84 



G. I. M. SWYER 



compatible with increased adrenal salt-retaining hormone 

 secretion during the premenstrual phase. 



The present author's own limited studies on salivary and 

 urinary Na/K ratios in the menstrual cycle have been directed 



Urinorjf 

 Nq/K 

 ratio 



m.E<i./l. 



IB 



10 



20 



(«) 



28 10 



CYCLE DAYS 



20 



(b) 



30 



36 

 AEL 



Fig. 3. Urinary Na/K ratios in two normal women. In (a) there 



appears to be a peak at about the time of ovulation. In (b) the 



ratio appears to be higher during the second half of the cycle. 



mainly towards an attempt at elucidating the basis for so- 

 called premenstrual tension which is widely supposed to 

 depend upon premenstrual salt and fluid retention (see, for 

 example, Greene and Dalton, 1953, who consider an increased 

 oestradiol/progesterone ratio to be largely responsible). 

 The findings are in agreement with those of Chesley and 



