Luteinizing hormone during treatment with estrogen-free progestagens.

Subjects were 21 women receiving norethindrone enanthate 200 mg in an injectable form 10 women receiving continuous oral microdoses of norgestrel .03 mg and 15 untreated controls. In the group receiving norethindrone enanthate during the first 4 weeks after injection mean luteinizing hormone (LH) values were less than in controls. The midcycle peaks were abolished except in 2 cases which showed slight rises. From the 4th to the 12th week after injection a progressive increase in LH values was observed. During the last 4 of 12 weeks after injection LH values were higher than normal with the presence of midpeaks. In the group receiving norgestrel LH patterns were not decreased. In some patients midcycle surges were shown but not of the same configuration as in controls.