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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access published online on October 7, 2004
Human Reproduction, doi:10.1093/humrep/deh551
© 2004 by European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
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Received July 28, 2004
Accepted September 10, 2004

Article

The onset of the initial rise in follicle-stimulating hormone during the human menstrual cycle

F. Miro 1* and L.J. Aspinall 1

1 Unipath Limited*, Priory Business Park (FM), Bedford, MK44 3UP and Unilever Research Colworth (LJA), Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1LQ, UK

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: fernando.miro{at}unipath.com.


  Abstract

BACKGROUND: The rise in FSH (FSHr) that leads to the recruitment of a cohort of follicles during the menstrual cycle occurs during the luteal-follicular transition, however, it is unclear whether it consistently occurs on one particular day, or is subjected to reproductive ageing. METHODS: We determined the FSHr in 836 complete menstrual cycles from 102 women with regular menses using an algorithm, and additionally compared the relative variation in FSH during the last 14 days of the cycle. Possible effects of reproductive ageing on the onset of FSHr were also investigated. RESULTS: The day of FSHr follows a normal distribution with a median value of -4 (relative to first day of menses), mean -4.1 and SD 2.1. Analysis of the relative changes in FSH during the last 14 days of the cycle revealed the first significant rise on day -4 (P=0.0033), coinciding with the first significant drop in estrogens (P=0.0002). No effect of chronological age, or initial FSH levels, on FSHr was found, however, there was an inverse relationship between total follicular phase length (from day of FSHr to LH peak) and initial FSH levels (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The initial FSH rise in the cycle occurs consistently 4 days before menses, is related to a drop in estrogen levels, and is not affected by reproductive ageing.

Keywords: estrogens; follicular phase; follicle-stimulating hormone; menstrual cycle; urinary hormones.

*Unipath Ltd is a division of Inverness Medical Innovations


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