Objective: A sex difference in fetal and neonatal pituitary-gonadal function has been well documented. The aim of the following study was to determine sex differences and patterns of basal LH/FSH in the neonatal period.
Design: Peripheral venous blood was obtained from 164 healthy full term newborns (91 males, 73 females) for clinically indicated laboratory examinations.
Results: In male newborns, LH values were initially low (days 1-5), increased between days 6 and 10, and reached maximum levels between days 16 and 20. Levels of FSH were initially low (days 1-5), increased between days 6 and 10 and reached maximum levels between days 11 and 15. In female newborns, LH levels were generally lower than in newborn boys; levels were initially low, then increased between days 11 and 15 and reached maximum levels at the end of the newborn period. FSH values were generally higher than in newborn boys; there were initially low values with a first peak between days 11 and 15 and a second peak between days 21 and 28.
Conclusions: LH values in male newborns were higher and exceeded values in female newborns, whereas FSH values in female newborns exceeded male newborn values. Male newborns do not exhibit any peaks of LH and FSH activity, whereas female newborns exhibit two FSH peaks during this period.