Luteal phase deficiency after completely normal follicular and periovulatory phases.
Luteal phase defect (LPD) accounts for a significant proportion of reproductive disorders, however its etiology is still debated. A prospective study was performed on 37 ovulatory women to determine whether LPD can occur in cycles characterized by completely normal folliculogenesis. Criteria for normal folliculogenesis included: a gradual rise of serum estradiol, a luteinizing hormone (LH) surge, the presence of a dominant follicle that disappeared, an increase of serum progesterone, and normal serum levels of prolactin, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, follicle-stimulating hormone, and LH. Thirty of 37 women fulfilled the above mentioned strict criteria and underwent endometrial biopsy in the late luteal phase. Seven of 30 (23%) demonstrated a delay in endometrial development and all had normal hormonal and ultrasonographic parameters of folliculogenesis and ovulation. Women with delayed endometrial development demonstrated slightly longer follicular phases (17.0 +/- 1.1 versus 14.5 +/- 0.3 days). Perfectly normal follicular and periovulatory events may be followed by deficient luteal phases.
Grunfeld
L
L
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029.
Sandler
B
B
Fox
J
J
Boyd
C
C
Kaplan
P
P
Navot
D
D
D000328:Adult; D004717:Endometrium / Q000503:physiopathology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008183:Luteal Phase; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000503:physiopathology; D010060:Ovulation; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies
D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol