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. 2017 Dec;22(6):450-458.
doi: 10.1080/13625187.2017.1410881. Epub 2017 Dec 20.

Ovulatory status and menstrual cycle duration assessed by self-collection of urine on pH strips in a population-based sample of French women not using hormonal contraception

Lyliane Rosetta  1 , Jean-Christophe Thalabard  2   3 , Julien Tanniou  2 , Béatrice Ducot  4 , Lorraine Maitrot-Mantelet  3 , Christine Rousset-Jablonski  3   5 , Aline Bohet  4 , Jean Bouyer  4 , Amelie Chimenes  1 , Rémy Slama  6
Affiliations

Ovulatory status and menstrual cycle duration assessed by self-collection of urine on pH strips in a population-based sample of French women not using hormonal contraception

Lyliane Rosetta et al. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2017 Dec.

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: Assessing menstrual cycle function in the general population using a non-invasive method is challenging, both in non-industrialized and industrialized countries.

Subjects and methods: The Observatory of Fecundity in France (Obseff) recruited on a nationwide basis a random sample of 943 women aged 18-44 years with unprotected intercourse. A sub-study was set up to assess the characteristics of a menstrual cycle by using a non-invasive method adapted to the general population. Voluntary women were sent a collection kit by the post and requested to collect urine samples on pH strips, together with daily recording of reproductive-related information during a full menstrual cycle. A total of 48 women collected urine every day, whereas 160 women collected urine every other day. Immunoassays were used to measure pregnanediol-3-α-glucuronide, estrone-3-glucuronide and creatinine. Ovulation occurrence and follicular phase duration were estimated using ovulation detection algorithms, compared to a gold standard consisting of three external experts in reproductive medicine.

Results: Every other day urine collection gave consistent results in terms of ovulation detection with every day collection (intraclass coefficient of correlation, 0.84, 95% confidence interval, 0.76-0.98). The proportion of anovulatory menstrual cycles was 8%. The characteristics of the ovulatory cycles were length 28 (26-34), follicular phase 16 (12-23), luteal phase 13 (10-16) days median (10th-90th percentiles).

Discussion-conclusion: Assessing menstrual cycle characteristics based on urine sample spot only collected every other day in population-based studies through a non-invasive, well accepted and cost-limited procedure not requiring any direct contact with the survey team appears feasible and accurate.

Keywords: Epidemiology; fecundity; menstrual cycle; ovulation detection; public health.

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