title: Comparison of salivary steroid profiles in naturally occurring conception and non-conception cycles.
abstract: Oestradiol and progesterone profiles from naturally occurring conception and exposed non-conception cycles were compared to assess the impact of natural variation in concentrations of ovarian steroid hormones on female fecundity. In a prospective, longitudinal study, 24 women collected saliva samples twice daily and recorded intercourse for up to 1 year or until a pregnancy was clinically confirmed. Oestradiol and progesterone concentrations were measured by a salivary radioimmunoassay. Average mid-follicular oestradiol concentrations were significantly higher in conception than in non-conception cycles (12.6 +/- 1.7 versus 8.5 +/- 0.6 pmol/l, P < 0.01). A separate analysis, including only cycles from those women who contributed both conception and non-conception cycles, demonstrated an even more pronounced difference in mid-follicular oestradiol concentrations, not just for conception and non-conception cycles as groups (14.5 +/- 2.3 versus 6.5 +/- 0.7 pmol/l, P < 0.001), but also between the conception and average non-conception concentrations of individual women. Among these women, relative mid-follicular oestradiol concentration was highly correlated with the probability of successful conception. In addition, relative body weight was significantly positively correlated with mid-follicular oestradiol concentration. These findings indicate that variation in follicular development, reflected in variation in follicular oestradiol concentrations, is an important indicator of fecundity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Lipson
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Ellison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011336:Probability; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol