple, reliable methods to assess ovarian function in wo¬ men -particularly over long periods of time. One approach to this objective has been to measure the concentration of oestrone-3-glucuronide (Oei-3-G), LH/hCG and pregnanediol-3a-glucuronide (Pd-3a-G) in serial samples of early morning urine (Collins et al. 1979). The results from this study showed that the levels of the two glucuronides, could be used to monitor follicular development and luteal function in apparently healthy women. In addition, it was deduced that a defined rise in the concentration of LH might be used to predict ovulation.A limitation to this study, however, was the lack of direct evidence, that ovulation had occurred.Accordingly, it was decided to collect daily samples of early morning urine from a group of healthy women, who wished to become pregnant. The concentrations of Oei-3-G, LH/hCG and Pd-3a-G in urine from those women who conceived were compared with the corresponding values from a group of control cycles. Materials and MethodsSubjects A total of I 1 women (age 22 to 28 years) was studied.They had all experienced regular menstrual cycles (26 to 33 days) for at least 3 months prior to the investigation. Furthermore, all were in good general health and were not on a special diet or receiving any form of drug therapy. Particular care was taken to ensure that there was no evidence of liver or kidney disease or dysfunction. Six of the volunteers (Group 1) did not wish to become pregnant (2 had been sterilised by tubal ligation and 4 were using barrier methods of contraception). The other 5 women (Group 2) wanted a pregnancy and 4 conceived during the first cycle of study. The fifth became preg¬ nant during the 3rd cycle of urine collection. All 5 had an uneventful pregnancy and gave birth to a healthy baby at term.

Changes of urinary steroid conjugates and gonadotropin excretion in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy in the Yunnan snub‐nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti)

“…We also found that E 1 C increased 13-16 days after fertilization, and remained elevated until parturition or abortion. The results of this study confirm that estrone glucuronide concentrations reflect ovulation and implantation in primates [Branch et al, 1980]. PdG is an abundant urinary metabolite of progesterone that has been studied in primate species, including humans, great apes, gibbons, baboons, langurs, and certain Macaca Hodges et al, 1986;Nadler et al, 1993;Thierry et al, 1996].…”

Rescue of the Corpus Luteum in Human Pregnancy1

“…Concentrations increase very early in gestation, decline in the fourth or fifth week after implantation, and then increase as the placenta becomes the primary source of progesterone [14,15]. However, there are few data on change in progesterone levels around the time of implantation, data that would reflect the time of CL rescue [16][17][18]. The largest sample of pregnancies for which such data were recorded was presented by Lenton and Woodward [18].…”

Absence of diurnal variation in urinary chorionic gonadotrophin excretion at 8–13 weeks gestation

“…It is usually recommended that a pregnancy test should be performed on the first urine specimen passed after the woman wakes in the morning. Most clinical studies involving the measurement or urinary human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) have used early morning specimens of urine (Banik & Givner 1979; Branch et al 1980; Wang & Gemzell 1982; Baker, Kovack & Burger 1987; Asch et al 1988). Because various other solutes are at high concentrations in this specimen, it is assumed that hCG concentrations will also be relatively higher and, therefore, more likely to yield a positive result.…”