Follicle-stimulating hormone measured in unextracted urine: a reliable tool for easy assessment of ovarian capacity.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the presence of FSH in unextracted urine of perimenopausal women using a microparticle enzyme immunoassay kit on an AxSYM random access immunoassay analyzer.


METHODS
Controlled descriptive study.


METHODS
A large teaching hospital and infertility clinic.


METHODS
Forty perimenopausal women aged 32-55 years admitted to our clinic for a gynecological operation.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Mean serum FSH level and urinary FSH in early-morning urine, in a random void urine sample, and in 24-hour urine on the same day. FSH in urine on the day of excretion and 1 and 4 weeks thereafter, stored under various conditions. FSH in urine before and after extraction.


RESULTS
The Pearson's correlation coefficient between mean serum FSH levels and urinary FSH in early morning urine was 0.904, in a random void 0.915, and in 24-hour urine 0.857. Determination of optimal storage conditions revealed that urine was best kept at 4 degrees C without any additive. The correlation between FSH in extracted and unextracted urine was 98.9%.


CONCLUSIONS
In perimenopausal women, FSH can be reliably measured in unextracted urine. The correlation between urinary FSH and a random void urine sample and mean FSH from a serial serum sample is very high. Urine can be stored for 4 weeks at 4 degrees C without loss of FSH immunoreactivity.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medisch Spectrum Twente Hospital Group, Enschede, The Netherlands.
G J
GJ
Oosterhuis
C B
CB
Lambalk
H W
HW
Michgelsen
C H
CH
De Koning
I
I
Vermes
J
J
Schoemaker
D000328:Adult; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone