Intermittent stimulation with LH-RH in postmenopausal hypergonadotropism.

Ten postmenopausal women received 8 consecutive (1 hour interval) i.v. bolus injections of either 25 or 500 micrograms of LH-RH. Gonadotropin release was monitored before and during LH-RH stimulation. After the first LH-RH bolus a dose-dependent LH release was seen. All consecutive LH-RH boli elicited similar LH responses resulting in pulse-type LH release. Throughout the whole stimulation period the pituitary gland remained highly responsive to LH-RH, FSH release was uncharacteristic. It is concluded that during postmenopause LH-RH is hyper-secreted. Thus the pituitary gland remains responsive to repeated injections of even supraphysiological LH-RH doses.