LHRH test in ovariectomized women with and without treatment of sex hormones.

The modulatory effect of sex hormones on the LHRH test, has been studied on ovariectomized women, randomly divided into groups which received estrogen (E2), progesterone (P) and E2 + P respectively. One group was left untreated. Menstruating women in follicular phase were also studied. The LHRH test was performed on all women and FSH, LH levels were measured in the blood. The LH levels in the blood following the LHRH test showed an increase in all the groups under investigation, including the ovariectomized untreated one. This suggests that, after ovariectomy, the hypophysis does not reach its maximum capacity for gonadotrophin release. The FSH response to the LHRH test was very low in all the groups studied, including the ovariectomized without treatment. It thus could be suggested that FSH needs other stimuli besides LHRH for its physiological release.