title: Evaluating ovarian reserve: follicle stimulating hormone and oestradiol variability during cycle days 2-5.
abstract: A prospective measurement of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and oestradiol between cycle days 2 and 5 was conducted to investigate the intra- and inter-cycle variability in a healthy population of women with regular menstrual intervals. Daily serum samples were obtained from 44 women for a total of 66 cycles on cycle days 2, 3, 4 and 5. FSH concentrations were consistent on all cycle days measured. Oestradiol concentrations on cycle day 2 were not different from cycle day 3, but concentrations on cycle day 4 and cycle day 5 were statistically different from both cycle day 2 and cycle day 3 by analysis of variance (P < or = 0.05). Evaluation of functional ovarian reserved by cycle day 3 FSH measurement has become the standard in most assisted reproductive technology programmes. The recent change in FSH standardization coupled with the inflexibility of cycle day 3 testing has led to a re-evaluation of testing protocols. Cycle day 3 appears to have emerged as a dictum because most ovulation induction protocols are initiated on cycle day 3, 4 or 5. Flexibility of sampling day can be introduced as suggested by these results. The additional information ascertained from oestradiol testing as applied to evaluation of ovarian reserve warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Batzer
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Gutmann
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Corson
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gocial
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone