Mean versus individual hormonal profiles in the menstrual cycle

To evaluate hormonal profiles of normal menstrual cycles.

Prospective, descriptive study of a case series.

University-based natural family planning center.

Twenty-five natural family planning users for three or more cycles (n = 78). These women were healthy, contraception-free, parous, with regular ovulatory cycles.

Immunoassays for estrone glucuronide, LH, and pregnanediol glucuronide were done in daily timed and measured samples of early morning urine.

Estrone glucuronide, LH, and pregnanediol glucuronide levels were measured during the menstrual cycle.

All cycles showed an ovulatory pattern configuring classic hormonal mean curves. Most (77%) differed from the mean curve pattern. All had estrone glucuronide peaks, LH peaks, and pregnanediol glucuronide increases. Estrone glucuronide and LH peaks were not always clear; some lasted more than 1 day (long peak: estrone glucuronide 19%, LH 9%) or fluctuated (double peak: estrone glucuronide 4%, LH 6%; small LH peak: 19%). There were also prepeak estrone glucuronide surges, and pre- and postpeak LH surges. Pregnanediol glucuronide increased more clearly (6% fluctuated 1 day). Some women had repeated cycles with long estrone glucuronide peaks (16%) and fluctuations in LH surge (44%).

Normal menstrual cycle hormonal profiles generally differ from mean curves, which are usually considered standard.