[Diagnosis of pregnancy before the menstrual period is delayed. Interest of the determination of plasma chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in fertility disorders].

Estimating plasma HCG levels in the last days of the menstrual cycle have very early diagnosis of pregnancy. In 86 cycles occurring in 65 women being treated for sterility the levels were estimated between the 10th and the 15th day following the low point in the temperature curve for the purpose of trying to estimate the practical use of this method. In 30 cycles studied one case of fertilisation took place and was confirmed by the evolution of a pregnancy. From the 11th day onwards with the exception of one solitary case the concentrations of HCG ranged between 15 and 405 mUl-2 degrees-IS-hCC/ml. These levels, therefore are higher than the apparent concentrations found in a group of women used as controls who were not pregnant (0 to 4.5 mUl/ml.). In 56 other cycles apparently normal periods followed on the expected date. All the same, the apparent concentration of HCG (2 to 32 mUl/ml) is far higher often than in the control group. The interference of LH in the level makes it impossible to decide between two hypotheses: whether raised levels of LH are associated with irregular menstrual function or with fertilisation, followed by premature expulsion of the oocyte.