Serum Bioactive and Immunoreactive Luteinizing Hormone and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Levels in Women with Cycle Abnormalities, with or without Polycystic Ovarian Disease*

Serum steroid, gonadotropin, and α-subunit levels were assessed in 35 women with cycle abnormalities [11 with and 24 without polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) according to strict clinical and biochemical criteria] and 8 regularly cycling women in the early (cycle day 3 or 4) and mid (cycle day 7 or 8) follicular phase. LH and FSH levels were estimated using two immunological techniques [RIA and immunoradiometric assay (IRMA)] and in vitro bioassays (BIO), using mouse Leydig cells and rat granulosa cells, respectively. In PCOD patients mean α-subunit, free androgen index [FAI; testosterone × 100/sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)], androstenedione, estrone, and estradiol (E2) were significantly elevated compared to levels in the early follicular phase of control cycles and non-PCOD patients. In addition, in PCOD patients mean IRMA-LH and RIALH levels were distinctly increased (2.8- to 3.6 fold, respectively; both comparisons, P < 0.001) compared to control values, but in the same order of magnitude (1.3- ...