Urinary follicle-stimulating hormone peak as a biomarker for estimating the day of ovulation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate urinary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) as a biomarker for the day of ovulation.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
Clinical research center.


METHODS
Thirteen women were monitored with measurements of serum and urinary hormones and ovarian ultrasonography during 20 menstrual cycles. Data on urinary hormones and ultrasound evaluations from a total of 65 menstrual cycles from 42 women were analyzed.


METHODS
Blood and/or urine samples were collected daily. Daily transvaginal ultrasonography was used to detect follicular collapse.


METHODS
LH, FSH, and E(2) were measured in serum. FSH, estrone conjugates (E1C), and pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (PdG) were analyzed in urine. The day of luteal transition (DLT) was calculated using two algorithms.


RESULTS
In 20 cycles, the urinary FSH peak was closer to the day of follicular collapse (-0.85 days) than was the peak day of serum E(2) and the day of luteal transition, as calculated by one algorithm. The FSH peak was not closer to the day of follicular collapse than the peak values of urinary LH, serum FSH, or the day of luteal transition as calculated by a second algorithm. The most consistent correspondence between a hormone peak and ovulation was for serum E(2), serum FSH, serum LH, and urinary FSH. In 65 cycles for which urinary hormone data and ultrasound evaluations were available, the urinary FSH peak occurred within 1 day of follicular collapse in 97% of cycles.


CONCLUSIONS
Urinary FSH is a useful biomarker for estimating the day of ovulation in population-based studies.
Li
Hongxia
H
Center for Health and the Environment, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616-8739, USA.
Chen
Jiangang
J
Overstreet
James W
JW
Nakajima
Steven T
ST
Lasley
Bill L
BL
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000502:physiology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000502:physiology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D044384:Ovulation Prediction / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
D015415:Biomarkers; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone