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Abstract
Evaluation of ovarian function has assumed importance in most medical disciplines. Nevertheless, current knowledge of the extent to which ovarian function is implicated in health and disease probably is only superficial. Ovarian steroids are useful in treatment of disorders not related directly to sex function and reproduction. Clinical findings may provide useful clues to ovarian dysfunction. Ovarian activity may be assessed by basal body temperature records, vaginal smears, progesterone withdrawal bleeding, premenstrual endometrial biopsies, cervical mucus fern tests, and endocrine assays. Measurement of gonadotropins, 17-ketosteroids, pregnanediol and thyroid function may be useful in addition to measurement of estrogen and pregnanediol. Specific methods are mentioned. Sex chromatin patterns, while useful in determining genetic sex, are of limited value as a reflection of ovarian function because of the paradoxical situations described.