DETECTION OF URINE STEROIDS

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP AND TEST KITS THAT WILL BE USEFUL FOR IDENTIFICATION OF THE FERTILE AND INFERTILE PHASES OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE. THESE KITS WOULD DETECT STEROID METABOLITE LEVELS IN URINE EASILY, RELIABLY, AND PRECISELY; THEY WOULD ALSO BE REASONABLY PRICED. IDEALLY, THEY WOULD PREDICT OVULATION FOR INFERTILE WOMEN AND DEFINE INFERTILE PHASES OF THE CYCLE FOR COUPLES WISHING TO PRACTICE FAMILY PLANNING. THERE IS CONSIDERABLE POTENTIAL FOR INNOVATIVE RESEARCH AND APPLICATION OF SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE AND SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE METHODS FOR SELF-HEALTH CARE. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO EASE THE COST OF MEDICAL CARE AND DECREASE UNNEEDED CONTACT WITH PHYSICIANS. FURTHERMORE, PATIENT INVOLVEMENT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE TYPE OF EDUCATION TO ACHIEVE SOCIAL CHANGES IN HEALTH CARE.