Pregnancy-associated ovarian refractoriness to gonadotropin: a myth.

Ovulation was induced in three of five rhesus monkeys during midpregnancy using human menopausal gonadotropin/human chorionic gonadotropin therapy. No evidence of ovarian refractoriness to gonadotropic stimulation was found. It is concluded that cyclic ovarian function in these primates is suspended during gestation and into the puerperium because pituitary gonadotropin secretion is insufficient to support folliculogenesis.