Hypothalamic function in women during the first month post-partum.

Plasma LRH-immunoreactive substance in puerperal women was very low on days 5 and 10 post-partum and significantly increased between days 10 and 20 post-partum, but remained at a similar level on day 30 post-partum, which was significantly lower than that in eumenorrhoeic women on day 8 or 9 of the normal cycle. Although LRH administration did not significantly increase serum FSH on day 11 post-partum, daily injections of LRH from days 5 through 10 post-partum caused a significantly increased secretion of FSH on day 11 post-partum, both basally and in response to LRH. No significant difference was observed in serum oestradiol and Prl levels on day 11 post-partum between the two groups of women with and without LRH pre-treatment. It is concluded that the amount of hypothalamic LRH secretion may be small during the first month post-partum, and low basal FSH and unresponsiveness of the pituitary to LRH observed in the early puerperium may result from hypothalamic hypofunction.