title: Detection of human chorionic gonadotropin in blood of regularly bleeding women using copper intrauterine contraceptive devices.
abstract: Highly sensitive and specific radioreceptorassay and radioimmunoassay of human chorionic gonadtropin (hCG) have been used in the detection of hCG in random serum samples during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycles of 200 women and in daily serum samples obtained a few days prior to expected ovulation through the luteal phase in 3 women with regular bleeding patterns and using a copper intrauterine device (IUD). Twelve to nineteen per cent of IUD users showed hCG in serum during the luteal phase, indicating that the presence of the IUD, while permitting fertilization, probably causes interference through degeneration of the blastocyst and consequent lack of implantation.
mesh_terms: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D003300:Copper; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices; D008598:Menstruation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011869:Radioligand Assay
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D003300:Copper