A prospective controlled study of luteal and endometrial abnormalities in an infertile population.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether luteal and endometrial abnormalities occur more frequently in an infertile population and thus contribute to infertility.


METHODS
Prospective controlled clinical study.


METHODS
Outpatient clinic in an academic research institution.


METHODS
Thirty-three fertile controls and 31 infertile women without ovulatory disorders, tubal disease, or male factors.


METHODS
All women underwent an endometrial biopsy 9 days after the LH surge followed by an IM injection of 5,000 IU hCG. Blood samples were drawn immediately before hCG administration for serum P and placental protein 14 (PP14) measurements, at 6 hours after hCG stimulation for serum P concentrations, and on day 5 after hCG administration for serum PP14 levels.


METHODS
Histologic dating of the endometrium and serum P and PP14 measurements.


RESULTS
Abnormal endometrial biopsies occurred more frequently in infertile (43%) than in fertile women (9%). Except for one case, these specimens were not associated with low hCG-stimulated P levels. Serum PP14 measurements varied widely and did not discriminate subjects with abnormal endometrial development.


CONCLUSIONS
Disruption of endometrial maturation without a concomitant defect of the corpus luteum occurs more frequently in an infertile population and thus may contribute to infertility.
Batista
M C
MC
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Cartledge
T P
TP
Zellmer
A W
AW
Merino
M J
MJ
Nieman
L K
LK
Loriaux
D L
DL
Merriam
G R
GR
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008875:Middle Aged; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins; C045246:PAEP protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D011374:Progesterone