Interrelationships Between Pituitary Gonadotrophins and Ovarian Steroids in Baboons During Continuous Intrauterine Progesterone Treatment

Interrelationships between pituitary gonadotropins and ovarian steroids in baboons during continuous intrauterine progesterone treatment were investigated. The study was undertaken to determine if measurable extrauterine effects occur during delivery of 65 mcg/day progesterone to the uterine lumen of baboons or if hormonal patterns differ between control baboons and baboons wearing IUDs or Intrauterine Progesterone Contraceptive System (IPCS). Plasma luteinizing hormone follicle stimulating hormone progesterone and estradiol-17beta were measured by radioimmunoassay during the menstrual cycle. No marked differences were seen in hormone levels between control Lippes Loop or IPCS-treated cycles.