HORMONE THERAPY AND SEX HORMONE EXCRETION. I. EFFECT OF PROGESTERONE AND THE GONADO-TROPIC HORMONE OF MARE'S SERUM ON THE EXCRETION OF ESTROGENS, ANDROGENS AND SODIUM PREGNANDIOL GLUCURONIDATE BY WOMEN DURING NORMAL AND ABNORMAL MENSTRUAL CYCLES12

Abstract

Normal women showed a double-peaked cycle in the excretion of estrogenic material when measured by injecting mice with a glycol stearate suspension. The first peak was sharper and was probably associated with ovulation. The 2d peak was associated with corpus luteum development, since this rise did not occur in 2 [female][female] with poor corpus luteum formation who had normal 1st peaks. Sterility was not relieved in 1 [female] by inj. with sufficient amts. of progesterone to restore normal pregnanediol excretion. The other showed relief of premenstrual edema after such treatment, but the effect on sterility was not detd. Two [female][female] with oligomenorrhea and irregular menses showed normal estrogen excretion and approx. normal pregnanediol output but abnormally high excretion of androgens. The total output of active substances was twice that of normal [female][female]. The inj. of progesterone increased the excretion of pregnanediol but did not influence the androgen or estrogen curves. The increased estrogens of the 2d half of the period did not originate from, and were not influenced by, progesterone. Restoration of the complete menstrual cycle required injection of estrogens as well as progesterone during the 2d half of the menstrual cycle. Inj. of 30 Corner units of the gonadotrophic hormone of pregnant mare serum increased the output of estrogenic substances but did not affect progesterone output. The follicle-stimulating effect was more easily produced than was the luteinizing action.