Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling gonadotropin levels in mammals which comprises administering a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist in an amount and frequency effective to substantially suppress endogenous gonadotropin levels in said mammal and administering gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in an amount and frequency effective to induce secretion of gonadotropins to maintain a desired level in said mammal. This method is especially useful for treating mammals, particularly women, who suffer from polycystic ovarian disease or hyperandrogenism, or who otherwise have abnormally high levels of luteinizing hormone which it is desired to reduce to approximately normal levels. The method of this invention is particularly advantageous for inducing ovulation in mammals, particularly women, that have the above-mentioned problems. The preferred GnRH antagonists for use in the present invention include Antide and its analogs, which exhibit long term gonadotropin suppression.

Abstract: A method of providing contraception for and regulation of the menstrual cycle of a gonadal female mammal by a) administering thereto about once a week throughout her menstrual cycle an amount of a GnRH-antagonist effective to block folliculogenesis and thereby achieve a contraceptive state but less than the amount thereof required to block hormonogenesis; and b) inducing menses by administering during the last half of that cycle an amount of a progestin effective to produce a secretory endometrium and then terminating the progestin administration.

Abstract: A method of inducing ovulation by administering exogenous human menopausal gonadotropins employs FSH as the exogenous human menopausal gonadotripin in the absence of exogenous LH, preferably in conjunction with a gonadotropin releasing factor antagonists. One particular application of the method is in vitro fertilization.

Abstract: A method of providing a diagnostic indicia which is predictive of the risk of a non-osteoporotic human being contracting osteoporosis as a consequence of being in a long-term hormonally agonadal state, which comprises the steps of determining the average ratio of calcium to creatinine in the urine or in the blood of that person, during a period when the person is ingesting only foodstuff sources of calcium and vitamin D, while in a hormonally gonadal state, and also while in a hormonally agonadal state; determining the magnitude of the difference in the ratio obtained in the latter state compared to the former state, a large difference being predictive of a high risk of that person contracting osteoporosis.

Abstract: A method of in vitro fertilization therapy, which includes means for inducing ovulation by administering an exogenous human menopausal gonadotropin preparation and human chorionic gonadotropin, harvesting the mature follicles, combining the ovum with spermatazoa in vitro and transferring the conceptus into the uterus is improved by employing FSH as the exogenous human menopausal gonadotropin in the absence of exogenous LH.

Abstract: A hydrocephalic drainage valve consisting of a hollow shank with a pointed conical tip. The shank has an intake port adjacent the conical tip. A ball check valve in the shank is urged by a coiled spring toward closing relationship with the port. A hollow set screw is adjustably mounted in the shank to vary the biasing force on the valve ball. In one form, for manual implantation, a sleeve is slidably mounted on the shank, has a centrally apertured enlarged head and has implantation enlarged threads near the head. The head has aligned opposite radial grooves which are engageable by a manual insertion tool. In other forms, for pneumatic insertion, the shank has an enlarged head, employed as a driving piston in a pneumatic insertion tube.