title: Upper genital tract fluid oestradiol-17 beta, progesterone and testosterone concentrations during the menstrual cycle.
abstract: This study was to obtain evidence whether a cyclical pattern in the concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta, progesterone and testosterone exists in the upper genital tract fluid of women with normal menstrual cycles. The steroid concentrations at proliferative and luteal phases were n = 20 vs 17, 54.5-190.0 vs 44.2-827.1 pg/ml; 0.27-3.3 vs 3.4-46.5 ng/ml and 41.9-734.8 vs 85.7-991.2 pg/ml, respectively. The results were analysed according to Mann-Whitney U test. Significantly higher concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta (p = 0.0036) and progesterone (p = 0.0001) were found. The results suggest the existence of a cyclical variation and point to the ovary as the main source of output of the steroids.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, National University Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loganath
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Peh
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gunasegaram
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ratnam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000032:analysis; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol