Journal
HORMONES-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM
Volume 21, Issue 3, Pages 413-420Publisher
SPRINGER INT PUBL AG
DOI: 10.1007/s42000-022-00368-9
Keywords
Urinary; Luteinizing hormone; Gonadotropin; Menstruation; Ovulation; Fertility; Infertility; Ovulation predictor kit
Categories
Funding
- University of Helsinki
- Finnish Medical Foundation (Suomen Laaketieteen Saatio)
- Finnish Medical Society (Finska Lakaresallskapet)
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In this study, we aimed to determine whether detecting different molecular forms of U-LH-ir can improve the timing of ovulation in women of reproductive age. We found that the total and non-intact LH-ir levels showed significant changes during the LH surge in the menstrual cycle of 14 women.
Objectives In our earlier study, we separated three different molecular forms of urinary LH-ir (U-LH-ir) by gel filtration and identified them by immunoassay in urine from regularly menstruating women on periovulatory days. U-LH-ir is composed of intact luteinizing hormone (LH), its free beta-subunit (LH beta), and the core fragment of LH beta (LH beta cf), the latter two establishing the non-intact portion of LH-ir. The aim was to determine whether timing of ovulation can be improved by detecting different molecular forms of U-LH-ir in women of reproductive age. Methods We determined intact and total U-LH-ir in 14 regularly menstruating women on consecutive periovulatory days during the menstrual cycle. Non-intact LH-ir was calculated as the arithmetic difference between total and intact LH-ir. In addition, LH-ir was determined in both serum and urine from four of the women throughout the menstrual cycle. Results During the LH surge, U-LH-ir consisted mainly of intact LH and presented with an abrupt increase. Intact U-LH-ir dropped rapidly within 1 day after the surge, reaching baseline levels at the end of the luteal phase. In contrast, LH beta cf in urine increased further 1 day after the surge. After this, most of the U-LH-ir consisted of LH beta cf and it remained strongly elevated (over fivefold compared to intact LH) for the first 3 days after the LH surge, moderately elevated (over threefold) thereafter until day + 5, and mildly elevated until day + 7. Conclusions Total and non-intact LH-ir are potential add-on characteristics which can be utilized in ovulation predictor kits to measure LH-ir in urine beyond the LH surge during a broader time frame, thereby paving the way for more precise prediction of the timing of ovulation than that obtained with currently available products.
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