title: Milk composition changes--a simple and non-invasive method of detecting ovulation in lactating women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the possibility of detecting ovulation through observing changes in composition of milk and using this as a simple and non-invasive method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty five normal lactating women (menstruating and non-menstruating), varying in age from 18-35 years and taking no hormonal contraceptives were included in this study. Hormonal estimation was done by radioimmunoassay and changes in milk composition were observed by measuring the concentration of Na+, Cl-, K+ and lactose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Changes were observed in milk composition of four menstruating women (ovulatory), characterized by significant increase in concentration of Na+ and Cl- and decrease in concentration of lactose and K+. However, in one non-menstruating woman who was found to have ovulation, these findings could not be observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results show that the determination of Na+, K+, Cl- and lactose in milk of lactating women have a high value for detection of ovulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio-chemistry, Bolan Medical College, Quetta.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Naqvi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baseer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D007785:Lactose / Q000032:analysis; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011336:Probability; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone; D012964:Sodium; D007785:Lactose; D011188:Potassium