title: Luteal phase defect in habitual abortion: progesterone in saliva.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To re-evaluate the occurrence of luteal phase defect (LPD) in habitual abortion and to determine the value of salivary progesterone (P) assay in its diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study on patients with a history of at least three consecutive miscarriages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Departments I and II of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Central Hospital of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six patients (27 primary and 19 secondary aborters) and 12 healthy control women without a history of abortion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight patients (17.4%, 5 primary and 3 secondary aborters) exhibited a delay of greater than 2 days in endometrial maturation during two consecutive cycles, whereas in 38 patients (82.6%) endometrial maturation corresponded to the actual cycle day. Salivary P showed a distinct ovulatory rise, but no statistically significant differences were evident between patients (with or without LPD) and healthy control women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An endometrial maturation defect may be a factor in 17.4% of patients with habitual abortion, but this cannot be detected by salivary P assay.
authors.affiliation: Department I of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Central Hospital of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tulppala
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Björses
authors.forename: U H
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Stenman
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wahlström
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ylikorkala
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone