title: In vitro fertilization. Correlation of vaginal cytology and hormonal profile with success rates.
abstract: Cytologic parameters of the vaginal epithelium in 59 women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (ET) were correlated with plasma levels of 17-beta estradiol and progesterone on the oocyte pickup (OPU) and ET days. On the OPU day a late proliferative/late proliferative-early secretory pattern was observed in 84.6% of the 13 women who conceived (group 1) but in only 52% of the 46 who failed to conceive (group 2) (P less than .04). On the ET day a secretory phase appeared in 100% and 61% of group 1 and 2 patients, respectively (P less than .01). Between the OPU and ET days the mean karyopyknotic index dropped by 60% and 13% in group 1 and 2 patients, respectively (P less than .001). It seems that a high estrogenic effect followed by an advanced progestational environment, on the OPU and ET days, respectively, can provide a favorable milieu for implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zeevi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lewin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rabinowitz
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Laufer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bercovici
mesh_terms: D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D014621:Vagina / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol