Absence of follicular phase defect in women with recurrent miscarriage.
OBJECTIVE
The study was designed to compare the follicular phase of women with recurrent pregnancy loss and a healthy control group. It is possible that a defective or aberrant follicular phase may be associated with poor oocyte quality leading to a production of an embryo with compromised quality and hence early pregnancy loss.


METHODS
Prospective case-control study.


METHODS
A tertiary care hospital of Sheffield, UK.


METHODS
Thirty-four women with recurrent miscarriage and 10 women with no previous history of miscarriage and regular menstrual cycles (control group) were recruited.


METHODS
The characteristics studied included Doppler assessment of blood flow to the follicle and the endometrium. Simultaneously, serum concentrations of biochemical markers such as anti-Müllerian hormone, inhibin B, FSH, LH, and P were compared in the two groups.


METHODS
Differences in the two groups.


RESULTS
We were unable to detect significant differences in various biochemical and ultrasound measurements in the follicular phase between women with recurrent miscarriage and a control group; however, the expected correlation between ovarian and pituitary hormones, which was observed in the control group, was absent in women with recurrent miscarriage.


CONCLUSIONS
There may be subtle derangements of the feedback mechanism responsible for regulation of follicle development in this group of women. However, there were no obvious differences in the follicular phase of women with recurrent miscarriage and a healthy control group.
Prakash
Alka
A
Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. A.Prakash@sheffield.ac.uk
Li
Tin C
TC
Laird
Susan
S
Nargund
Geeta
G
Ledger
William L
WL
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000097:blood*; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014463:Ultrasonography; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D006728:Hormones