title: The effect of clomiphene citrate treatment on cervical mucus and plasma estradiol and progesterone levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the relationship between cervical mucus (CM) quality, postcoital test (PCT) results and plasma estradiol (E2) in clomiphene citrate (CC)-treated women. A subsidiary aim was to study the relationship between CM quality and plasma progesterone (P).
  
  
  METHODS
  Untreated women were compared with oligo-ovulatory patients given CC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infertility Clinic, Fazakerley Hospital, United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one untreated patients and 31 women given CC.
  
  
  METHODS
  The treated women were given 50 mg/d CC from days 2 to 6 of their cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  A CM assessment, a PCT, plasma E2, and P were performed at the anticipated time of ovulation based on at least two previous basal body temperature charts and menstrual patterns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In untreated women there was a very strong tendency for CM quality to improve with rising plasma E2 levels and to worsen with rising plasma P levels. There was a significant association between CM quality and PCT results. Similar results were found in CC-treated women, except that plasma E2 was very significantly higher and there was a significant inverse relationship between plasma E2 and CM quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High plasma E2 in the periovulatory phase in CC-treated women is a marker for increased sensitivity to and continuing action of the antiestrogen. This impairs the quality of the CM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asaad
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Abdulla
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hipkin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diver
mesh_terms: D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000187:drug effects*; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003075:Coitus; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D002996:Clomiphene; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol