Experience with a Quantitative Test for Normal or Decreased Amounts of Follicle Stimulating Hormone in the Urine in Endocrinological Diagnosis

SINCE 1930 when Zondek (1) first described a method for the assay of follicle stimulating hormone (Prolan A, thylakentrin, pituitary gonadotropin A) in the urine, various modifications of this test have been in use in the Biological Laboratory of the Massachusetts General Hospital. The test has been invaluable, not only in the sorting out of the various causes for hypoestrinism (2), but also in the elucidation of various syndromes in males (3) as well as in females (4). Furthermore, the importance of the test is accentuated by the fact that follicle stimulating hormone is the only pituitary hormone at present that can be easily assayed. It is felt, moreover, that the failure of this test to gain widespread use in medical clinics is due to faulty methods. In a previous communication (2) it was pointed out that hypoestrinism could be the result of primary ovarian failure or of ovarian hypof unction secondary to underproduction of follicle stimulating hormone.