Sex hormone levels and gonadotrophin release in the polycystic ovary syndrome.

The response to synthetic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone was studied in eighteen patients with the polycystic ovary syndrome. The release of follicle-stimulating hormone was similar to that found in normal women. The mean response of luteinizing hormone was similar to that found in the luteal phase, but significantly greater (P less than 0-02) than that found in the early follicular phase of the normal menstrual cycle. Basal serum levels of FSH and LH, estimated in twenty-five patients, were similar to those found in normal subjects. The sex hormone binding globulin capacity was reduced in twenty-four of them. Basal serum testosterone levels were elevated in twelve of twenty-two patients and the mean level was significantly greater (P less than 0-01) than the mean level of normal women. Basal serum androstenecione levels were elevated in nine of twenty-two patients and the mean level was also significantly greater (P leess than 0-001) between basal testosterone and LH levels. These data suggest the pituitary gland of patients with the polycystic ovary syndrome contains adequate amounts of LH but that the ovulatory surge of LH which occurs in normal women is inhibited by testosterone acting on either the pituitary or, more probably, on the hypothalamus.

Duke Scholars

Author John Wiley Williams Jr. Medicine, General Internal Medicine