REEXAMINING STEROID-HORMONE METABOLITES AS OVULATION MARKERS USING MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES

Plasma progesterone and plasma estradiol levels are commonly used to m onitor ovulation in women although for the adequate documentation of o vulation the expense and discomfort of multiple venipuncture sampling may be required. Accurate and definitive information on ovulation in w omen can be obtained by the simple measurement of metabolites of proge sterone and estradiol in early morning urine samples. These analyses h ave been made possible by the use of our own highly specific monoclona l antibodies to both pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (P-3-G) and estrone-3- glucuronide (E-3-G) and the development of simple, direct, automated e nzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Sequential sampling and the generat ion of ovulation profiles allows detection of ovulation and identifica tion of the infertile/fertile phases of the cycle for either planned p regnancies or natural family planning. Aberrations in ovulation are ea sily defected as is documentation of the transition to menopause. The use of sequential, spaced, early morning urine samples for P-3-G and E -3-G allows accurate assessment of ovulatory function rather than rely ing on the usual single plasma sampling. The data presented also show that the direct determination of plasma pregnanediol-3-glucuronide in plasma is as informative as plasma progesterone measurement.