Development of the home pregnancy test.

The home pregnancy test works by measuring human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone in urine. This hormone was initially studied in NICHD intramural laboratories as a reliable marker of certain tumors. Refinement of the assay for hCG detection to enhance specificity enabled its ready application to pregnancy detection.

Introductory remarks.

These discussions will encompass important areas which relate to the pathophysiology of the menstrual cycle. Unfortunately, only a narrow window of the pathology that is associated with the menstrual cycle will be presented. For instance, areas not to be covered include menstrual dysfunction associated with drug abuse, environmental toxins, the effect of systemic illness on the menstrual cycle, the effects of weight and exercise on the menstrual cycle and, finally, genetic abnormalities that are associated with emenstrual dysfunction.