title: The return of postpartum fertility monitored by enzyme-immunoassay for salivary progesterone.
abstract: A longitudinal study in which daily salivary progesterone and estrone were measured by solid-phase enzyme-immunoassays was performed in 30 postpartum women to monitor the return of ovarian activity. Ovulation was inferred from a sustained rise in salivary progesterone over 251 pmol/l, but salivary estrone measurements were not as informative as progesterone in this regard. Recovery of ovarian activity was slower in lactating women compared with non-lactators; the mean delivery-menstruation interval were 123 (+/- 10) and 57 (+/- 7) days, respectively. An abnormal luteal phase was noted in 35% of the first ovulatory cycles, 20% had short luteal phases and 15% were less than the 5th percentile of a normal control corridor. The pregnancy rate in this study of 3.3% was lower than the anticipated rate of 8.8%. We conclude that salivary progesterone measurements are useful for monitoring the return of ovarian activity postnatally.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: I I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Bolaji
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Tallon
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Meehan
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: O'Dwyer
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Fottrell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004970:Estrone / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004970:Estrone; D011374:Progesterone