title: Luteal estradiol administration strengthens the relationship between day 3 follicle-stimulating hormone and inhibin B levels and ovarian follicular status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether the prevention of early follicular growth by luteal E(2) administration improves the relationship between day 3 hormone measurements and the ovarian follicular status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assisted reproductive technology unit in Clamart, France.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred sixty-two infertile women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants received oral 17beta-E(2), 4 mg/day, from day 20 to the next cycle day 1 (n = 81) or served as controls (n = 81). Serum E(2), inhibin B, and FSH were measured during the 3 days after E(2) discontinuation (FD1, FD2, and FD3) in E(2)-treated women and on cycle day 3 (CD3) in controls. Early antral follicles were counted at ultrasound scans on FD3 and CD3.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hormonal-follicular correlations on FD3 and CD3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As expected, after E(2) withdrawal, inhibin B and FSH increased from FD1 to FD3 whereas E(2) decreased. Correlations between FSH and inhibin B and follicular counts were stronger on FD3 than on CD3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Luteal E(2) administration notably strengthens the relationship between serum FSH and inhibin B levels and the number of antral follicles on day 3. This approach may represent an alternative test of ovarian follicular status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Clamart, France. renato.fanchin@abc.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fanchin
authors.forename: João Sabino
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Cunha-Filho
authors.forename: Luca Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Schonäuer
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Righini
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Ziegler
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frydman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D008183:Luteal Phase; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: C422364:inhibin B; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone